Refrigeration And Air-conditioning Installer

Typical Salary

£20,000 To £35,000

Typical Hours

48 to 50 a week

on call on a rota

How To Become a Refrigeration And Air-conditioning Installer

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You may be able to take a college course, to give you some of the knowledge and skills needed to help find a job as a trainee. Courses include:

Level 1 Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Level 2 Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering
Level 2 Diploma in Installing and Maintaining Refrigeration Systems
Level 3 Diploma in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems

2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

Apprenticeship

You could train for this job through an intermediate building services engineering installer apprenticeship, or an advanced refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician apprenticeship.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
customer service skills
the ability to use your initiative
knowledge of building and construction
analytical thinking skills
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
persistence and determination
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

surveying sites where cooling systems are to be fitted
planning the layout of pipework, ducts and control panels
installing components
carrying out quality checks to make sure systems are working properly and safely
carrying out scheduled maintenance
finding and fixing faults
advising customers on ways to reduce their energy use

Working Environment

You could work at a client's business.

Your working environment may be cramped, you'll travel often, dusty and cold.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could become a refrigeration engineer, designing cooling systems, or move into building services or plumbing. You could also set up your own business.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a refrigeration and air-conditioning installer from the Institute of Refrigeration and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.