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Past Issues:
September 7, 2023 Update
After December 31 2023, NATE will no longer offer the HVAC Performance Verifier exam. For questions, please contact [email protected].
August 4, 2023 Issue
NATE Introduces New Members to Board of Trustees
NATE recently welcomed five new members to its Board of Trustees. Don Brenneman with Airefco, Jon Hirsch with Auer Steel, Terry Tanker with HVACR Business, Steve Widhalm with Thermal Services, and Luke Wrona with Cardinal Heating were elected by the current Board of Trustees members.
The NATE Board of Trustees holds a crucial role in guiding and overseeing the strategic direction, policies, and initiatives of the organization. The NATE Board of Trustees plays a vital role in providing guidance and oversight for the organization’s strategic direction, policies, and initiatives. NATE is delighted to welcome accomplished industry leaders to its leadership team, eagerly anticipating the valuable expertise and experience they bring to further enhance the organization’s endeavors. The next NATE Board meeting will take place in October 2023 at NATE’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
DOE Launches New State Grant Program to Support HVACR Contractors
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) recently launched a new grant program to help states better support contractors and the education, training, and certification for those in the residential energy efficiency workforce. Also referred to as Contractor Training Grants, the program gives states the opportunity to develop and implement workforce training programs for residential efficiency projects.
Applications are due September 30, 2023. For more information and to learn if your state is involved, visit the SCEP webpage.
Virtual Reality Courses Available on NATE Training Academy
NATE has partnered with Interplay Learning to create the NATE Training Academy, a new online training platform for HVACR technicians. Each course on the platform prepares technicians for a specific NATE certification exam, including the ore exam, Specialty exams, and CHP-5 exams. The platform offers interactive lessons and practical scenarios through 3D simulations and over a hundred virtual reality modules. Technicians can engage in real-world simulations to gain hands-on experience, preparing them for real-life challenges they may encounter in their HVACR careers.
NATE Training Academy’s user-friendly interface allows technicians to learn at their own pace, making it convenient for busy professionals to fit learning into their schedules. Progress tracking and assessments are integrated into the platform, ensuring that technicians can monitor their advancement and identify areas that require further focus. Visit the NATE website for more information about NATE Training Academy.
May 12, 2023 Issue
NATE COO John Lanier Named President
At its April 12 meeting, the Board of Trustees of North American Technician Excellence (NATE) named current Chief Operating Officer John Lanier as President of the organization, effective immediately. Lanier also serves as Chief Operating Officer of AHRI, which has an administrative service agreement with NATE. In recent years, under the leadership of John Lanier and the NATE Board of Trustees, the organization intentionally shifted NATE’s vision to incorporate technician development in addition to its historical emphasis on testing and certification. In recognition of their excellence and indispensable nature within the industry, NATE began to develop ways to support and train technicians on their path toward certification.
Prior to joining the NATE team, Lanier held a variety of executive leadership roles, most notably as Senior Vice President of Operations at the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s largest independent business association. Throughout his career, Lanier has gained valuable experience in operations, sales, member benefits, human resources, and information technology.
Participate in NATE Survey to Expand Spanish Language Resources
NATE currently offers Spanish language versions of the Core exam, the Air Conditioning, Air to Air Heat Pump, and Gas Heating (Air) Specialty exams, the EPA 608 exam and the Ready to Work and HVAC Support Technician entry level certificate exams. Additionally, NATE offers Spanish language study guides for the Ready to Work and HVAC Support Technician entry level certificates in the NATE Online Store.
NATE is now working on expanding the exams and study guides offered in Spanish. You can share what exams and other resources you would like to see translated first by completing this short survey. For more information about NATE’s translation process or current Spanish language resources, contact NATE’s Marketing Manager Daisy Weill at [email protected].
Expand Your Reach for Free with NATE’s Contractor Locator
Did you know that NATE allows contractors of all sizes to participate in the NATE Consumer Contractor
Connection (C3) program? When you become a member of the C3 program, you gain access to new customers and benefit from association with the leading certification organization in HVACR. As a C3 member, you can register for a free listing on our Contractor Locator that receives over 5,000 visits monthly. Additionally, contractors gain expanded access on their myNATE account to track their technicians’ certification progress and recent CEHs.
To qualify, at least 25% of a contractor’s eligible service and installation technicians must be NATE certified. Membership is free and the application is available on the NATE website.
April 14, 2023 Issue
Redesigned NATE Exam KATEs Now Available
One of the first steps towards technicians should take when preparing for their next NATE exam is reviewing the exam KATEs. All NATE exams are based on Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs), statistically proven job task analysis from experts in the HVACR industry. Each exam KATEs outline covers all information tested in the exam and should be used as reference material.
Now the NATE Exam KATEs are reformatted to more clearly show the exam information and qualifications, the percentage of each subject on the exam, industry references, and a clear outline of each topic that technicians should be familiar with before sitting for the exam. NATE has free downloadable KATEs available for every NATE exam, including the Core and Specialty exams, all five CHP-5 exams, entry level NATE certificates, and more. You can view all the exam KATEs on the NATE website.
2023 ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship
NATE is proud to announce that the ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship is back for a second year! Technicians that have what it takes to make it through two qualifying rounds will receive an all-expense paid trip to Tampa, Florida. In the Sunshine State, the top technicians will compete to win a share of over $100,000 in cash and prizes and the well-deserved bragging rights of being crowned the 2023 Champion.
The Round 1 Qualifier is a 5-minute digital quiz with questions provided by NATE. Technicians can take the quiz as many times as they want. The top apprentice and professional who score the highest each month will automatically qualify for Round 2. This digital quiz is now open through July 31st.
From the Round 1 Qualifier, the top 38 apprentices and 38 professionals will advance to the next round in the ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship. Follow the competition on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to keep up with all the latest updates about the ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship!
Quantifying the Importance of Technician Certification and Career Development
This past year, NATE worked with Decision Analyst Inc., an independent research group to survey technicians and contractors about HVACR certification and training. Through the survey, NATE aimed to learn more about technician certification needs, career development in the HVACR industry, and how contractors can provide better training and resources for their technicians.
NATE found that 76% of contractors see their certified technicians as better prepared than their non-certified technicians and 86% of NATE certified technicians prefer their NATE certification over any other HVACR certification. Additionally, contractors stated they had more confidence in their NATE-certified technicains and preferred for their technicians to become certified. When asked about career development and training opportunities, three out of four technicians surveyed said they were more likely to stay with their employer if they received assistance with their certification and training. Four out of five NATE-certified technicians have received some form of assistance from their employers. The survey also found that most contractors support technician development, with 85% of contractors surveyed reporting that they provided certification and job development support.
For more information about the technician and contractor survey, contact NATE’s Marketing Manager, Daisy Weill at [email protected].
February 10, 2023 Issue
NATE Partners with PNNL to Incorporate Decarbonization Topics Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy in NATE Certification Exam
Exam North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is proud to partner with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to update the Heat Pump specialty NATE certification to include decarbonization curriculum supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). NATE worked with PNNL to update the Heat Pump specialty certification to incorporate the decarbonization curriculum topics into the job task analysis for the certification. The updated job task analysis now includes new guidance on smart diagnostic tools, upgrading fossil fuel heating systems to electric heat pumps, and cold climate heat pumps.
NATE is now working with its Technical Committee to update the Heat Pump specialty exam questions to match the updated job task analysis. The NATE Technical Committee is made up of experts from across the HVACR industry and guides NATE’s exam updates and new exam development. NATE expects to release the updated exam in early 2023. “In order to certify the best technicians in the industry, it is vital that we understand and recognize how industry trends, evolving best practices, and new technical knowledge are affecting our technicians’ work. Due to rapidly changing technologies in the HVACR industry, we must continually evaluate our certification standards to remain at the top of the field,” explained NATE COO John Lanier. “The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a leader in sustainable energy technology and innovation. By partnering with PNNL to incorporate decarbonization topics, NATE is ensuring that we are staying ahead of the curve on important environmental changes in our industry.”
Two Ways to Become NATE Certified
NATE now has two certification pathways for HVACR technicians: the Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) and the Traditional Pathway. NATE’s goal with the CHP-5 is to offer technicians different pathways to NATE certification so they can choose the exam pathway that best fits their level of experience and learning style. With the CHP-5, technicians can earn their NATE certification through a series of five 30-question exams, each on a different subject domain: HVAC Fundamentals, Electrical and Controls, Comfort and Airflow, Installation, and Service. Technicians can take the exams in any order they choose and can take up to six months between each exam to study and prepare. The NATE Traditional Pathway consists of the 50-question Core Exam and a 100-question Specialty exam. Technicians can choose between 13 specialty exams with an emphasis on installation or service.
Contractors: Sign up as a NATE Testing Organization
Eligible contractors can save time and money by ordering exams directly from NATE to test their technicians. As a NATE Testing Organization, you can set your own exam times to best fit your company’s schedule. To register, you must complete a free NATE Testing Organization application. The application is available online at www.NATEX.org. To become a Testing Organization, you must employ at least five technicians, have an individual who can register and act as proctor for the exams, have the ability to conduct at least one test session per year, and have space such as a training or meeting room to conduct exams.
For more information, reach out to NATE at [email protected].
November 11, 2022 Issue
NATE Works with Opinion Research Company to Conduct Technician and Contractor Survey
This past year, NATE worked with Decision Analyst, an independent opinion research company, to conduct an anonymous survey of technicians and contractors to better understand technician certification needs. The survey is part of NATE’s ongoing efforts to understand how NATE training and testing aligns with the career development path of technicians today. Among the contractors and technicians surveyed, NATE certification was valued the most among HVACR certifications (59% among contractors and 86% among technicians) and the survey found that four out of five contractors prefer for their technicians to be NATE-certified. Contractors explained that they see their NATE-certified technicians as better prepared, more confident, and more satisfied with their job than non-certified technicians. The survey also looked at the impact of technician training and certification on employee retention. The survey showed that four out of five NATE-certified technicians have received some form of assistance from their employers — and 84% of the companies surveyed that employed NATE-certified technicians provided some sort of assistance to their technicians during the certification process. NATE plans to use the survey to inform its work over the coming months and help contractors provide better training and resources for their technicians.
For more information, contact NATE’s marketing manager, Daisy Weill, at [email protected].
May 13, 2022 Issue
NATE Exams Approved by Virginia Board of Education
The Virginia Board of Education recently announced that three NATE certification exams will be a part of the state’s approved Industry Certifications for the 2022-23 school year. Now Virginia post-secondary students can earn their NATE certification as part of their career and technical education graduation requirements. The three approved exams are the Air Conditioning Service, Gas Heating Service Heat Pump Service specialty exams. Visit the NATE website for more information on these specialty exams and NATE certification.
New Courses Live on NATE Training Academy
In February, NATE partnered with Interplay Learning to create NATE Training Academy, a new online training platform. The comprehensive online courses are all available on-demand and can be taken at any time. All courses are interactive and immersive –and include field-like 3D and VR simulations, videos, and knowledge checks.
NATE Training Academy currently offers courses to prepare technicians for the Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) certification exams. The platform launched with courses that covered two of the CHP-5 exams: HVAC Fundamental and Service. On April 21, NATE Training Academy launched courses for the Installation CHP-5 exam. Courses on the two remaining CHP-5 exams will be released in the coming months, and all CHP-5 courses will be available by summer 2022.
A New Way to Connect with NATE
There is a new way to contact the NATE customer service team. You can now text us at (703) 945-1914 to connect with a NATE customer service representative. The NATE customer service team is available 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. If you prefer phone or email communication, you can also call us toll-free at 877-420-6283 (NATE) or send us an email at [email protected].
April 8, 2022 Issue
Eligible HVACR Contractors Encouraged to Become a NATE Recognized Training Provider
If you provide training for HVACR technicians, you can apply to become a NATE Recognized Training Provider (RTP) and register your courses with NATE. Manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, contractors, association partners and trade association chapters and educational/training facilities are all eligible to become a NATE-Recognized Training Provider. By registering your courses with NATE, NATE-certified technicians can automatically receive continuing education hours (CEHs) towards their recertification.
The NATE website provides all the necessary tools and information need to submit courses, pay and renew courses, and to submit attendance records via the myNATE portal. Get started today with the free Recognized Training Provider application at www.natex.org.
Spring Recertification Reminder
Next week, NATE is mailing out reminder to technicians that need to complete their recertification this spring to maintain their NATE certification. NATE Technicians must earn 16 hours of training related to their certification specialty or in general areas such as safety, electricity, controls, codes and regulations every 2 years in order to maintain their certification. Technicians can track their credit hour progress through their myNATE account. For more information about the recertification policies, fees, and common FAQs, visit NATE’s recertification webpage. If you or your technicians have any questions about the recertification process, reach out to NATE at [email protected] or call NATE customer
service at 877-420-6283.
NATE Training Academy and CHP-5 Certification
NATE has partnered with Interplay Learning to create NATE Training Academy, a new online training platform for HVACR technicians. NATE Training Academy provides technicians a way to study and prepare for the Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) exams. Course subjects cover each of the CHP-5 exam subject domains, HVAC Fundamentals, Electrical and Controls, Comfort and Airflow, Installation, and Service. The comprehensive online courses are all available on-demand and can be taken at any time. The interactive and immersive online courses include “field-like” 3D and VR simulations, videos, and knowledge checks.
NATE launched the Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) in the summer of 2020. With the CHP-5, technicians can earn their NATE certification through a series of five 30 question exams, each on a different subject domain: HVAC Fundamentals, Electrical and Controls, Comfort and Airflow, Installation, and Service. Technicians can take the exams in any order they choose and can take up to six months between each exam to study and prepare.
NATE’s goal with the CHP-5 is to help HVAC technicians feel more prepared while studying for their certification by grouping together exam subject areas. “We wanted to create a full development certification path that mirrors the on-the-job training that many technicians receive,” said John Lanier, NATE COO. “The platform gives technicians the opportunity to demonstrate their competency each step of the way” as they take each exam.
Technicians can take the CHP-5 in-person with any NATE Testing Organization, or complete the exam online using NATE’s new remote Live Online Proctoring. For more information, contact NATE’s Marketing Manager, Daisy Weill at [email protected].
February 11, 2022 Issue
PHCC Announces 2021 National Apprentice Contest Winners
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association’s (PHCC) Educational Foundation recently announced the winners of the national plumbing and HVAC apprentice contests. The recipients include Karin Dahlin from Minneapolis Pipefitters local 539, who won first place in the HVAC apprentice contest. The contest was held October 21 and 22, 2021 on the tradeshow floor during the PHCC—National Association’s CONNECT 2021 event. A total of sixteen plumbing and seven HVAC apprentices from across the nation took part in the contests.
North American Technician Excellence is a proud sponsor of the PHCC apprentice contests. The contests are made possible by the generous support of several industry sponsors who provide monetary support and in-kind material and tool donations.
Study Guide for Low-GWP Refrigerant Certification Now Available
NATE is proud to introduce a new refrigerant certification exam. The exam is designed to validate a technician’s knowledge of the low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants becoming common in the HVACR industry due to new state and federal regulations.
While the new low-GWP refrigerants are more efficient, these products are also more advanced and complicated for HVACR technicians to work with. The NATE refrigerant exam is designed to ensure that HVAC engineers and technicians have the necessary skills and job knowledge to handle refrigerants of all types. The study guide is now available in the NATE Online Store.
NATE Training Academy Coming Soon
NATE has teamed up with Interplay Learning to create the NATE Training Academy, a new online training platform for HVACR technicians. NATE Training Academy is designed to provide technicians a way to train for NATE certification exams online at their own pace. The comprehensive online courses are all available on-demand and can be taken at any time. The interactive and immersive online courses include “field-like” 3D and VR simulations, videos, and knowledge checks.
Course subjects cover HVAC Fundamentals, Electrical and Controls, Comfort and Airflow, Installation, and Service. Courses for HVAC Fundamentals and Service will be available January 31, and all courses will be available by the end of May. For more information, contact NATE’s Marketing Manager, Daisy Weill at [email protected].
