HVAC contractors and technicians in Ontario who have been waiting patiently for the Residential Air Conditioning Trade to be officially rolled out in the province may have to wait just a little while longer, but there is good news on the horizon.

The new trade, which will be a subset of the existing Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trade (Reg. 1076), was expected to gain Ministerial approval over the summer, but this approval was held back because a proper examination had not yet been prepared. Initially, it was believed that the trade could be approved and the exam created and implemented at a later date, but the Ministry rules require that the exam be established and approved before giving final approval to the trade. A subcommittee of the Provincial Advisory Committee for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trade now is working on developing an exam, which is expected to be in place by January 2005.

In the meantime, registered apprentices may enroll in any of the colleges currently offering the full Refrigeration and Air Conditioning program, since the initial training curriculum will be considered the common core of the residential program. After January, these apprentices will be allowed to transfer into the residential trade.