Lindstrom Air Conditioning is proud to say that our technicians are certified for the Northern American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. This program, launched in 1997, is the largest non-profit certification organization for heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration technicians, and is based in Arlington, Virginia.
From their website, NATE believes that …
Valid certifications must test the actual knowledge a technician needs to do a specific job. They should be relevant, derived from industry consensus and independently administered by a disinterested third party. All test and knowledge elements should be evaluated and validated by a psychometrician. Tests should have an appeals process and be analyzed regularly to keep current and accurate. Furthermore, there should be a firewall between training and testing, thus eliminating the specter of anyone “teaching the test.” NATE testing does all of this.
In order to be NATE-certified, technicians must pass tests that represent real world knowledge of heating and air conditioning systems, bringing their knowledge to the forefront, and thus preparing them to serve you better. The tests are developed by industry experts across the country. Technicians can earn certification in one or more of the specialty areas that NATE tests, which can include air conditioning, heat pumps, oil heating, air distribution, light commercial refrigeration (service only) and HVAC efficiency.
A technician’s NATE certification lasts for two years. Once those two years are up, he/she must earn 16 hours of specialty-related continuing education within those two years, or they may choose to retake their exam.
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) use the NATE tests, as well as other partners including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The tests help ensure the heating and air conditioning industry, which is always growing, is growing with certified technicians that provide quality service, installation, enhanced system performance and energy efficiency to all customers.
If you have any questions concerning the certification or training of any of our technicians, please feel free to contact Lindstrom Air.