MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. —  The HVACR education programs at four schools, three in Louisiana and one in Florida, were recently granted accreditation by the industry standards organization HVAC Excellence.

The Louisiana schools with new HVAC Excellence accreditation are Delgado Community College in Metairie, Delgado Community College in New Orleans, and ITI Technical College in Baton Rouge. In Florida, the HVACR program at Lively Technical College in Tallahassee was accredited.

Accreditation brings increased credibility with prospective students and employers, improves recruitment efforts, eases the transferring of credits, and brings opportunities for program growth. Graduates with HVAC Excellence credentials may also receive advanced-placement opportunities from organizations such as the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices (UA).

Program accreditation comes after a rigorous evaluation process that ensures the program meets established standards of excellence. In the HVACR industry, accreditation ensures that training programs have the necessary resources and support to provide high-quality education and prepare students for entry-level positions. The accreditation process examines various aspects of the program, including its mission, finances, student services, instructional design, facilities, equipment, and instructor qualifications.

HVAC Excellence program accreditation is specifically designed to identify programs that have the resources to prepare students for success in the HVACR industry.

To achieve programmatic accreditation from HVAC Excellence, a school must complete a comprehensive self-study and demonstrate compliance with all required standards. An accreditation review board then sends a team of two professionals, one with experience as an HVACR instructor and the other with experience as a school administrator, to conduct an onsite review of the program. The team validates the accuracy of the self-study and ensures compliance with all established standards.

After a thorough review of all documentation, the HVAC Excellence review board may grant accreditation to the program.

Programs accredited by HVAC Excellence are listed in a directory at www.escogroup.org/accreditation/accreditedprograms.aspx.