ALEXANDRIA, VA – The average human breathes in 16,000 quarts of air each day, so it should come as no surprise that technicians who work to improve indoor air quality are in high demand. Occupants of virtually every building across the country benefit from the skills of these “equipment doctors” who install and service heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration (HVACR) and plumbing projects.

The state-of-the-art systems installed in buildings today not only maintain air conditioning, heat, and humidity control, water supply and sewage, they also minimize internal and external air pollutants from entering the building’s air space and can monitor carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Special skills are also needed for refrigeration equipment in supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants which keeps food fresh and safe and for refrigerated rail cars, trucks and ships that transport a diverse supply of food over vast distances.

To help students obtain the skills they need, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) has dedicated itself to the advancement of education that prepares both youth and adults for today’s careers. Career and technical education provides students with the opportunity to learn academic and technical skills and explore different career options such as in the HVACR and plumbing industry.

Due to the sophistication of these HVACR systems, technicians must be up-to-date in the latest in technology and job prospects are higher for those with technical school or formal training or are certified under the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program.

Currently the industry needs tens of thousands of technicians just to fill vacancies. Most HVACR and plumbing contractors report that their number one business problem is finding a sufficient number of competent trained employees.

"HVACR and plumbing professions offer well paying jobs," says the Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Heating Career Education Coalition in its brochure posted at www.coolcareers.org. "Salaries can range from $35,000 to $100,000 and more a year."

The HVACR and plumbing industry is alerting applied technology training centers and the general public to the need for skilled workers through its Web site which contains extensive information about the industry for students, teachers, parents, school counselors and others searching for information about a rewarding career.

The Association for Career and Technical Education is the national professional association for the field of career and technical education. Now in its 78th year, ACTE’s membership numbers more than 30,000 teachers, counselors and administrators at the middle school, high school and postsecondary levels.