HVAC Technician at Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties Plumbers, Pipe and Refrigeration Fitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC)

The Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties Plumbers, Pipe and Refrigeration Fitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (J.A.T.C.) sponsors a registered HVAC Technician apprenticeship based in Castroville, California. This Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee program serves the Monterey Bay region, providing a rigorous and industry-backed training program for the plumbing, pipefitting, and refrigeration trades. Apprentices receive wages throughout the program.

The apprenticeship runs for four years and includes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with participating signatory employers, plus 576 hours of related technical instruction through the JATC. Apprentices gain skills working on piping, refrigeration, and HVAC systems across commercial, industrial, and residential job sites throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Coursework covers refrigerant systems, pipe and mechanical systems, electrical controls, and relevant codes and safety standards.

Graduates complete the program as journey-level HVAC and refrigeration fitters with credentials recognized across the industry. The JATC training model provides strong labor-market connections and access to signatory employers in the region, offering graduates a well-supported pathway into a high-skill, well-compensated career in California's central coast building trades.