(Compulsory certification required)
Installs, repairs, services and maintains a variety of air conditioning, heating and ventilation and air exchange systems, as well as, refrigeration and cooling systems for the food industry.
Wage Rate: $27.96 (Base rate, not including benefits)
Do you enjoy variety, problem solving and working pretty much on your own? Are you mechanically inclined and like hands-on work? If you also like to work with customers, then consider becoming a Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic.
Reliable heating and cooling systems are vitally important to the comfort levels of homes and apartments and to the operation of many commercial enterprises and recreational facilities. In Manitoba you can train to be either a Commercial Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic or a Residential Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic. A Commercial Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic works with equipment in commercial buildings such as apartments, restaurants, hospitals and ice rinks while a Residential Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic installs and maintains residential heating, ventilating, air conditioning and potable water heating equipment.
You can get a jump-start on your future career in the construction trades by checking out construction courses offered at colleges and high schools. These hands-on courses will help you build the basic skills you will use in the construction industry.
While you're still in high school, you can begin an apprenticeship program as a Senior Years Apprentice and earn both high school and apprenticeship credits at the same time. After high school graduation, many Senior Years apprentices continue in regular, full-time apprenticeship programs.
To enter the apprenticeship program full-time, you must be at least 16, be a Senior 4 graduate, or, as a mature student, have an equivalent academic standing. As this trade relies heavily on technology and scientific principles and calculations, your standing must include Senior 4 credits in Mathematics and Science.
4-5 levels including in-school sessions.
In Manitoba, to work in this trade, you must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson. You must have a qualified employer who is willing to train you as an apprentice. To register in the apprenticeship program, you and your employer complete an application form together and submit it to the Apprenticeship Branch. Once the application is approved, apprenticeship training begins under the supervision of a certified journeyperson.
During training you must apply for your Gasfitter licence.
The first four levels consist of on-the-job practical experience and some in-school technical training. (Work hours and school time must total at least 1800 hours per level.) Level five is devoted entirely to gaining on-the-job experience.
A Residential Refrigeration & Air Conditioning apprenticeship is four levels. The first three levels consist of on-the-job practical experience and some in-school technical training.
(Work hours and school time must total at least 1800 hours per level.)
The last level is devoted entirely to gaining on-the-job experience. Applicants who have successfully completed related courses of study or work experience may be eligible for advanced standing in the apprenticeship program.
The Apprenticeship Branch arranges your classroom technical training. When you go to school, you pay a small portion of the tuition and are responsible for the cost of any required books and supplies. Most apprentices are eligible for employment insurance (EI) when they go to school.
When you successfully complete all levels of training, and score at least 70 % on your final examination, you receive a Certificate of Qualification confirming your status as a certified journeyperson. If you completed training as a Commercial Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic, your certificate also has "Red Seal" that means your trade qualifications are generally recognized throughout most of Canada. At present the Residential Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic Certificate of Qualification is only recognized provincially.
For more detailed information on apprenticeship training in this trade, check the Apprenticeship web site at : http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/aet/apprent/index.htm
Wage Rate: $27.96 (Base rate, not including benefits).
Employers provide holiday and vacation pay and may also provide other benefits such as group insurance for health, dental and vision care, retirement packages, and training benefits. The value of the benefits can range from 20% to 30% over and above the basic hourly pay rate.
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanics are employed in the construction, installation and service/repair fields. They may be self-employed as contractors or work in mills, packing plants, mines, refineries, manufacturing and chemical plants. They may also be employees of engineering and consulting firms, building management and equipment manufacturing companies.
With additional training, certified Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanics can transfer their skills to related apprenticeship trades such as Industrial Instrument Mechanic, and Millwright.