by 
The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry, also known as HVAC, is a growing profession.
People all over the country rely on HVAC systems in both residential and commercial settings.
Without people to build, maintain, and service those systems, we would not have heating or air conditioning systems to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
It takes certification and training to become an HVAC technician.
Here are some schools that offer HVAC training and certification in St. Louis, Missouri.
1 Ranken Technical College
About the school
Ranken Technical College is a non-profit school, which means they can offer high quality for a lower cost than their competitors.
On the website, they claim to have one of the lowest tuition costs in the area.
They offer a variety of options for financial assistance, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
Currently, about 80% of their students receive some sort of financial help.
Students spend more time doing hands-on work for their programs than they do in the classroom.
Ranken Technical College has a 1:3 ratio of classroom time to hours spent with hands-on learning and training.
Courses offered
The HVACR program at Ranken Technical College is four semesters.
The program focuses on teaching students how to troubleshoot and repair commercial and residential heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
Some of the things students learn when enrolled in the HVACR program include:
- Basic electricity and refrigeration theories
- Applied electrical circuits
- Domestic equipment
- Commercial and residential equipment
- Refrigeration coolers and freezers
- Commercial ice-making equipment
- Piping, sheet metal, and conduit bending
Address: 4431 Finney Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63113
2 Louis Community College
About the school
St. Louis Community College is considered one of the largest educational institutions in the region and has served more than 1.3 million students in its time.
Its mission is to empower its students, expand minds, and change lives.
The values of St. Louis Community College include putting the students first, having respect for everyone, integrity, collaboration, and making informed decisions based on data.
St. Louis Community College offers around 80 different career programs, one of which includes an HVAC program.
It has lots of options available to suit the diverse student population, including associate degrees, college transfer degrees, certificates, career development, and workforce training.
Courses offered
St. Louis Community College offers a program called HVAC Operator Technical Training.
In this program, students are taught how to troubleshoot and maintain air systems and how the systems and control boards work.
Some of the things the program teaches are as follows:
- Troubleshooting basic HVAC systems in residential settings
- Troubleshooting 24-volt, 120-volt, and 240-volt systems
- Basics of forced air furnaces
- How an integrated furnace control board works
- How to clean and check forced air systems properly so they work smoothly
At the end of the program, students are prepared to take the certification exams for HVAC.
These exams include Type I, Type II, and Universal.
Address: 5600 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110
3 American Trade School
About the school
The American Trade School is located in Saint Ann, Missouri, which is near St. Louis.
The school offers training for two trades:
HVAC and electrical.
The American Trade School aims to provide the basic skills, training, procedures, and techniques needed for students to become successful in their careers.
Courses offered
American Trade School offers a program that lasts about 14 months.
The courses in the HVAC curriculum include:
- Introduction to Refrigeration and Electricity
- Air Conditioning
- Heating
- Residential Installation
- Boilers and Piping
Each course takes approximately 10 weeks to complete.
The main goal of the program is for students to learn how to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and service systems in the industry of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration.
Address: 3925 Industrial Drive, Saint Ann, MO, 63074
4 Lewis and Clark Career Center
About the school
Lewis and Clark Career Center offers a total of 15 programs that allow students to earn high school and college credits and certifications while exploring their technical career interests.
The career school has small class sizes of 12-18 students and offers half-day schedules to accommodate high school and life outside of college classes.
Lewis and Clark Career Center tailors its classes and schedules for high school juniors and students to get a head start on their career training.
Courses offered
To qualify for the HVAC program at the Lewis and Clark Career Center, you must be in good physical condition and have no respiratory issues.
The program teaches students how to design, repair, install, and maintain commercial and residential heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
In the program, students get the opportunity to practice these skills by installing ductwork, an air conditioning unit, and a furnace in a Lewis and Clark house that is student-built.
Address: 2400 Zumbehl Road, St. Charles, MO, 63301
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Ranken Technical College |
|
#2 | Louis Community College |
|
#3 | American Trade School |
|
#4 | Lewis and Clark Career Center |
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
HVAC Schools by City
HVAC Schools by State