Two HVAC technicians wearing safety glasses and holding a multimeter and clipboard while assessing a piece of equipment

Launch your career in skilled trades as an HVAC technician

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician Ontario College Diploma, Co-op program

High demand field. Work for an employer or be your own boss. Hands-on experience during co-op work term. Just 20 months until you graduate!

Program code HRAC
Duration 2 Years
Credential Ontario College Diploma, Co-op
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Students gain the required skills to install, service, and maintain the environmental systems for residential buildings, including working with a variety of gas appliances, as well as an introduction to refrigeration and air conditioning. Students examine energy efficient and environmentally friendly approaches; and read, utilize, and produce Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning (HRAC) drawings using industry standard software. Students gain the required skills to obtain the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) Gas Technician 2 (G.2) exams in order to become a licensed gas technician.

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Fall 2024 Barrie

Tuition and fees

Work-integrated learning

What are the admission requirements for the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician program?

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician admission requirements

OSSD or equivalent, with

  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Pathways

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional information

Gas Technician work in Ontario requires Gas Technician license (Ontario Certificate of Qualification), which is governed by Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). The college facilitates Gas Technician 3 (G.3) and Gas Technician 2 (G.2) Ontario Certificate of Qualification Examinations on campus at the end of the first and third semesters, respectively. The cost of each examination is not included in the tuition fee.

Students must have successfully completed the TSSA Gas Technician 3 (G.3) exam prior to going out on their co-op work term.

Gas Technician (GAST) program students wanting to transfer to the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (HRAC) program are required to:

• meet graduation requirements of the Gas Technician (GAST) program

• meet the admission requirements of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air conditioning (HRAC) program including a 12C or U math course or equivalent

• complete and submit a request for program change form

Successful applicants will be exempted from the first 3 semesters of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (HRAC) program.

What career paths can I take as a gas or HVAC technician?

Your Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician diploma gives you many career opportunities

Graduates are primarily prepared for a career as a gas technician. However, employment may also be found in the areas of technical support and sales within the HRAC industry. Graduates are introduced to transferable practical skills, as well as industry relevant applied math and science, in order to facilitate the transition into a variety of other trades (such as sheet metal, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, and pipe fitting). For those who want to work in these trades, an apprenticeship is required after graduation.

Accreditation

Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada)

This program is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada), formerly Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE),

This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for co-operative education programs in Canada, and recognizes Georgian’s commitment to quality in co-op education.

CEWIL Canada Accredited Program

What courses are included in the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician diploma program?

Course overview

18 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses
1 Co-op Work Term

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician program outline.

  • ELEC 1010 – Introduction to Electricity
  • GAST 1003 – Introduction to Gas Appliances
  • GAST 1013 – Professional Practices
  • GAST 1014 – Piping and Tubing Systems
  • Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What does Georgian’s HRAC program offer?Georgian College Chevron

Georgian’s HRAC prepares students to become more competitive in finding employment as apprentices of the 313A or 313D Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic Trade.

What is the difference between HVAC and HRAC?Georgian College Chevron

For those pursuing a postsecondary education, HVAC and HRAC mean the same thing. Companies who advertise for HVAC position would also be interested in hiring an HRAC graduate, because upon graduation they will be equipped with the G2 (Gas Technician 2 heating license), a co-op work-term experience and one academic semester of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic training.

I want to graduate from the HRAC program. I have an OSSD but not a grade 12 math credit. Can I become a Gas Technician (GAST) student and take a grade 12 math equivalent course at the college?Georgian College Chevron

Yes, you can. There are grade 12 math equivalent courses offered at the college that you can take while you’re a Gas Technician (GAST) student. Although it would be better to obtain the math credit before starting as an HRAC student, you can transfer from GAST to HRAC once you meet the GAST graduation requirements. However, this is contingent on the availability of seats in the HRAC program at the time of transfer.

How many hours would the HRAC program give me towards an apprenticeship?Georgian College Chevron

Typically, having an Ontario College Diploma will not reduce the number of hours you are required to work in the field before you are eligible to write the licensing examination.

I see that GAST courses are offered in the evenings and weekends. When are these courses offered exactly?Georgian College Chevron

The Gas Technician (GAST) program starts every September, with courses delivered in the evenings and weekends. A typical week timetable has three week night courses, in addition to either Saturday or Sunday courses. We do not schedule classes for both Saturday and Sunday so that students will always have at least one weekend day without classes to attend. Classes typically start after 5 p.m. on weeknights and at 8 a.m. on weekend days.

What’s the difference between the heating and cooling licenses?Georgian College Chevron

The HRAC program provides training to successfully obtain the TSSA G2 (Gas Technician 2) Ontario Certificate of Qualification. The G2 license is also known as the ‘heating license’ or ‘ticket’.

The heating license is regulated and granted by the TSSA, while the ‘cooling license’ (313A or 313D) is regulated and granted by the Ontario College of Trades.

The heating license can be obtained without apprenticeship, while the cooling license requires three or five years of apprenticeship for the 313A and 313D, respectively.

Do I have to find my own co-op or does the college find it for me?Georgian College Chevron

A co-op preparation course is offered to all of our first year students in co-op programs in order to prepare them for the co-op process and to provide them with information and resources needed to be successful.

Co-op in college is different than co-op in high school, in that it is a competitive process rather than a placement. Students actively participate in the whole job search process in order to find a co-op position. This is done through co-op job postings, which you can apply to through the college database, or opportunities you find through your own independent efforts. We will do our best to get your ready through the summer so that you can find a co-op position in the fall.

When are HRAC and GAST courses delivered weekly?Georgian College Chevron

Both HRAC and GAST have identical first three months in terms of courses, content and program start and end dates. However, HRAC is delivered Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while GAST is delivered several week evenings and Saturdays. Under extenuating circumstances, GAST students can take their courses Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and HRAC students can take their courses in the evenings and Saturdays.

Do you have questions about Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician? Contact us!

Thinking about applying to Georgian?

Contact our student recruitment team to explore your study options.

Already applied to Georgian?

Connect with the Office of the Registrar for admissions-related questions.

Are you an international student?

Contact our international recruitment team to learn more about studying at Georgian. 

Ways to connect

Campus Experience Week at Georgian College

Get ready for Campus Experience Week from April 16 to 20 happening at all Georgian campuses!
Learn how to apply for free.

Campus tours

Take a guided, in-person tour
of our campuses.
Book a campus tour.

One-on-one appointments

Book a phone appointment
with a recruitment specialist.
Connect with a recruiter.

Join our mailing list

Join our email list for event updates, contest information and more.
Sign up for Georgian updates.