Refrigeration Technicians install, maintain, and repair Freon and Ammonia air conditioning and refrigeration systems and troubleshoot and repair electrical controls. Their knowledge and skills are in demand throughout Alaska in homes, office buildings, restaurants, public buildings, seafood processing, and manufacturing plants and shipping industries.

The Refrigeration program offers a blend of classroom instruction, lab, and live work practice to ensure students learn the necessary skills to become good Refrigeration Technicians. The program is fast-paced and challenging. Students should have good mechanical aptitude, strong mathematics and reading skills, and the ability to manage time productively. Students train on a variety of domestic and commercial refrigeration systems. Students practice installing, troubleshooting and repairing refrigeration, heat pump, and air conditioning systems, compressors, evaporators, condensers, control devices, control valves, electrical controls and motors, and electrical wiring. Typically 50 percent of the training is hands-on, and 50 percent is classroom instruction. Training may include some outdoor activities, so students need appropriate work clothing.

Certified, skilled welders continue to be in demand in the construction industry and in all petroleum-related, mining and heavy equipment industries. Graduates of AVTEC’s Industrial Welding Program hold good jobs in a wide variety of working settings. In short, Alaskan employers are always looking for highly trained welders–especially for those who are willing to work under occasionally adverse conditions. The goal of the Industrial Welding Program is to enable the student to earn nationally recognized industry certifications. To earn the AVTEC Industrial Welding Program certificate with the highest level of achievement, students must prepare for and earn the following industry certifications: Structural Certification to AWS Unlimited Thickness, and Pipe Certification to ASME section IX, 6G Pipe. Certified pipe welders continue to be in demand in the petroleum industry. Pipes are used to transport commodities in Alaska, and they are also used to build structures. The different applications of pipe afford pipe welders the opportunity to apply their skills in a variety of work settings. With the Alaska Gas Pipeline on the horizon, trained welders will be in even greater demand. The Industrial Welding Program emphasizes steel welding; however, all students are expected to become knowledgeable of procedures for welding on nonferrous materials such as aluminum. Primary focus is on stick electrode welding: students train on Sheet Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) stick electrode, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) wire feed processes, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Tungsten Inert Gass (TIG), Plasma Arc and Air Arc cutting, Oxyacetylene Welding, and cutting machines. Destructive tests are performed on groove welds in both the stick and wire feed processes. An introduction to Non-Destructive testing is an integral part of the program. The AVTEC Welding shops are equipped with state of the art cutting and welding equipment, including computerized plasma cutting machines for plate and pipe.

Construction Technicians build, install, maintain, and repair structures; working on and around a wide variety of electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems. Students in this program receive training in construction and maintenance of structural systems including basic carpentry, concrete, roofing, interiors and exterior finishing, basic electricity and thermal and moisture protection systems. The Construction Technology program provides students with a wide variety of experiences that prepare them for entry-level employment and for apprenticeships in the construction and maintenance trades.

AVTEC’s Alaska Maritime Training Center (AMTC) is host to one of the largest and most robust maritime training simulator suites in the United States. The simulator facility features three Kongsberg™ Class A Det Norsky Veritas (DNV-GL) Certified full-mission bridges, and is a vital component of many of AMTC’s maritime courses. The simulator meets all of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements for approved United States Coast Guard (USCG) certified training, including a 300 degree field of view. AVTEC’s simulator training suite is an assessment tool used in nearly all of its navigation/ship handling course from entry level mariners to master pilots. Not only is the simulator is used for regularly scheduled training, it is also utilized for custom vessel and/or company specific training and maritime related research projects. All three of our ship bridges can be integrated to work together interactively in the same virtual area, or in completely independent exercises. The simulator bridges apply a 290 to 300 degree field of view to ensure a high level of immersion and offer ample space for bridge teams to work effectively.

Plumbing and Heating Technicians are in demand throughout Alaska, in both urban and in rural areas. As a result, graduates of the Plumbing and Heating program enjoy excellent job opportunities and good pay. Plumbing and Heating students receive basic training in construction and maintenance of plumbing and heating systems. The Plumbing and Heating program provides students with a wide variety of experiences that prepare them for entry-level employment and for apprenticeships in the plumbing and heating, construction and facility maintenance trades. The Plumbing and Heating program’s blend of classroom instruction, lab, and live-work practice help students to learn the necessary skills to succeed in an apprenticeship program and become a Plumbing and Heating Technician. The program is fast-paced and challenging. Students should have good mechanical aptitude, strong mathematics and reading skills, and the ability to manage time productively. Typically 50 percent of the training is hands-on and 50 percent is classroom instruction. Training includes outdoor activities, so students need appropriate clothing for cold and wet working conditions.

Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant gives students the opportunity to make a difference in the medical field while working in an office setting. From setting up appointments and verifying insurance, to maintaining electronic health records and more, Medical Administrative Assistants provide the support medical offices and other healthcare facilities need to run efficiently. This area of study covers medical terminology, HIPAA, law and ethics, medical coding and billing, electronic health records and medical office procedures.