Why Your HVAC Tech Should Be NATE-Certified

The North American Technician Excellence, or NATE, is the nation’s largest certification organization for HVAC and refrigeration technicians. A NATE certification represents real-working knowledge of HVACR systems, and are designed to demonstrate competency in specialized services.

It’s important to note that almost everyone in the HVAC and refrigeration industries recognizes and supports a NATE certification, although not everyone in the industry is NATE-certified — it’s a discretionary certification, and technicians can service equipment without being NATE-certified.

At Quality Heating & Cooling, we make sure our entire team is NATE-certified. We send only the most qualified technicians to your Boise-area home, and we want to be sure you have that extra level of comfort knowing the technician in your home meets all NATE-certification guidelines. 

NATE tests technicians at all levels of experience, starting with the CORE exam and moving on to the SPECIALTY exam in their chosen field. The CORE exam covers a candidate’s general knowledge, construction knowledge, and HVACR-specific knowledge in the areas of:

• Safety
• Tools
• Basic Construction
• Using Basic Science
• Achieving Desired Conditions
• Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements
• Basic Electrical

Once the CORE exam is passed, it does not have to be retaken as long as technicians maintain their certification and do not allow their certification to lapse.

SPECIALTY exams cover a candidate’s knowledge of the installation, service maintenance, and/or repair of HVACR systems. SPECIALTY certifications will either be in installation or service:

• Installation technicians prepare installation sites (including removal of existing HVACR equipment) and fabricate and assemble systems. These technicians should be able to properly power up and set control positions to cycle equipment through primary heating, cooling, and blower operations under on-site or off-site supervision. The installation technician may take specialized readings, such as temperatures, refrigerant circuit pressure, and basic VOM electrical readings, of both operating and non-operating equipment.
• Service technicians must be able to complete the same tasks as installation technicians, as well as independently power up and adjust control settings to cycle equipment through all designed-for sequences. Service technicians must be able to acquire, evaluate, and interpret necessary readings to determine the adequacy and acceptability of meeting system operation specifications. These technicians must also be able to perform sufficient field diagnostic procedures to determine causes of inadequate performance and identify corrective actions as necessary. The following specialties award a two-year certification.

Installation Specialties

• Air Conditioning Installation
• Air Distribution Installation
• Air to Air Heat Pump Installation
• Gas Heating (Air) Installation
• Oil Heating (Air) Installation

Service Specialties

• Air Conditioning Service
• Air Distribution Service
• Heat Pump (Air to Air) Service
• Gas Heating (Air) Service
• Oil Heating (Air) Service
• Hydronics Gas Service
• Hydronics Oil Service
• Light Commercial Refrigeration Service
• Commercial Refrigeration Service

At Quality Heating & Cooling, we take pride in sending only the best, most qualified people to your Boise-area home to service or install your HVAC equipment.

Make sure your next heating & cooling project is handled by a NATE-certified technician — call the HVAC experts at Quality Heating & Cooling at 208-377-3555, or request service online today!