Profile -- Lisa Green

Are you mechanically inclined? Enjoy working by yourself, but also have great people skills? Do you have strong math skills? If so, you might enjoy a career as a Refrigeration and Air conditioning Mechanic. All of these things are essential to a refrigeration mechanic.

Refrigeration mechanics are responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining heating and cooling systems in building, businesses, and homes. Garth Green has been in the industry for over 15 years. He has worked for companies in both Calgary and High River, Alberta. He entered the trade because it seemed interesting. "I had never given any thought to refrigeration or air conditioning before. It seemed like an interesting thing to learn about." His favorite part of his job is the personal satisfaction that he feels after he has fixed a problem for someone. He also likes the fact that he gets to work on his own a lot of the time. His least favorite part of the job is collecting payment from residential customers after finishing his work at their home. Overall though, Garth says he finds this career very rewarding. "It's very rewarding to find a problem for someone and then fix it for them. Most people are very grateful and say so. It gives me a great sense of personal satisfaction." The risks in this line of work involve working at heights, around electricity and moving parts. Being cautious and patient can help minimize the risks.

A typical day for a refrigeration mechanic involves going into the office in the morning to see what jobs need to be done. Then the mechanic drives to each job site. They talk with the customers and then take a look at the system to troubleshoot, determine the problem and fix it. For the most part refrigeration mechanics work a normal work week, and rotate being on call with other mechanics in the company. However, a job can rarely be left unfinished. So some evening work may be required if a job takes longer than anticipated, or if it was started late in the day. An important part of being a successful refrigeration mechanic is the ability to work independently, but also to have good customer service skills. Patience and a comfort with heights is also important.

Someone wanting to enter the refrigeration industry needs to register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. The minimum requirement is a high school diploma and pure math 20 or 23 or applied math 20. If an interested person doesn't have one of these math courses, they can also write an entrance exam to meet the qualifications. As well they need to find an employer who is willing to hire and train an apprentice. This can sometimes be difficult as a lot of refrigeration work is done individually and it is sometimes hard for a company to justify having two people at a job site to train an apprentice. The best way to find a company to apprentice with is to apply to big companies, and take a pre-employment course. Some employers also like to hire post-secondary graduates of technical programs or journeymen of other trades. High school graduates with good grades and an aptitude for math and science may also be considered. The apprenticeship term is four years. Each year eight weeks is spent training at a technical school, the remainder of the year is spent working with a journeyman to gain on-the-job esperience. At the end of the four years, apprentices write their journeyman's exam to earn their certificate. They may then write an interprovincal exam to have their ticket recognized throughout Canada. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is the only school in Alberta that offers a refrigeration and air conditioning technician apprenticeship program.

Refrigeration mechanics can expect to earn between $23 and $35 per hour. Most average around $30/hour. They usually work in companies that install and service air conditioning and refrigeration systems. There is a definite need for servicemen in this industry, and there will be a growing need in the future, with room for advancement into supervisory roles. If working with an apprentice there is opportunity for mentorship and teaching. Some technicians open their own businesses, which can be done fairly easily in this industry.

There is great opportunity for travel in this line of work. Refrigeration mechanics drive from jobsite to jobsite to complete their work. If working in a large city, the travel is usually within city limits. If working in a small town, the travel may include trips to neighbouring towns and communities. Garth currently works with a company in High River. His travel has included west into Kananaskis, south to Claresholm, and southwest to the Crowsnest pass. There are also opportunities for international work.

There is high demand for refrigeration mechanics around the world, especially those who are Alberta trained. Garth has experienced this demand first hand. "I was talking to a man in Egypt. When he found out that I was a refrigeration mechanic and was trained in Alberta he offered me an opportunity to come work for him on the spot. Alberta trained refrigeration mechanics are very highly regarded around the world."

Alberta Occupational Profiles (OCCInfo) - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic

Human Resources & Skills Development Canada - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic

Trade Secrets-Apprenticeships - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic

Apprenticeship training for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in Alberta is offered through SAIT

NAIT - HVAC Specialist Certificate

NAIT - Building Environmental Systems Technology (BEST) diploma

HVAC Technicians - Video Profile.

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