Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians install, commission, maintain, find and repair faults on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and systems such as:
- industrial refrigeration systems, e.g. ice works, blast freezers, cold storage, fish markets and food processing systems
- commercial air conditioning systems in restaurants, hospitals, computer rooms, shopping centres, bars and offices
- commercial refrigeration equipment, e.g. icemakers, cold rooms, supermarket cabinets, drink fridges, beer coolers
- domestic air conditioning systems
- domestic fridges and freezers
The Certificate III in Electrotechnology Refrigeration and Air Conditioning will give you the essential skills and knowledge to work anywhere in the world. To get this qualification you'll probably be employed under a contract of training (Australian Apprenticeship) that is registered with a state training authority and undertake a structured competency based training program.
Apprenticeships usually last four years and are made up of two parts. The first part is the On-the-job training where you are exposed to a range of situations in a workplace where you gain technical exposure and experience to supplement off-the-job training. Most of your time will be spent here. The second part is Off-the-job training when you'll undertake technical vocational education and training in a classroom type environment. This could occur weekly, fortnightly or in small blocks of up to eight weeks per year.
If you want to see if you're suited to a career as a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician then try the EE-Oz Training Standards pre-apprenticeship test.
Once you're qualified in the core requirements of the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Refrigeration and Air Conditioning you will be competent to:
- Install refrigeration and air conditioning pipework, equipment and systems
- Fault find and repair refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and systems
- Disconnect and reconnect fixed wired electrical equipment associated with refrigeration and air conditioning systems
- Attach flexible cords and plugs to electrical equipment associated with refrigeration and air conditioning systems
- Locate and rectify faults in electrical equipment associated with refrigeration and air conditioning systems
- Commission refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and systems
- Test refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and systems
- Participate in the training of others
- Use energy conservation and recycling technologies.
As an Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Tradesperson/Technician you may also be required to:
- attend to breakdowns
- coordinate materials
- supply projects
- provide technical leadership in the workplace.
Demand for qualified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians is expected to remain high into the future. Because of their skills, many Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians move quickly into related jobs, including:
- control specialist
- estimator
- design engineer
- maintenance planner
- supervisory role
- owning a business
