Overview
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics are used extensively in a wide array of industries including process manufacturing, the medical profession, the petroleum industry, chemical processing, and environmental control.
This 12-week program covers all course materials received by a first-year Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic apprentice, plus additional hands-on skills and safety training.
The program prepares students to enter an apprenticeship and, on successful completion of the program, to write the first year Refrigeration apprenticeship exam.
Credentials
Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a SAIT certificate and may be eligible to challenge the written and practical exams for first-year Apprenticeship.
Get more information about this and similar programs
Career opportunities
Graduates can pursue entry-level positions in air-conditioning and refrigeration system companies and are prepared to become indentured refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic apprentices.
Potential career progression includes:
- refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic journeyperson
- supervisory positions
Related careers include:
- appliance service technician
- gasfitter
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per year:
Domestic total 2023/24
- Year 1: $5,783.50
Final costs are dependent on the number of courses a student takes per semester.
This program is eligible for Canada Alberta Job Grant funding.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
Admission requirements
Program requirements
Successful completion of the following courses or equivalents:
- Math 30-1, Math 30-2, Math 30-3, AND,
- English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2, AND,
- Physics 20 or Chemistry 20.
A pass mark in the SAIT Admission Examination (level 5) or equivalent is accepted in lieu of the above requirements.
All applicants to SAIT must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the construction.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | Sept. 6, 2022 | Nov. 25, 2022 |
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | March 31, 2023 |
| Winter 2023 | Apr. 3, 2023 | June 23, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | Nov. 24, 2023 |
Courses
Program Outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
| Course Code | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CNTR-224 | Refrigeration Controls I | 1.5 |
| ELEC-227 | Electrical Theory | 3.0 |
| HTNG-223 | Heating Theory I | 1.5 |
| RFRG-200 | Canada's Ozone Layer Protection Awareness | 1.5 |
| RFRG-211 | Refrigeration Theory I | 3.0 |
| RFRG-220 | Refrigeration Shop I | 6.0 |
| Total Credits | 16.5 |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2022/23
Domestic tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $323
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $5,329.50 | $149 | n/a | $5,478.50 |
This program is eligible for Canada Alberta Job Grant funding.
SAIT fees
- Campus athletic and recreation fee: $49
- Universal transit pass (Upass): n/a
- Student support fee: $50
- Student technology fee: $50
Saitsa fees
Student Association fees
Students registered in pre-employment programs do not pay student association fees.
Health and dental fees
Students registered in pre-employment programs are not eligible for health and dental plans.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year. *
Domestic students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.5** | $5,626.50 | $157 | n/a | $5,783.50 |
*For a detailed breakdown of tuition costs per course, visit the domestic fee table.
**Less than a full semester of 16 weeks.
This program is eligible for Canada Alberta Job Grant funding.
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.22/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about your tuition and financial aid options
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation date
Program orientation details will be announced shortly. Check your schedule in mySAIT for the time and location details.
Learn more about our campus orientation.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on March 1 through March 15 for Spring 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a standard hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Required personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Steel toe or equivalent work boots
- Leatherwork gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ear/hearing protection (if you prefer non-disposable types. SAIT provides disposable hearing protection.)
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 145: Orientation for Apprentices
PREP 145 is a free study skills course for apprentices and pre-employment students. Discover your learning style, develop memory techniques, learn effective ways to conquer your modules, get tips on how to write multiple-choice tests, and prepare for your apprenticeship exam. Course completion is recommended at the beginning of your first semester.
Required textbooks
This program does not require textbooks.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.8367
Email: construction.info@sait.ca
Academic chair
Barry Delparte, Academic Chair
Email: barry.delparte@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
