Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology Diploma

The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology curriculum provides the basic knowledge to develop the skills necessary to work with residential and light commercial systems.

Topics include mechanical refrigeration, heating, and cooling theory, electricity, controls, and safety. The diploma program covers air conditioning, furnaces, heat pumps, tools, and instruments.

Diploma graduates will be able to assist in the startup, preventive maintenance, service, repair, and/or installation of residential and light commercial systems.

Upon completion of the diploma, all diploma courses transfer towards the AAS degree.

Specific Requirements

Courses requiring a grade of “C” or better: AHR, ELC, and WBL

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
AHR-111		3
This course introduces electricity as it applies to HVACR equipment. Emphasis is placed on power sources, interaction of electrical components, wiring of simple circuits, and the use of electrical test equipment. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate good wiring practices and the ability to read simple wiring diagrams. View course details for HVACR Electricity ‌‌
AHR-112		4
This course covers the fundamentals of heating including oil, gas, and electric heating systems. Topics include safety, tools and instrumentation, system operating characteristics, installation techniques, efficiency testing, electrical power, and control systems. Upon completion, students should be able to explain the basic oil, gas, and electrical heating systems and describe the major components of a heating system. View course details for Heating Technology ‌‌
AHR-130		3
This course covers the types of controls found in residential and commercial comfort systems. Topics include electrical and electronic controls, control schematics and diagrams, test instruments, and analysis and troubleshooting of electrical systems. Upon completion, students should be able to diagnose and repair common residential and commercial comfort systems controls. View course details for HVAC Controls ‌‌
AHR-170		1
This course provides a laboratory experience in heating technology. Emphasis is placed on providing practical experience in the fundamentals of heating. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of electric, oil, and gas-fueled heating systems. View course details for Heating Lab ‌‌
ELC-132		2
This course introduces the technical documentation that is typically found or used in the industrial environment. Topics include interpretation of service manuals, freehand sketching of lines, orthographic views and dimensions, and blueprint reading. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret technical documents and blueprints and use basic drafting skills to prepare usable field drawings. View course details for Electrical Drawings ‌‌
PHY-121		4
This algebra-based course introduces fundamental physical concepts as applied to industrial and service technology fields. Topics include systems of units, problem-solving methods, graphical analyses, vectors, motion, forces, Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, power, momentum, and properties of matter. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles studied as applied in industrial and service fields. View course details for Applied Physics I ‌‌
WLD-113		2
This course covers procedures for cutting, soldering, and brazing of pipe and tubing. Topics include safety, proper equipment setup, and operation of soldering and brazing equipment. Upon completion, students should be able to solder and braze pipe, tubing, and fittings in various positions. View course details for Soldering and Brazing ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
AHR-110		5
This course introduces the basic refrigeration process used in mechanical refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Topics include terminology, safety, and identification and function of components; refrigeration cycle; and tools and instrumentation used in mechanical refrigeration systems. Emphasis will be placed on how refrigeration theory, principles, and practice are used in the refrigeration cooling trades. View course details for Introduction to Refrigeration ‌‌
AHR -113		4
This course covers the installation procedures, system operations, and maintenance of residential and light commercial comfort cooling systems. Topics include terminology, component operation, and testing and repair of equipment used to control and produce assured comfort levels. Upon completion, students should be able to use psychometrics, manufacturer specifications, and test instruments to determine proper system operation. View course details for Comfort Cooling ‌‌
AHR-160		1
This course covers the requirements for the EPA certification examinations. Topics include small appliances, high-pressure systems, and low-pressure systems. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of refrigerants and be prepared for the EPA certification examinations. View course details for Refrigerant Certification ‌‌
AHR-171		1
This course provides a laboratory experience in comfort cooling. Emphasis is placed on providing practical experience in the installation, operations, and maintenance of residential and light commercial comfort cooling systems. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of comfort cooling systems. View course details for Comfort Cooling Lab ‌‌
AHR-213		2
This course covers the North Carolina codes that are applicable to the design and installation of HVACR systems. Topics include current North Carolina codes as applied to HVACR design, service, and installation. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the correct usage of North Carolina codes that apply to specific areas of the HVACR trade. View course details for HVACR Building Code ‌‌
COM-120		3
This course introduces the practices and principles of interpersonal communication in both dyadic and group settings. Emphasis is placed on the communication process, perception, listening, self-disclosure, speech apprehension, ethics, nonverbal communication, conflict, power, and dysfunctional communication relationships. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, apply basic principles of group discussion, and manage conflict in interpersonal communication situations. View course details for Intro Interpersonal Communication ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
AHR-114		4
This course covers the principles of air source and water source heat pumps. Emphasis is placed on safety, modes of operation, defrost systems, refrigerant charging, and system performance. Upon completion, students should be able to understand and analyze system performance and perform routine service procedures. View course details for Heat Pump Technology ‌‌
WBL-111		1
This course provides a work-based learning experience with a college-approved employer in an area related to the student's program of study. Emphasis is placed on integrating classroom learning with related work experience. Upon completion, students should be able to evaluate career selection, demonstrate employability skills, and satisfactorily perform work-related competencies. View course details for Work-Based Learning I ‌‌

Total Credit Hours Required:

See your advisor for General Education substitutes.

Curriculum is based on the 2024-2025 catalog.

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

Six hours from Communication
Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

Communication	Humanities & Fine Arts	Social & Behavioral Science	Natural Science & Mathematics
COM-110	ART-111	ECO-251	BIO-161
COM-120	ART-114	ECO-252	BIO-163
COM-231	ART-115	HIS-111	BIO-168
ENG-110	HUM-110	HIS-112	MAT-110
ENG-111	HUM-115	HIS-131	MAT-121
ENG-112	MUS-110	HIS-132	MAT-143
ENG-114	MUS-112	POL-120	MAT-152
	PHI-215	PSY-150	MAT-171
	PHI-240	SOC-210	PHY-110/110A
		SOC-225	PHY-121

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

Six hours in English Composition
Six to nine hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
Three to eight hours in Mathematics
Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

Six hours in English Composition
Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
12 hours in Mathematics
12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

Six hours in English Composition
Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
Three to four hours in Mathematics
Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

Students will demonstrate information literacy.
Students will critique works of human expression.
Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

Students will identify processes.
Students will analyze problems.
Students will interpret the results.
Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.