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Once you successfully complete your gas technician training and certification, your career  options are practically limitless. Your Gas Technician license opens doors to skilled trades career  opportunities that you may not have even considered before. In our Career Close-Up series, we'll  explore the industry jobs you can choose from to help you prepare for the career you want!

Air Conditioning Repair Tech

Once you have you gas technician license, it is natural to move into the HVAC industry, which means learning the ropes as an air conditioning repair technician. Sometimes called HVACR techs, they are responsibile for installing, maintaining and repairing ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. These people work in industrial, residential and commercial spaces.

What you need to know

Although air conditioning repair techs require on-the-job training through apprenticeship hours to complete their license, many employers prefer to hire a tradesperson who has completed some form of formal training. This training will include the installation, service, maintenance and basic refrigeration theory of air conditioning systems. When coupled with your gas fitter training, your value as a potential employee increases dramatically as you will be able to perform both heating and air conditioning repair.

As an air conditioning repair tech, you can expect to have to review blueprints, install air conditioning systems, test systems for proper functionality, perform emergency repairs, maintain tools and make routine adjustments for optimal efficiency. You will also have to handle, recover and properly dispose of refirgerants when servicing AC units. And, as always, you will have to provide excellent customer service and maintain client relationships.

Why you should consider this career

With the constant construction of residential and commercial buildings, there is an increase in options for HVAC jobs, especially in the Greater Toronto Area. HVACRs are looking at employment frowth of 34% and the chance for self employment (12% of HVACRs in Canada go into employment for themselves). And almost all (92.3%) of Air Conditioning Repair Techs are employed full-time.