What you'll learn

You earn NATE certification either by passing the Core exam plus one Specialty exam in installation, service or senior level work, or through the CHP 5 pathway, five exams spanning fundamentals, electrical, airflow, installation and service.

• HVAC fundamentals
• Electrical and controls
• Comfort and airflow
• Installation
• Service

Source: the provider's official page ↗

Is this right for you?

Level

Intermediate People with some experience who want to go further or prove what they know.

What you get

A certification employers can verify, made for the top of your résumé and your LinkedIn profile.

How you learn

Online, self paced.

How to use it

Put it at the top of your résumé and under Licenses and certifications on LinkedIn, with the verification link so hirers can confirm it in seconds. Name it in every application that uses this skill, and send it straight to recruiters and hiring managers.

Why it's worth it

An industry certification hiring managers recognize by name. It instantly sets you apart from applicants who only claim AI skills, and it travels with you to every job you apply for.

Time

Not published; proctored exams

Before you start

No formal prerequisite. NATE recommends one year of experience for installation tests, two years for service tests and five years for senior level. Traditional pathway: pass Core plus one Specialty exam; CHP 5 pathway: pass five exams.

How you are tested

Proctored exam at a NATE Testing Organization

Renewal

Most certifications last two years (Ground Source Heat Pump Installer lasts three). Renew with 16 continuing education hours plus a fee, or retake the specialty exam.

Full cost details

Exam fees are set by the NATE Testing Organization and are not published on NATE's pages loaded today. Recertification by CEH route: $30 per specialty ($25 Hydronics Gas), multiple specialties discounted (two for $35, three for $40).

Where it applies

United States (national, voluntary); employer recognized, not a state license and not EPA 608.

Jobs asking for this

See live job postings that mention NATE Certification.

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Earned this? Add it to LinkedIn and share it

Month earnedJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberYear20262025202420232022Credential ID optionalCredential link optional, https

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Opens LinkedIn with the name and issuer filled in under Licenses & certifications. You review and save it there; Trusted AI Courses never posts for you.

Tip: lead with what you did, not just the badge. Replace the line in brackets with something you built or improved using what you learned.

Your post edit it however you likeI just earned the NATE Certification (Core plus Specialty, or CHP 5 pathway) from North American Technician Excellence (NATE). [Add one thing you built, fixed or improved while preparing.] #HVAC #HVACR #SkilledTrades #Certification #CareerGrowth

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Sources and what we verified

NATE certification overview (pathways, recommended experience, two year renewal) ↗NATE technician policies and fees (recertification fees, 16 CEH rule; testing fees set by Testing Organization) ↗NATE FAQ: recommended experience (1 year installation, 2 years service, 5 years senior), two year validity ↗

What we verified: Pathways, experience recommendation and renewal confirmed on natex.org. NATE says testing fees are set by the Testing Organization, so the exam price is Not published by the issuer.

Fees and eligibility can change. Confirm current terms with the issuer before you pay.

Also listed for: AI for HVAC Technicians