Representatives of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada; North American Technician Excellence; the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute; and the Partnership for Air-conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation signed an agreement supporting a training program for education and certification of HVACR installers and technicians.

Representatives of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA); North American Technician Excellence (NATE); the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); and the Partnership for Air-conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) signed an agreement Jan. 23 supporting a training program for education and certification of HVACR installers and technicians.

Signing the agreement were UA Director of Training Michael Arndt, NATE President Rex Boynton, AHRI President Stephen Yurek and PAHRA President Patrick Murphy.

The agreement provides for advanced placement in a local union’s HVACR apprenticeship program for applicants who have:

Completed a full-time program accredited by PAHRA and passed a series of certificate/certification exams within one year of application.

Achieved a “C” average or better and an industry-validated passing grade on the Industry Competency Exam for residential heating and air conditioning, commercial heating and air conditioning, or commercial refrigeration.

Achieved certification by NATE in one Heating Service Specialty, one Cooling Service Specialty and Light Commercial Refrigeration Service Specialty; requiring at least the NATE Core Service test or the NATE Service Specialty in Heating, Cooling and Light Refrigeration.