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Course Curriculum

What You'll Learn, Week by Week

A detailed look at the full 12-week Mind4Change HVAC fundamentals course — from your first day in the shop to graduation and career planning.

12

Weeks of Training

100%

Free of Charge

16–24

Ages Eligible

1

Week 1

Introduction to the HVAC Industry

Understand the industry landscape and set personal goals for the program

  • What HVAC is and why the trade matters (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)
  • Career paths in HVAC: apprenticeships, service techs, installers, and beyond
  • How much HVAC technicians earn and how pay grows with experience
  • Program overview: what the next 12 weeks will look like
2

Week 2

Safety & Shop Orientation

Work safely around HVAC tools, equipment, and job-site hazards

  • Personal protective equipment: gloves, safety glasses, and proper work attire
  • Shop and job-site safety rules for working around tools and equipment
  • Electrical, refrigerant, and chemical hazards — how to recognize and avoid them
  • Proper lifting, ladder use, and housekeeping practices
3

Week 3

Basic Tools of the Trade

Identify, hold, and use the core hand tools of HVAC work

  • Hand tools: wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, tubing cutters, and flaring tools
  • How to read and use pressure gauges and manifold gauge sets
  • Introduction to the multimeter and what it measures
  • Tool care, organization, and building a personal tool kit
4

Week 4

Heating Fundamentals

Explain how the major types of heating systems warm a building

  • How a furnace works: burners, heat exchangers, blower, and flue
  • Gas vs. electric furnaces and the basics of combustion
  • Heat pumps: how they move heat instead of creating it
  • Air distribution: ducts, registers, and return air
5

Week 5

Air Conditioning & the Refrigeration Cycle

Trace the refrigeration cycle and describe each component's job

  • The four parts of the refrigeration cycle: compressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator
  • How refrigerant carries heat from inside to outside
  • Indoor and outdoor units and how they work together
  • Common A/C problems and how technicians diagnose them
6

Week 6

Refrigerants & EPA Guidelines

Handle refrigerant topics responsibly and understand EPA basics

  • Types of refrigerants and why they're regulated
  • EPA rules for handling refrigerant and why certification matters
  • Recovering, evacuating, and charging — what safe practice looks like
  • Environmental responsibility in the trade
7

Week 7

Electrical Foundations

Understand basic circuits and identify key electrical parts

  • Basic electricity: voltage, current, resistance, and power
  • Series and parallel circuits in HVAC equipment
  • Common electrical components: contactors, capacitors, relays, and transformers
  • How to read simple wiring diagrams and schematics
8

Week 8

Using the Multimeter & Troubleshooting

Take basic electrical measurements and follow a troubleshooting routine

  • Measuring voltage, continuity, and resistance safely with a multimeter
  • Testing capacitors, switches, and fuses
  • A simple step-by-step troubleshooting process
  • Hands-on practice diagnosing common problems on training units
9

Week 9

Hands-On: Copper, Tubing & Ductwork

Cut, shape, and join tubing; understand ductwork installation

  • Cutting, bending, and flaring copper tubing
  • Introduction to brazing and why connections must be leak-free
  • Ductwork basics: flex duct, sheet metal, sealing, and insulation
  • Practice projects assembling simple piping runs
10

Week 10

Airflow, Filters & Preventive Maintenance

Perform basic maintenance checks like a working technician

  • Why airflow matters for comfort and equipment life
  • Choosing and changing filters the right way
  • Preventive maintenance checklists for furnaces and A/C units
  • What a professional tune-up visit includes
11

Week 11

Review & Skills Assessment

Demonstrate the fundamentals and know exactly where you stand

  • Full review of weeks 1–10: tools, heating, cooling, electrical, and safety
  • Hands-on skills assessment on the training units
  • Practice quizzes in the style of entry-level HVAC exams
  • One-on-one feedback with the instructor on strengths and next steps
12

Week 12

Career Prep & Graduation

Leave with a resume, interview confidence, and a career plan

  • Building a resume that highlights your new HVAC skills
  • Interview practice for apprenticeship and entry-level openings
  • Certification pathways: EPA 608 and what comes after this course
  • Graduation, certificates, and next-step planning

Ready to Begin Week 1?

Spots in each session are limited. Reach out today and we'll walk you through enrollment.

Apply Now
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