Certification Basics/101

North American Technician Excellence

 

TESTIMONIAL

“Every technician we hire must already be NATE-certified or must become certified within three months of joining our team. By letting our customers know that we’re 100% NATE-certified, we’re assuring them that they’ll always be working with a technician who has proven to have what it takes to get the job done right.”
- Steven J. Miles -
General Manager, Jerry Kelly Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., St. Charles, MO “Contracting Business Magazine’s 2006 Residential Contractor of the Year”
 

Set Yourself Apart

Technicians

Simply put, NATE certification makes good business sense. Aside from certifying advanced training and proficiency to those in the HVACR industry, NATE-certification delivers a strong sense of pride, professionalism and trust in those who wear our patch.

  • Contractors prefer NATE-certified technicians because they remain in the industry longer, have the proven knowledge to do the job right the first time and are more productive than non-certified technicians.
  • Manufacturers and distributors know that NATE certification encourages proper installation and service, which means fewer warranty returns and, ultimately, a better bottom line.
  • Educators and trainers benefit from NATE certification's uniform testing standard.
  • Utilities appreciate NATE certification's focus on correctly installing and servicing sophisticated HVACR equipment, which saves energy and money when operating at peak efficiency.
  • Consumers look for NATE certification because it ensures that a knowledgeable, well-trained and highly experienced technician will service their home heating or cooling system.
     

Step Up with NATE

1. Select Your NATE Program

NATE offers multiple certifications divided into installation and service, and senior categories. You take the Core and one Specialty test to earn your desired certification. All NATE exams are based on Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs), statistically proven job task analysis from experts in the HVACR industry. KATEs represent a wide variety of perspectives on subject matter pertinent to contractors, technicians, distributors, educators, manufacturers and utilities. KATEs outlines cover all information tested in each exam, and should be used as reference material. 

Review the KATE for each certification desired on the Exams Offered page.
 

2. Prepare to Take Your NATE Exams

There are no educational or work experience requirements, but NATE strongly recommends that you have some formal training provided by an employer, a technical school or other educational institution before taking NATE exams. 

We suggest that you have/ possess knowledge in the ares of:

  • One year of experience for installation technician tests
  • Two years of experience for service technician tests
  • Five years of experience for senior level technician
  • Safety
  • Tools
  • Basic Construction
  • Using Basic Science
  • Achieving Desired Conditions
  • Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements
  • Basic Electrical

 

3. Take Your NATE Exams

To become NATE-certified, you must take the appropriate exam(s) to fulfill your certification requirements.  Most often this means you must pass both a Core and a Specialty test of your choice. The specialty certification can be Installation, Service, or Senior.  Please refer to the Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs), to determine the requirements.
 

4. Earn Your NATE Certification

Once you pass both your Core and a Specialty exam, you will receive your official NATE certification credentials, which include:
 

  • A NATE certificate and wallet card (sent via email as a PDF and digital badge for download and sharing)
  • A complimentary NATE patch and specialty chevron (sent via mail)
  • A Quick Reference Guide to help you manage your NATE certification