ARLINGTON, VA — The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) board of directors passed a motion to endorse the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA).

PAHRA is available nationally for HVACR training programs that meet and/or exceed industry-validated standards in such areas as instructors, students, curriculum competencies, facilities, and fiscal responsibility, according to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI).

“ASHRAE is pleased to endorse the PAHRA program to complement our education program and outreach to students,” said ASHRAE president Donald Colliver, Ph.D., P.E. “It’s a good thing when our industry can join together and work with those schools that excel in training the next generation of technicians.”

According to ARI, programmatic accreditation can help HVACR training programs obtain federal, state, and local funding because they have been accredited by a recognized body. The organization notes that the program has been validated and endorsed by a number of other industry representatives and trade associations, including the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association (PHCC), and several more.

Since the PAHRA program was launched in January 2001, seven HVACR training schools have received PAHRA accreditation.

Publication date: 09/02/2002