I am looking at two different schools in Las Vegas. One is about 900 hours the other is about 200 hours. How can I tell which one is a scam?
How to know if a trade school is a scam?
asanta27
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gooey and yap are your friend, asks friends and stop by supply houses and ask techs in the field. To me, 200 hours is an introductory meeting, maybe just selling an annuity.
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Seriously, go to supply houses and make connections and listen to their stories and suggestions. Getting into the union is more who you know, wink, wink. I didn't say that out loud, did I? It is better approach than asking the cloud.
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And if you’re not going to go the union route, don’t waste your time and money with a private trade school. No one cares what school you went to. Just go take classes at a vocational school or community college to get some fundamentals at the fraction of price and have a work history of being reliable and hard working. 98% of what you’re going to learn is in the field, so your employer/co-workers will teach you.
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That's a SCAM! :Faint: :couchhide:
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What matters in most schools is the instructor. Not so much whether they are union, public school or for profit. If you get an instructor who cares and is well rounded and can relate the information to you, then you have it made.
I ran a program. I cared. Some of my staff not so much...
Your choice of a school might be good at the moment, but humans move on...... As did I. Mostly due to new Federal rules and a narcissist owner.
I ran a program. I cared. Some of my staff not so much...
Your choice of a school might be good at the moment, but humans move on...... As did I. Mostly due to new Federal rules and a narcissist owner.
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I personally don't recommend private trade schools. Instead go into a legitimate state run tech college, or become an apprentice. I did both simultaneously and that worked well for me.
Wasnt there a trade school in Texas or something that just closed one day with out telling anyone and left a bunch of vets they flew out for training out to dry?
I've done both the community college courses and the UA apprenticeship. I have my AS in HVAC and am going into my 3rd year of the apprenticeship. They are both pretty good routes to go. Like any kind of training you get out of it what you out into it. Cant really say one is better than the other as both have their pros and cons. As for the UA training every local I'd different and some have better training facilities than others. Same goes for community colleges.
Good luck man.
I've done both the community college courses and the UA apprenticeship. I have my AS in HVAC and am going into my 3rd year of the apprenticeship. They are both pretty good routes to go. Like any kind of training you get out of it what you out into it. Cant really say one is better than the other as both have their pros and cons. As for the UA training every local I'd different and some have better training facilities than others. Same goes for community colleges.
Good luck man.
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Rate of employment in the field.
Most of the real learning is done in the field so I'd want to know what the prices are and what the curriculum is before I signed up.
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Honestly, I haven't had much luck with people who come from schools, they tend to be arrogant, thinking since they went to school they know everything there is to know. School is great for theory, and how the refrigerant cycle works, but it isn't a replacement, or better than in the field training. It's a nice addition to it however. Just remember what you see in school, and what happens in the real world are very different, and you will not have all the answers from just attending school.
Saying that, in this field its always better to keep learning, and adding to your knowledge and understanding of HVAC, but don't think school is the end all beats all and you can open a company right after. Half the people that come to my company after school can hardly do a proper commissioning of a new unit let alone check and see if an old one is running correctly. Learn from the old timers, and pay attention to what others around you are doing, take an apprenticeship, grow by doing.
Saying that, in this field its always better to keep learning, and adding to your knowledge and understanding of HVAC, but don't think school is the end all beats all and you can open a company right after. Half the people that come to my company after school can hardly do a proper commissioning of a new unit let alone check and see if an old one is running correctly. Learn from the old timers, and pay attention to what others around you are doing, take an apprenticeship, grow by doing.
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2,457 Posts
No training is a waste of time as you should always be able to learn something, even if it is don't ever do "that" again. However you do need to validate the cost of the training to what is being taught or can be learned to determine if it is worth spending your money on. Some private schools are very expensive and will get you fixed up with some very expensive student loans. which you get to start paying for even if you do not have a job. Let there be no mistake when you complete most 1 and 2 year training programs you will know and be able to do very little but you should have good understanding of the work you could be doing.
As stated the instructor(s) makes the whole thing work and worth while, Ask if they have a list of former student names you could contact. Ask for names of shops that have hired former students. Do an internet search of the school name and see what reviews come up (not from their website)
You are not likely to learn much in the 200 hour program you could probably learn more watching you tube videos
I would choose a 1 year diploma program in HVAC from a community college over a private school program, just my opinion primarily due to cost. I know what my local community collge offers and when you have completed it you are a good solid 1st year apprentice. You will have been exposed to the math you'll need, electrical and mechanical requirements, print reading, job shadowing with a local contractor and gain some actual hands of skills (soldering/brazing, hook up gauges, etc.) The cost, it just depends on your location, in my area a lot less than $1x,xxx for 1 year. My guess this should be comparable to the 900 hour private school but what's the cost of the private school?
Wheather you believe me (or others here) when you have completed 1 year schools you will know enough to have a conversation with a senior tech and know the tools when he asks you to get one (and how to use some of them) It's my experience that when you have completed your 1 year program you will have installed a simple residential (heating & cooling) system 1 time.
I'd ask the union if they have a waiting / testing list you could get on even if they say they have no apprentice openings at this time
Good Luck
As stated the instructor(s) makes the whole thing work and worth while, Ask if they have a list of former student names you could contact. Ask for names of shops that have hired former students. Do an internet search of the school name and see what reviews come up (not from their website)
You are not likely to learn much in the 200 hour program you could probably learn more watching you tube videos
I would choose a 1 year diploma program in HVAC from a community college over a private school program, just my opinion primarily due to cost. I know what my local community collge offers and when you have completed it you are a good solid 1st year apprentice. You will have been exposed to the math you'll need, electrical and mechanical requirements, print reading, job shadowing with a local contractor and gain some actual hands of skills (soldering/brazing, hook up gauges, etc.) The cost, it just depends on your location, in my area a lot less than $1x,xxx for 1 year. My guess this should be comparable to the 900 hour private school but what's the cost of the private school?
Wheather you believe me (or others here) when you have completed 1 year schools you will know enough to have a conversation with a senior tech and know the tools when he asks you to get one (and how to use some of them) It's my experience that when you have completed your 1 year program you will have installed a simple residential (heating & cooling) system 1 time.
I'd ask the union if they have a waiting / testing list you could get on even if they say they have no apprentice openings at this time
Good Luck
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