Consumers demand technician excellence, and NATE-certified technicians deliver. McCullough is proud to be a team of NATE certified technicians serving Austin, Texas for decades.
What is NATE?
NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, and it’s the only nationwide certification program accepted by the entire heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry – contractors, manufacturers, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), and technicians themselves. The certification requires proof of capability that not every technician can pass. Not every HVAC company boasts as many NATE certified technicians as we do.
Are all HVAC technicians certified by NATE?
No! NATE is a voluntary certification program designed to ensure that qualifying technicians have a core set of competencies and can be trusted by the consumers who hire them. NATE is the culmination of several years’ worth of work by ACCA and other industry organizations to establish one single, nationwide certification.
Over the past few years, NATE has grown considerably. More than 20,000 technicians have been NATE-certified and the list continues to grow. With a strong endorsement from the leading manufacturers of HVACR equipment, NATE certification is the standard by which all technicians should be judged. This means that choosing a random company on Google or from Angie’s List isn’t a great idea – look for this accreditation before you hire someone to repair, maintain, or install HVAC equipment for you to ensure you’re getting the best. The aim of the NATE program is to help us hire better technicians and to help you choose better technicians for your needs.
Don’t you want third-party reassurance that the technician in your home is a capable, qualified individual?
Nearly 90 percent of consumers do. Ask your contractor if he or she employs NATE-certified technicians, and request that only NATE-certified technicians service your system. Some contractors choose to show off their NATE-certified status in ACCA’s online Contractor Locator, and others do not. Be sure to ask. Any HVAC company can claim excellence but this is proof.
Is the NATE certification really meaningful?
Yes! The NATE certification is rigorous and voluntary. There are other third-party certification programs out there, but they have suspiciously high “pass” rates. NATE has the lowest pass rate and is the only nationwide certification program endorsed by the HVACR industry across all levels. Technicians, contractors, manufacturers, utilities, educators, wholesalers, and leading industry trade associations support NATE, and industry organizations such as ACCA have helped develop the tests to ensure they maintain high professional standards.
What if my HVAC Technician isn’t NATE certified?
This doesn’t mean he or she isn’t licensed to do the work BUT it does mean that he or she has not passed the rigorous certification program to become NATE certified, or has not attempted to. What does that say about the integrity, know-how, and expertise of the technician you work with? What difference would it make to you and your family to know that major, technical changes to the structures inside your home were being made by someone who was vetted by a nationwide organization that knows its stuff? It would mean everything.
