App Based HVAC Learning

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Bryan Orr

Training, Careers, Airconditioning, Self-improvement, Hvac, Business, Education, Refrigeration, Heating, Ac, Apprenticeship

4.8 • 985 Ratings

🗓️ 24 October 2024

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ruchir Shah joins the podcast to share his journey into HVAC education technology and the founding of SkillCat, a comprehensive training platform for skilled trades. As a five-time entrepreneur in educational technology, Ruchir's path to HVAC was influenced by his earlier work studying the BP oil spill and developing training solutions for oil and gas workers. When COVID-19 hit and many skilled workers found themselves displaced, he recognized a broader pattern of declining income for blue-collar workers over the past 50 years, which led to the creation of SkillCat.

The discussion delves into SkillCat's innovative approach to EPA 608 certification, making it more accessible and affordable at just $10 per month. Their platform uses phone-based testing with built-in security measures, achieving a 97-98% pass rate through comprehensive training. This system addresses traditional barriers like high costs, scheduling difficulties, and low pass rates that have historically made it challenging for people to enter the HVAC field.

SkillCat and HVAC School have started a partnership. This collaboration aims to transform HVAC School's extensive content library into structured, accredited courses within the SkillCat platform. The partnership represents a marriage of HVAC School's technical expertise and industry insights with SkillCat's educational technology capabilities, making high-quality HVAC training more accessible and organized for both individual technicians and contracting companies.

Key Topics Covered:

SkillCat's origin story and mission to make trades education more accessible
Revolutionary approach to EPA 608 certification testing and training
Development of simulation-based training across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades
Implementation of career pathing and progress tracking for technicians
Importance of applied learning in trades education
Features of SkillCat's apprenticeship program
Integration of on-the-job assessments through the platform
The role of educational technology in addressing the skilled trades shortage
Continuous improvement approach based on user feedback
Affordability and accessibility of trades education through mobile apps

You can learn more about SkillCat by searching for it in the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS), or you can visit their website at https://www.skillcatapp.com/.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of the HVAC School Podcast is brought to you by our trusted sponsors
0:10.6	Field Piece, Field Piece.
0:13.0	Field Piece.
0:14.0	And specifically the SR-47 Wireless Refrigerant
0:17.0	scale, the new heavyweight champion of digital scales.
0:21.0	Navac and Navac Global.com and the Navac
0:23.9	Annex 1 Nexus Digital Manifold Gage. It's got a great clear display,
0:29.6	USBC charging, and among the highest accuracy manifold gauges in the industry.
0:37.0	To find out more, go to HVACR School.com slash an X1.
0:41.4	Carrier and Carrier.com. I've been a carrier dealer for many years.
0:46.0	Carrier has their new green speed extreme super high efficiency heat pumps out on the market now.
0:56.0	Find out more by going to carrier.com. Refrigeration Technologies at refriggedec.com, Vipervenom packs, talked a lot about Viperventon packs
1:01.0	over the last several years and we love them we use them here at
1:03.6	Kalo Services. It comes in four varieties I used to say four flavors but I don't
1:08.2	want to give you the wrong idea I mean they are food safe but that doesn't mean you
1:11.1	should be eating them the evapor evaporator, which is comparable
1:14.5	to the Evap Plus and the gallon jug, the condenser, which is comparable to the HD, and
1:20.1	the bright, which is compared to bright, and then good old all-purpose, which is compared to bright,
1:22.8	and then good old all-purpose, which is compared to nothing.
1:25.2	It's just really good stuff.
1:26.6	Great for door seals, refrigerated cases, that kind of thing.
1:29.2	So evaporator, condenser, brightener, and all-purpose food safe so you can work around grocery
	...

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