Richland Community College is the only school that currently offers HVAC training in Decatur, Illinois. Both an associate in applied science and two certificate programs for residential or commercial systems are offered in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technologies. The nearest out-of-city programs are a certificate option at Lincoln Land Community College and a 9-month diploma at the Midwest Technical Institute. These schools are located in Springfield, which is approximately 40 miles west of Decatur.
The four-semester associate degree and three-semester certificate programs at Richmond Community College features coursework in refrigeration fundamentals and applications, electrical fundamentals, tools and piping, control applications, residential and self-contained refrigeration, motors and controls, and troubleshooting for residential and commercial systems. The degree program also includes general education coursework in computer applications, technical math and communications, and a professional practicum that provides students with hands-on work experience.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects that employment of HVAC technicians will increase by about 28 percent through until 2018. As of 2010, professionally trained heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers typically earn an hourly wage of $19.08.