What Does Nate-Certified Mean?

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. NATE is the nation’s largest certification organization for HVAC and refrigeration technicians.

It’s important to note that almost everyone in the HVAC and refrigeration industries recognizes and supports a NATE certification, although not everyone in the industry is NATE-certified. It’s a discretionary certification, and technicians can service equipment without being NATE-certified.

At Ballard Natural Gas Service, we make sure our entire team is NATE-certified. We only send the most qualified technicians to your home, and we want to be sure you have that extra level of comfort knowing the technician in your home meets all NATE-certification guidelines.

From their website: NATE tests represent real-working knowledge of HVACR systems and are designed to demonstrate competency in specific knowledge areas.

NATE tests technicians at all levels of experience, starting with the CORE exam and moving on to the specialty exam in their chosen field. The CORE exam covers a candidate’s general knowledge, construction knowledge, and HVACR-specific knowledge in the areas of:

• Safety
• Tools
• Basic Construction
• Using Basic Science
• Achieving Desired Conditions
• Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements
• Basic Electrical

Once the CORE exam is passed, it does not have to be retaken as long as technicians maintain their certification and do not allow their certification to lapse.

Specialty exams cover a candidate’s knowledge of the installation, service maintenance, and/or repair of HVACR systems. Specialty certifications will either be in installation or service:

Installation technicians prepare installation sites (including removal of existing HVACR equipment) and fabricate and assemble systems. These technicians should be able to properly power up and set control positions to cycle equipment through primary heating, cooling, and blower operations under on-site or off-site supervision. The installation technician may take specialized readings, such as temperatures, refrigerant circuit pressure, and basic VOM electrical readings, of both operating and nonoperating equipment.

Service technicians must be able to complete the same tasks as installation technicians, as well as independently power up and adjust control settings to cycle equipment through all designed-for sequences. Service technicians must be able to acquire, evaluate, and interpret necessary readings to determine the adequacy and acceptability of meeting system operation specifications. These technicians must also be able to perform sufficient field diagnostic procedures to determine causes of inadequate performance and identify corrective actions as necessary. The following specialties award a two-year certification.

INSTALLATION SPECIALTY

• Air Conditioning Installation
• Air Distribution Installation
• Air to Air Heat Pump Installation
• Gas Heating (Air) Installation
• Oil Heating (Air) Installation

SERVICE SPECIALTY

• Air Conditioning Service
• Air Conditioning Service––Spanish
• Air Distribution Service
• Heat Pump (Air to Air) Service
• Heat Pump (Air to Air) Service––Spanish
• Gas Heating (Air) Service
• Gas Heating (Air) Service––Spanish
• Oil Heating (Air) Service
• Hydronics Gas Service
• Hydronics Oil Service
• Light Commercial Refrigeration Service
• Commercial Refrigeration Service

At Ballard Natural Gas Service, we take pride that our technicians are NATE-certified. We have confidence we are sending only the best, most qualified people to your home to install or service your HVAC equipment.

If you are in Seattle or the greater Seattle area request service online and if you are not sure if you are in our service area, check out our service area page for more information on the communities we serve.