Course overview
This Level 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heat Pump Technician Apprenticeship is available to anyone aged over 16.
Key activities are: the design, installation, routine maintenance, reactive service, commissioning and de-commissioning of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump systems.
Technicians require a thorough competency in their understanding of the engineering principles of thermodynamics and the vapour compression cycle in order to perform operations.
A fully competent technician works without immediate supervision, and liaises effectively with other trades and with end users.
Prior to taking the End Point Assessment (EPA) apprentices will need to have achieved the City & Guilds Level 2 Award in F Gas and ODS Regulations: Category I (2079-11) No: 500/5730/3 .
What skills and qualities do apprentices need?
The skills required by an apprentice RAC technician are varied and include:
- Practical skills
- Methodical approach
- Ability to follow technical drawings
- Attention to detail
- Comfortable working at heights
- Numeracy skills
Entry requirements
Apprentices should be aged 16 or over and be employed or secured employment in the industry.
You must have achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and Maths for this apprenticeship.
It is desirable that you have 4 GCSEs at grade A*-C (9-4) including English, Maths and Science. All applicants will sit an entry test to determine their English and maths skills.
Employers may specify additional entry requirements.
You can search for vacancies on the National Apprenticeship Service page - find an apprenticeship
What would apprentices learn at College?
- Understanding of relevant UK and international standards, technical and environmental legislation including health & safety, environmental protection, working with pressure systems, electrical circuits and flammable substances.
- Sound understanding of principles of thermodynamics, gas laws, psychrometrics, fluid flow, electricity, properties of refrigerant fluids and lubricants.
- Installation, commissioning, testing, fault diagnostics, rectification of systems, component/refrigerant suitability and selection
- Working with pressure systems and electrical circuits and systems
- Evaluating and mitigating risks of refrigerants including toxicity, flammability and other potential risks or hazards to self and the general public.
- Understanding of environmental impact of refrigerants, maximising efficient system performance and mitigation of direct and indirect carbon emissions.
- Understanding of environmental technologies employed in the sector such as heat recovery, low GWP refrigerants, and other equipment which can be used to reduce heat gain, cooling load or energy use.
Information for employers
If you are considering taking on an apprentice and would like to find out more about the Level 3 Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heat Pump Technician Apprenticeship please get in touch with the apprenticeship team.
They will be able to advise you on the course content, offer advice for levy and non-levy payers and provide details on the end point assessment (EPA).
You can find out more about this apprenticeship standard on the Institute for Apprenticeship site.
From 1st April 2021 all employers are required to use the government apprenticeship service to secure funding for any apprentices they wish to employ. Apprentices will be unable to start their course at college without reserving funding.
We can assist you with this process by providing informative emails, videos and telephone assistance, please get in touch to find out more.
Call:
0113 222 6000
Email:
info@lcb.ac.uk
Current Vacancies
Current vacancies from employers we work with will be shown here.
If none are showing, you can search and register for job alerts on the apprenticeship vacancy website.
Next steps
After completing this course there are a number of options available, depending on your final grade you could move into higher education or seek permanent employment.
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