Join Our Team and Become an HVAC or Plumbing Technician

Our HVAC and plumbing Progress to Success programs will teach you everything you need to know about HVAC or plumbing so that you can get hired as an entry-level technician and start your own career in this trade. This program is designed to equip you with the practical experience and know-how necessary to start working as an apprentice and eventually land a job as an experienced master of your chosen trade, whether it’s as an HVAC or plumbing technician or even your own business. This program will cost you zero dollars out of pocket unless you want to invest in additional tools. 

What is a Progress to Success Program?

We want to give back to the community that has given so much to us. By starting this program, we hope to provide opportunities for those who may not have otherwise had them. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, and we are committed to helping make that happen. You will be trained by expert professionals on the latest trends in your chosen field. You'll gain real-world experience that can't be taught in regular school or college. With our Progress to Success Program, you're earning while training.

• Progress to Success is a training process that...
• Combines supervised, structured on-the-job training with related theoretical and practical instruction.
• Training that is sponsored by employers that have the ability to employ and train in a work environment.
• It prepares people for skilled trades by supervising training in genuine and documented employment situations.
• Is training that involves a tangible and sizeable investment from the employer.
• Is training that pays wages to its participants at least during the on-the-job training phase of their training and which increases these wages throughout the training program under a predefined wage progression scale.
• Is training that involves a written agreement and an implicit social obligation between the program's sponsor and the learner.

What Do Learners Do?

Learners gain in-depth knowledge of their field as they work alongside experienced professionals. When you’re ready to launch your career, you’ll be able to do so with less student loan debt than if you had gone straight into a 4-year program. Plus, our program offers hands-on experiences that allow you to learn by doing rather than just reading about it. You’ll spend time working on real projects under real supervision—and learning from people with years of experience in their fields. In fact, many of our learners go on to become full-fledged journeymen after completing the programs. It’s a great way to start your career!

Future Plumbers

Getting your plumber’s license in Texas is a multi-step process that will take four to five years. You’ll begin as a plumber’s apprentice via our partners at PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association). Then you can progress to higher-ranking licenses as you acquire more on-the-job experience and training and successfully pass progressively more rigorous license exams. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners is the state agency responsible for licensing plumbers in Texas and has the authority to issue licenses, endorsements, and registrations. It is illegal to do plumbing work in Texas without a license.

There are four types of plumbing licenses in Texas.

Tradesman Plumber Limited

• May construct, install, repair, service, or renovate plumbing for one and two-family dwellings under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber.
• May also directly supervise a Plumbers Apprentice on job sites of one or two-family dwellings.
• May work on job sites other than a one or two-family dwelling under the direct supervision of a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber.

Journeyman

• May install, change, repair, service, or renovate plumbing under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber.
• May also directly supervise a Plumbers Apprentice on all job sites or a Tradesman Plumber-Limited on job sites for structures other than one or two-family dwellings.

Master

• May install, change, repair, service, or renovate plumbing under the supervision of a Responsible Master Plumber.
• May also directly supervise a Plumbers Apprentice on all job sites or a Tradesman Plumber-Limited on job sites for structures other than one or two-family dwellings.

Plumbing Inspector

• May inspect plumbing work performed within the jurisdiction with which the inspector is affiliated.

For more information, please visit the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiner.

Future HVAC Technicians or Installers

The world of HVAC is filled with all sorts of different HVAC certifications. Some are required, some are not but can provide a tremendous boost to your skillset and appeal as a job candidate. It can all become a little confusing and disorienting to know where to start. Aspiring HVAC students must ensure they fulfill every requirement for a proper Texas HVAC license. As a future HVAC technician, you can choose between two licenses: the Texas Air Conditioning License Class A or Class B, each with its own functions and permits. 

A Class A HVAC license in Texas allows you to

• work on a heating or cooling unit of any size or energy output. Meanwhile

A Class B license restricts your work to

• cooling systems up to 25 tons and heating systems with up to 1.5 million BTUs/hour. It’s important to note that a Class B license doesn’t restrict where you can offer services, just the type of machine.

With our program, you will secure one or all three certificates.

• Technician Certification from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
• EPA 608 Certification
• NATE Certification from North American Technician Excellence

Careers Available in HVAC/Plumbing (Commercial or Residential) Industry:

• HVAC Technician
• HVAC Installer
• Helper
• Journeyman Plumber
• Master Plumber
• Service Logistics
• Plumbing Supervisor
• HVAC Supervisor
• Construction Field Manager
• Sales Manager
• PLUS, MORE

What You'll Learn

While many learners choose to complete their program in a classroom setting, we believe it’s important for you to gain real-world experience as soon as possible. Whether you complete your program with another company or us, our goal is for you to learn to be a competent, qualified journeyman plumber or HVAC technician in one of America’s fastest-growing industries. With more than 50 years of combined plumbing and HVAC experience between our team members, we can teach you everything you need to know about these careers. And if you have any questions along the way, our expert instructors are always available to help! As a learner (depending on which path you choose), you will understand how to stop a toilet leak, install an air conditioner, troubleshoot furnace problems, install water heaters, and repair broken pipes. At Freund Enterprises, we pride ourselves on not only training our learners on how to complete specific tasks but also providing them with valuable skills that will make them stand out from other candidates in the industry. We want you to succeed!

What Tools Will You Use?

As a new hands-on learner, you will learn how to use many of our tools. Tools like the drill, hacksaw, torch, pipe cutters, screwdriver, sealing tape, pipe wrench, and others are all in your future as a learner at our company. While it’s important to know how to use these tools, it’s also important that you follow safety protocols when using them. With our Safety Director and us, you will learn about the OSHA safety rules that apply to each tool we have, how to protect yourself from burns, cuts, electrocution, and other injuries, and also get used to wearing safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, ear plugs/muffs/headphones (depending on what is needed for each project and tool being used), steel-toed boots, hard hats (for working above ground), and so on. Once you understand these basics of working with tools safely, you can begin learning how to use them properly!

Basic Qualifications

Just like any industry, you must be customer service-oriented and comfortable talking to customers but also be able to lift up to 75 pounds. Experience in HVAC or plumbing is a plus but not required, and we will train you on all aspects of what we do. We provide our employees with training, tools, equipment, uniforms, compensation, and benefits. Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who wants to learn and grow with us.

Advantages of Working at Comfort-Air Engineering & Primo Plumbing

At Comfort-Air Engineering & Primo Plumbing, you’ll be surrounded by hardworking, friendly people with a wealth of knowledge to offer. You will learn tons about HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) and plumbing, and basic business skills that will help you in any career. We strive to create a fun, family-like environment where our employees grow professionally and personally. The atmosphere is laid back yet professional; we understand it can be stressful starting out your career, so we make sure our employees feel comfortable while they learn how to become experts in their field. All of our helpers start at $14-16/hour with benefits within the first 90 days.

So, whether you’re looking for a career change or just trying something new, don’t wait – call today to start your new career as an HVAC or plumbing apprentice!

Our Progress to Success Program

• Learners work at their chosen trade during the day and get paid while doing it. Working and learning alongside Journeymen performing Plumbing or HVAC-related tasks.
• Learners must be at least 18 years of age.
• Learners must have a High School Diploma or a GED.
• Our program is for two years. During this time, you learn while you are earning a living.

Applications

Program Applications will be accepted at any time throughout the year. Applications will be accepted Monday through Friday, during the period noted above, between the hours of 8 AM - 5 PM. You must apply in person or online. Our address is 11403 Jones Maltsberger Rd, San Antonio, TX 78216. When applying for the program, you must bring with you the following:

• DD-214; if you have been in the military
• Government Issued Photo ID or Passport
• Social Security Card
• All applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners "Plumbers Apprentice" registration card.
• All HVAC&R applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation "HVAC Technician Registration" card.
• All Service (HVAC or Plumbing) applicants must have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record and background check.