In collaboration with Plumbers-Steamfitters-Refrigeration Union Local 342 www.ua342.org, DVC currently offers three five-year apprenticeship programs: steamfitting, plumbing, and HVACR. Apprenticeship is training that is designed to prepare an individual for a career in the skilled crafts and trades. Apprentices develop technical skills, experience the sharing of assignments and see how technical tasks relate specifically with theoretical knowledge and interpretation. Apprentices earn a wage while learning. Enrollment in this program is restricted. You must be registered as an apprentice with the State of California to participate in the program and accepted into the apprenticeship program by our union partners.

While completing their HVACR apprenticeship, DVC students can earn awards at three levels of completion: a certificate of accomplishment, a certificate of achievement, and an associate in science degree. To earn a certificate of accomplishment, students must complete five out of seven core courses. Students must complete each course used to meet a major requirement with a “C” grade or higher and maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher in the coursework required for the certificate. The courses required for the certificate of accomplishment also meet some of the requirements of the certificate of achievement and major for the associate in science degree.

Students completing the program will be able to...

- identify tools and equipment, used in the industry.

- demonstrate general safety practices.

- compare a number of basic principles and laws of electricity as they relate to AC refrigeration.

- analyze the electrical parts of the refrigeration system.

- differentiate between many types of motor.

- distinguish between mechanical and electrical controls.