Preparing For The NATE Exam: Core Essentials

Customer Service

Why is it so important to be NATE-certified? Your NATE certification tells the world that you have the know-how and ability to do the job right.

It marks your status as a professional whose high work standard is officially recognized and documented.

Because it signifies that you are highly competent and knowledgeable in your field, your employer and customers will quite likely consider your certified status as being an indication that your services are more valuable.

They know that your ability to perform high-quality service will benefit them, and they'll be willing to compensate you accordingly. Your standing as a certified technician also lends added prestige to the entire industry - and that comes back as a benefit for you, through increased recognition and respect.

Any tips on how I can prepare for the NATE Exam? Begin well ahead of time to prepare for the test by using this book as a study aid. Find a quiet place where you can study without distraction. Learning is a process that requires reflection, so try to avoid waiting until the last minute to study. Retention of reading material increases greatly when you spend at least as much time thinking about the material as you do actually reading the text.

Research relating to test scores indicates that studying in an environment that duplicates the testing environment as closely as possible may improve your recall of information during the test. If possible, try to sit in a chair at a desk or table during study periods. Make sure that your study area has good lighting. Get enough sleep the night before the Exam, so you'll be fresh and alert on the day of the test.

Other helpful information you should know:

• You may bring a non-programmable calculator with you to use during the test, but no cell phones or other electronic devices are permitted in the test area. Scratch paper and pencils are provided.
• You may take a NATE Certification Exam in either pencil-and-paper or electronic (computer) form. Regardless of the format you choose, all NATE testing is proctored.
• Make sure that you have photo identification with you. Arrive well ahead of the test start time to give yourself a chance to get comfortable, so that you can feel relaxed and able to focus on the exam.

At the end of each chapter in this book are some review questions to help you test your knowledge. The answers to these questions appear in an appendix at the back of the book for your convenience.

Good study habits increase your chance of earning a good score on the exam. However, it is important to remember the key reason for studying the material in this book. Your main goal should be to master the concepts being studied so that you can improve your skills and earn your standing in the trade community as a master technician or installer of HVACR systems.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Gas Furnaces.
• Chapter 2: Oil Furnaces. .
• Chapter 3: Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps. .
• Chapter 4: Controls. .
• Chapter 5: Duct Systems. .
• Chapter 6: Duct Fabrication and Installation. .
• Chapter 7: Air Flow Measurement. .
• Chapter 8: Design Consideration and System Analysis. .
• Appendix A: Answers to Review Questions.