Become a NATE Certified Technician

Getting to know you, getting to learn all about you. These are the words of a tune that indicates the desire to be familiar with a certain person. In this case, it is not a person but it is NATE. What is NATE? It is the nation’s largest, non-profit certification organization of technicians of the HVAC/R industry. Now, how do you get a NATE certification?

One very important fact you need to know is that NATE tests you, but others should train you. You should have some real world experience as a technician in the business of installing air conditioning, fixing heat pumps, dealing with oil furnaces, hydronics gas, commercial refrigeration, or be a ground source heat pump loop installer. Any of these types of professional experience will help you pass the NATE test.

You have two types of tests to take for NATE certification, and that is a CORE test and SPECIALTY tests. If you don’t pass one or the other test, you can take the test over again, within a 2 year period of time.

There are multiple certifications you can obtain, these are divided into service and installation and , and other senior categories. All NATE exams are designed by Technician Expertis in the field on subjects important to the Air conditioning industry. KATEs will ensure that you cover all information that is used in the tests for the NATE certification.

NATE strongly suggests that before you take your exams, you need to have a few years of experience in the field, such as by an employer, or an educational institution that will teach you about service and/or installation of HVAC/R technology. You should get anywhere from two years to five years of genuine working knowledge before attempting the NATE exams.

The CORE exam tests your knowledge in general aspects such as basic construction, tools, safety, using basic science, basic electrical, taking humidity and temperature measurements and achieving desired conditions.

The exam for your SPECIALTY examines your knowledge of service maintenance, installation and repair of HVAC/R systems.

Once you have passed your NATE exams, you will receive a certificate, which will be good for five years. In order to keep your certification, you need to take CEH (continuing education hours) courses during your five years to keep up with the newest ideas and information in your specialty. You need to take 60 continuing education hours in your specialty and retake your specialty exam before the five years elapses to keep your certification.

You’ll have a career that will always be needed once you are certified with NATE. You won’t have to worry about your career being outsourced to another country, because a NATE certified technician will always be needed here.