Fast Track HVACR Level 1

Tuition: $6,000 (Grant funding opportunities may be available with registration)

Class Dates: September 8, 2026 - December 11, 2026

Weekday Evenings, 5:30-8:30 PM
Labs are held on 4 Saturdays

Instructor: Aaron Fineout
Location: NCMC Martin Jahn Technical Center Classroom and Lab 

Fast Track HVACR Level 1: Core + HVACR Foundations introduces students to the fundamentals of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration through NCCER-aligned classroom and hands-on lab instruction. Students develop foundational skills in HVACR and jobsite safety, trade math, hand and power tools, construction drawings, rigging, material handling, basic electricity, heating, cooling, air distribution, piping, soldering, brazing, and system components. This course prepares students for entry-level HVACR training progression and supports a stackable pathway toward HVACR service technician roles, NCCER credentials, and additional advanced HVACR levels.​

The program includes evening instruction, selected Saturday labs, and a mandatory 40-hour final-week externship at Ballard's Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning in Petoskey, where students apply HVACR safety, tools, electrical basics, heating/cooling systems, air distribution, piping, and employability skills in a supervised field or lab setting at a local Petoskey business.  

Students who successfully complete the program will receive an NCMC Certificate of Completion documenting 200 hours of NCCER-aligned training and completed competencies. Course completion does not guarantee certification, and employers may require their own pre-employment testing.

Instructor: Aaron Fineout brings more than five years of HVACR field experience and has worked for a Petoskey-area mechanical contracting company providing plumbing, heating, cooling, air conditioning, and refrigeration services in Northwest Michigan.

Regional Wage and Labor Benchmarks

Based on the current data, which was gathered from seven Northern Michigan counties, the current Regional Median Wage for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers is $52,673. The National Median Wage for this field is $59,800.

This 14-week program includes: 

• Required safety equipment for student use

• Assistance with grant opportunities to cover tuition

• Access to NCMC facilities and learning resources

• Assistance with job placement

Students must come dressed for HVACR lab work every class.

Recommended:

• Long pants / work pants 
• Closed-toe work boots / Safety-toe boots