CAREER PATHS: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic

Classification Series 5306 (knowing the series number can be useful when searching for a specific occupation in USAJOBS.com under the advanced search tab) Also available through the NNSY Apprenticeship Program see Apprenticeship Tab

What would I be DOING in this OCCUPATION?
 

In a shipyard,  a Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic will repair and modify a variety of equipment and systems that serve to regulate climatic conditions. This work requires knowledge of the principles of air conditioning, the ability to recognize and determine the best method for correcting malfunctions, and the skill to make repairs to a variety of air conditioning and cooling unit systems.

 

What QUALIFICATIONS do I need?

• Nuclear: current nuclear quals and experience or
• Non-nuclear: experience not requiring nuclear quals or
• Refueling: current refueling qualifications

What if I want to be an INSPECTOR?

Some positions will require nuclear experience

What if I ALREADY work at the SHIPYARD and want to get PROMOTED?

   An employee is never locked in the order of progression of the grade levels shown below for this career path. An employee may move between jobs/seres shown for this position in addition to other Wage Grade and or General Schedule jobs/series. The shipyard does offer some training and continuing education benefits but must be requested through an employees individual department.

   Example of advancement opportunities: a journeyman mechanic may move to trade Leader or trade Supervisor I or to Inspector and then to trade Supervisor I or Inspector Supervisor I; or a trade Leader may move to GS-1910-09 Quality Assurance Specialist and then to trade Supervisor I or GS-1910-11 Quality Assurance Specialist or GS-1601-11 Services Project Zone Manager or Piping Project Zone Manager.

Experience gained in this career path may be qualifying for some General Schedule positions, including, but not limited to, positions in the following series:

- Engineering Technician GS-802

- Production Control GS-1152

- Physical Science Technician GS-1311

- General Facilities and Equipment GS-1601

- Quality Assurance GS-1910

- Training Instruction GS-1712

For more information about opportunities for training, certification, and employment in this trade: contact local vocational and technical schools; local heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration contractors; a local of the unions or organizations; local joint union-management apprenticeship committee; or the nearest office of the State employment service or apprenticeship agency.

For information on career opportunities, training, and technician certification, contact: You can also find information on the registered apprenticeship system with links to State apprenticeship programs on the U.S. Department of Labor's web site: http://www.doleta.gov/OA/eta_default.cfm. Apprenticeship information is also available from the U.S. Department of Labor's toll free helpline: (877) 872-5627.

Certification and advancement: HVACR technicians who have at least 1 year of experience performing installations and 2 years of experience performing maintenance and repair can take a number of different tests to certify their competency in working with specific types of equipment, such as oil-burning furnaces.

   The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute offers an Industry Competency Exam; HVAC Excellence offers both a Secondary Employment Ready Exam and a Secondary Heat and Heat Plus exams; and National Occupational Competency Testing Institute offers a secondary exam; and the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society offers two levels of certification, as well. Employers increasingly recommend taking and passing these tests and obtaining certification; doing so may increase advancement opportunities.

For those interested in the AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT MECHANIC, or 5306 series the following positions is what one should look for in USAJOBS.com:  

• Nuclear Shipbuilding Inspector General
• Foreman/Supervisor II (WS-4701-18)
• Ships Nuclear Fluid Mechanical Inspector
• Foreman/Supervisor (WS-4701-12)
• Ships Systems Inspector Foreman/Supervisor I (WS-4701-12)
• Temporary Service Shops Foreman/Supervisor I (WS-4701-10)
• Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Foreman/Supervisor I (WS-10)
• Nuclear Mechanical Systems Inspector (Ships) Leader (WL-4701-14)
• Ships Mechanical and Piping Systems Inspector Leader (WL-5301-13)
• Production Shop Planner [Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic] (WD-06)
• Nuclear Mechanical Systems Inspector (Ships) (WG-4701-15
• Ships Mechanical and Piping Systems Inspector (Ships) (WG-4701-15)
• Ships Mechanical and Piping Systems Inspector (WG-5301-13)
• Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Leader (WL-10)
• Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic (WG-10)
• Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic (WG-08)

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Air-Conditioning Contractors of America, 2800 Shirlington Rd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22206-3607. Internet: http://www.acca.org
• Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201-3001. Internet: http://www.ahrinet.org
• Associated Builders and Contractors, Workforce Development Department, 4250 North Fairfax Dr., 9th Floor, Arlington, VA 22203-1607. Internet: http://www.trytools.org
• Carbon Monoxide Safety Association, P.O. Box 669, Eastlake, CO 80614-0669. Internet: http://www.cosafety.org
• Green Mechanical Council 1701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006-5813. Internet: http://www.greenmech.org
• Home Builders Institute, National Association of Home Builders, 1201 15th St. NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20005-2842. Internet: http://www.hbi.org
• HVAC Excellence, P.O. Box 491, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056-0521. Internet: http://www.hvacexcellence.org
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Mechanical Service Contractors of America, 1385 Piccard Dr., Rockville, MD 20850-4329. Internet: http://www.mcaa.org
• National Center for Construction Education and Research, 3600 NW. 43rd St., Bldg. G, Gainesville, FL 32606-8134. Internet: http://www.nccer.org
• National Occupational Competency Testing Institute, 500 North Bronson Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307-2737. Internet: http://www.nocti.org
• North American Technician Excellence, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 510, Arlington, VA 22201-3051. Internet: http://www.natex.org
• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors, 180 S. Washington St., P.O. Box 6808, Falls Church, VA 22046-6808. Internet: http://www.phccweb.org
• Radiant Panel Association, P.O. Box 717, Loveland, CO 80539-0717. Internet: http://www.radiantpanelassociation.org
• Refrigeration Service Engineers Society, 1666 Rand Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016-3552. Internet: http://www.rses.org
• Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors National Association, 4201 Lafayette Center Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151-1209. Internet: http://www.smacna.org
• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, United Association Bldg., 3 Park Place, Annapolis, MD 21401-3687. Internet: http://www.ua.org