MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Fourteen students recently graduated from the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association Technical Education Center (PPATEC) HVAC & Energy Professional Program.

The PPATEC held a graduation ceremony for the class on September 13. The event featured spouses, parents, grandparents, and employers who were there to celebrate the graduates’ achievements and acknowledge their career choices.

PPATEC, part of the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association (PPA), a not-for-profit trade association, offers hands-on technical training solutions for HVAC and energy jobs. PPATEC is a postsecondary entry-level career training institution licensed by the state.

In 2022, PPATEC launched its HVAC & Energy Professional Program, a 10-week, hands-on course designed to provide the skills needed to secure a job in the HVAC and energy industry. Since then, graduates have routinely enjoyed multiple employment offers, often graduating on a Friday and going into a new career the following Monday, a press release from the PPA said. Eight graduates from the recent class will enter the workforce immediately.

According to Ted Harris, PPATEC’s executive vice president, there is a shortage in Pennsylvania of more than 2,000 HVAC and energy technicians — jobs with an average annual salary well above $50,000. PPATEC created its training program to help PPA members fill that pressing need.

“We’re glad to play a role in preparing these — and other — young men and women for family-sustaining careers in an in-demand field,” Harris said.

Candidates for the HVAC & Energy Professional Program have multiple ways of obtaining financial support. Military veterans can use GI Bill benefits to defray the cost of the program. PPATEC also routinely offers scholarships. In addition, PPA members have an opportunity to sponsor a candidate entering the program.

Click here for more information about PPATEC’s program.