"This is going to be quite a program," said Executive Vice President Robb Isaacs at the association's annual international conference here. The four-year program encompasses a range of HVACR training; a fifth year, if needed by a technician, comprises heat pump training. Isaacs encouraged members to tell local licensing agencies about the apprentice program "and see if this RSES program can be used."

One additional aspect is the fundamentals training that can be used either freestanding or as the first year of the apprentice program. "We need courses at slightly more beginning levels," Isaacs said.