voTechWorksGrade 13 · a vocational technology learning center, by urbanicity
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Building & Construction · course plan

HVAC/R

10 courses · 1,800 clock hours · 9–12 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.

10courses
1,800hours
35assessments
BLD-HVAC07-01 Universal core

Universal Core: Safety, Math, Communication & Career

148 hr

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the shop and live-work site unsupervised.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
OSHA 10 and first-aid written examsWritten exam25%OSHA card issued; CPR/AED card issuedAuthorized outreach trainer exam plus AHA/Red Cross skills check.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Applied math & measurement examWritten exam25%70%Timed exam: conversions, layout math, estimating from a drawing or recipe/order.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Technical reportProject25%Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterionA written report on a real task from the trade: problem, standard, method, result.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Employer panel interviewOral / panel25%Panel passResume, 3-minute portfolio walk-through, and interview with two employer advisors.
Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
BLD-HVAC07-02 Trade course

Refrigeration cycle

171 hr

Competency course in Refrigeration cycle for the HVAC/R program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in Refrigeration cycle and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Refrigeration cycle: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for Refrigeration cycle. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Refrigeration cycle: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of Refrigeration cycle against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Refrigeration cycle: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Refrigeration cycle: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing Refrigeration cycle work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-HVAC07-03 Trade course

Electrical controls

171 hr

Competency course in electrical controls for the HVAC/R program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in electrical controls and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Electrical controls: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for electrical controls. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Electrical controls: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of electrical controls against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Electrical controls: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Electrical controls: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing electrical controls work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-HVAC07-04 Trade course

Heat pumps

170 hr

Competency course in heat pumps for the HVAC/R program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in heat pumps and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Heat pumps: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for heat pumps. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Heat pumps: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of heat pumps against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Heat pumps: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Heat pumps: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing heat pumps work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-HVAC07-05 Trade course

Ductwork

170 hr

Competency course in ductwork for the HVAC/R program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in ductwork and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Ductwork: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for ductwork. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Ductwork: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of ductwork against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Ductwork: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Ductwork: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing ductwork work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-HVAC07-06 Trade course

Load calculation

170 hr

Competency course in load calculation for the HVAC/R program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in load calculation and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Load calculation: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for load calculation. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Load calculation: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of load calculation against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Load calculation: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Load calculation: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing load calculation work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-HVAC07-07 Trade course

Commercial refrigeration

170 hr

Competency course in commercial refrigeration for the HVAC/R program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the shop and live-work site, measured against the governing code and manufacturer specifications. Students build, install and inspect real work in commercial refrigeration and keep a shop log signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Commercial refrigeration: written examWritten exam25%75%Theory, terminology, standards and safety for commercial refrigeration. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Commercial refrigeration: skills demonstrationSkills demonstration45%Competent on every critical step; zero safety faultsObserved, timed performance of the core tasks of commercial refrigeration against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Commercial refrigeration: shop logLog15%Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hoursDaily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Commercial refrigeration: safety auditSafety audit15%Pass/fail — must passUnannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing commercial refrigeration work.
Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
BLD-HVAC07-08 Capstone

Capstone Project

216 hr

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in HVAC/R: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Capstone: finished work + documentationProject60%Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterionEmployer advisor + instructor score the finished work against the specification, the estimate, and the documentation package.
Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation
Capstone: portfolioPortfolio20%CompletePhotos/drawings/logs of every course skills demonstration plus the capstone, in the program portfolio format.
Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality
Capstone: defenseOral / panel20%Panel pass15-minute presentation and questions from the panel.
Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication
BLD-HVAC07-09 Externship / clinical

Externship / Worksite Placement

324 hr

Supervised placement with an employer partner in HVAC/R work. Hours are logged against the certifying body's task list; the employer evaluates against the same rubric used in the shop.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Employer evaluationSkills demonstration70%Satisfactory on every competencyMid-point and final evaluation by the site supervisor on the program competency list.
Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative
Hours & task logLog30%Required hours complete and verifiedSigned log of hours and tasks; verified by the registrar for the board/certifying body.
Complete · Verified
BLD-HVAC07-10 Exam prep

Certification Exam Preparation

90 hr

Structured preparation for EPA 608 Universal; HVAC Excellence; NATE; NCCER HVAC: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

Outcomes
AssessmentTypeWeightPass standardMethod & rubric
Mock certification exam (×2)Mock certification exam100%≥ 80% on bothFull-length timed mocks built from the certifying body's published blueprint; second attempt after targeted review.
Score · Time management
Program completion

External credential: EPA 608 Universal; HVAC Excellence; NATE; NCCER HVAC

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.

Back to HVAC/R · How the school gets authority to award these credentials