VICTORIA, Texas – Dean Seitz, an HVAC instructor at Victoria College’s Gonzales Center, finds it hard to explain why the demand for qualified technicians in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry is higher now than ever before.
“I guess a lot of younger people are interested in getting into the computer industry,” Seitz said. “But all these computers they use have to be in an air-conditioned room.”
Seitz, who prefers a hands-on approach to teaching his students, has been an instructor at Victoria College’s Gonzales Center for seven years and owned his own HVAC company, Harwood Heating & Air, for 23 years.
“My Level 4 class built a functioning unit from parts taken from five inoperable units,” Seitz said. “I’ll go by the book, but then I’ll teach them practical stuff they will need when they get out in the field.”
Some of Seitz’s students begin his class with HVAC jobs already. After successfully completing any of the levels at Victoria College’s HVAC classes, students receive a National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) certificate, which is an industry-recognized credential.
“The NCCER certificate pulls some weight with employers because it shows someone is committed to learning everything about the profession,” Seitz said. “If I hire someone with an NCCER certificate, I don’t have to start from scratch with them.”
This fall semester, Victoria College will be offering its HVAC Level 1 course at the Victoria and Gonzales locations. The course in Victoria will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting Sept. 28 through Feb 3. The course in Gonzales will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting Sept. 21 through Jan. 27.
The HVAC Level 1 course costs $800, and scholarships and financial aid are available for students in need of financial assistance. A high school diploma or GED is not required to participate in the course.
Before students can enroll in the HVAC Level 1 course, they must complete the Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills course, which will be offered throughout the summer in Gonzales and Victoria.
For more information on VC’s industrial trades courses, call (830) 672-6251 or email AskCE@VictoriaCollege.edu.
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