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Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Technician

ACR0044C — ACR0044C
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350 contact hours PSAV clock-hour Prerequisites: ACR0041 (A/C, Refrigeration and Heating Helper) and ACR0043 (A/C, Refrigeration and Heating Mechanic Assistant), or articulated equivalents demonstrating mastery of foundational HVAC/R competencies. Some institutions allow direct entry with appropriate placement assessment. Specific institutional requirements vary. v1.0

Course Description

ACR0044C – Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Technician is a Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) clock-hour course within the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Career Certificate program framework. The course is structured as Occupational Completion Point (OCP) B of the HVAC/R 1 program — typically the third major module after the Helper (ACR0041, OCP A, 250 hours) and Mechanic Assistant (ACR0043, OCP B, 250 hours) modules. Students at the Technician level have completed foundational HVAC/R coursework and progress to advanced diagnosis, troubleshooting, and system-installation competencies. The "C" indicator denotes that lecture and laboratory instruction are integrated, with substantial hands-on shop practice combined with classroom theory.

The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating > HVAC/R Technology and is offered at approximately 30 Florida public institutions — among the highest-volume PSAV courses in Florida, reflecting the substantial year-round demand for HVAC/R services driven by Florida's climate. ACR0044C is delivered at FCS technical colleges, district technical centers, and adult career and technical education centers throughout the state. The full HVAC/R 1 program typically totals 750 contact hours across the OCP A and OCP B sequence; some institutions extend to a 1,350-hour comprehensive HVAC/R Technology certificate including OCP C and additional commercial/industrial content.

Successful completion of ACR0044C qualifies students for the institutional "Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Technician" certificate and supports articulation toward the broader HVAC/R Mechanic and Technology credentials, AS-degree programs in HVAC/R or Engineering Technology at FCS institutions, and direct entry into Florida's HVAC/R workforce. Industry credential preparation is central to the course — students should plan to obtain EPA Section 608 Universal Technician Certification before leaving the program, as this credential is federally required for any work involving stationary refrigeration systems and refrigerants.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ACR0044C, students will be able to:

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis and labor-market alignment:

Major Topics

Required Topics

Optional Topics

Resources & Tools

Career Pathways

ACR0044C supports entry into and advancement within Florida's substantial HVAC/R workforce. Florida's climate creates year-round demand for HVAC/R services, making this one of the most stable and well-paying skilled-trade pathways in the state. Specific career pathways include:

Special Information

Program Position and Articulation

ACR0044C is OCP B within the broader HVAC/R 1 Career Certificate program. Students typically complete the full program sequence:

Students who complete the full HVAC/R 1 sequence (~750-850 hours) earn the institutional HVAC/R Technician certificate. Some institutions offer extended programs (HVAC/R 2, total 1,350 hours) adding ACR0047, ACR0049, and additional commercial/industrial competencies.

EPA Section 608 Certification

EPA Section 608 Universal Technician Certification is federally required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act for any technician who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere. ACR0044C prepares students for this certification, and students should plan to test for and obtain Universal Certification before completing the program. Without EPA 608 certification, students cannot legally perform refrigerant work in Florida or anywhere in the U.S.

Florida Construction Industry Licensing

Florida regulates HVAC contracting through the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The principal license categories for HVAC are:

Licensure requires experience (typically 4 years for Class A), examination, and financial responsibility documentation. ACR0044C is foundational preparation but does not by itself qualify for licensure; licensure requires additional supervised experience and exam preparation. Students planning to operate independently should research DBPR licensing requirements at myfloridalicense.com.

Course Format and Hours

ACR0044C is a clock-hour PSAV course. The course is structured as approximately 350 contact hours per FLDOE framework — typically delivered over one semester (15-16 weeks at 23-25 hours per week, full-time PSAV scheduling) or two semesters (part-time scheduling). Many institutions offer day, evening, and weekend formats to accommodate working students. The course combines classroom theory, shop laboratory practice, and (at some institutions) supervised field experience or paid internship/apprenticeship.

Credits

ACR0044C is a 0-credit PSAV clock-hour course. Per Florida convention, PSAV courses are measured in clock hours rather than college credits. The course does not transfer as college credit to AA degree programs in the conventional sense; however, articulation agreements between Florida PSAV programs and AS-degree programs in HVAC/R Technology or Engineering Technology recognize PSAV completion in defined ways. Some Florida FCS institutions award credit-equivalency for PSAV completion. Students should consult their institution about specific articulation agreements.

Physical Requirements

HVAC/R technician work is physically demanding. Successful technicians must be able to: lift 50-75 pounds repeatedly; work in confined spaces (attics, crawl spaces); climb ladders and work at heights; tolerate temperature extremes (hot Florida attics in summer, occasional cold winter mornings); perform fine-motor tasks (brazing, electrical work) with steady hands; tolerate working outdoors in Florida weather. Students with relevant physical limitations should consult the program coordinator about reasonable accommodations and realistic career-path planning.

Course Code Variations

Florida institutions consistently use ACR0044C for this course. The non-laboratory variant ACR0044 exists at some institutions but the "C" (combined lecture-laboratory) format is more common given the hands-on nature of HVAC/R work. The corresponding secondary-school course is "Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) 1" (FLDOE program code C400100). Programs are aligned to the FLDOE HVAC/R Curriculum Framework and consistent across Florida technical colleges, FCS technical centers, and adult-education centers, though specific equipment availability and clinical/internship arrangements vary by institution.

Generated August 30, 2026 · Updated August 30, 2026