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  Trade Information

Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic

A Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic works on residential air conditioning systems including geo-exchange systems. Specifically, a Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic:

  • plans, lays out, installs, starts-up, connects, maintains, services, repairs, tests, verifies, commissions, and decommissions residential air conditioning systems, components and their accessories
  • installs and connects piping for the purpose of conveying all types of refrigerants used for both primary and secondary heating and cooling
  • maintains, services, repairs and replaces system components and accessories, including electrical and electronic components
  • checks efficiency outputs and parameters; inspects and checks operation and integrity of components; determines set points; replaces defective, leaking, discoloured and worn components; performs shut-downs and lock outs; makes adjustments to pressures and controls; cleans and lubricates components; checks calibrations; reassembles and repair components and systems; starts-up, tests and charges the systems
  • measures, cuts, bends, threads and connects pipe to functional components and utilities
  • services, tests, adjusts, commissions and decommissions the system
Apprenticeship Resources
Release of Updated Training Standard Effective December 4th, 2023 (PDF)
Apprenticeship Training Standard (PDF)
Curriculum Training Standard – Level 1 (PDF)
Curriculum Training Standard – Level 2 (PDF)
Exam Counselling Sheet (PDF)

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. The Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario, under the authority of section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, has set the hours of apprenticeship training for the trade Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic at 4,500 (approximately two and a half years), which consists of 4,020 hours on the job work experience and 480 hours of in-school training. These hours are consistent with apprentice training hours previously set out in regulation under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act, R.S.O 1990.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade. As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.

IN-SCHOOL TRAINING

A Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic apprenticeship includes two levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:

  • workplace health and safety
  • applied trade mathematics
  • engineering drawings and documentation
  • trade practices
  • mechanical cooling cycle fundamentals, components and accessories
  • electrical and electronic fundamentals
  • pipe joining, welding, brazing and soldering
  • installation and system start-up procedures
  • applied psychometrics
  • pints and heat load calculations
  • air distribution systems and accessories
  • electrical and electronic control systems
  • rigging and hoisting
  • commissioning

Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:

  • block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
  • day release (one day per week from September to June)
  • part-time (night-school programs)
  • alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)

Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.

This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

This trade has a certifying exam. Upon passing the certifying exam, Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification in this trade.

Because this trade is compulsory, to practice this trade legally in Ontario a person must hold a Registered Training Agreement, Provisional Certificate of Qualification or Certificate of Qualification and their information must appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. A Certificate of Qualification issued in this trade must be renewed to be valid.

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