Since its founding in 1997, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) has steadily improved its reputation and performance. It now stands as a premier technician certification organization in the U.S., and is poised to begin to expand into Mexico and Central America in the coming years. Founded and funded by the HVACR manufacturers, NATE was designed to improve installation and maintenance of equipment so as to reduce warranty claims and increase customer satisfaction.

While NATE has made great progress in fulfilling those missions, the NATE executive committee believes, and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Executive Committee agrees, that the current staff structure of the organization is not optimal to ensure growth and progress going forward. Accordingly, the NATE executive committee and the AHRI executive committee have jointly agreed on the following changes designed to breathe new life into a very important entity and to ensure its future success:

• NATE’s President, Peter Schwartz, will focus on strengthening NATE’s relations with governmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Patrick Murphy resigned as vice president, certifications, and his position will be reconfigured to meet the technical and certification administration needs of NATE to ensure continued quality and excellence in NATE’s certification services. NATE, in its announcement, expressed appreciation for Murphy's dedication and commitment, which he has provided since the formation of NATE. In the interim, Warren Lupson, AHRI’s director of education, will serve on a temporary basis as director of certification for NATE.
• NATE Chairman Don Frendberg will be directly involved in the promotion and leadership of NATE.

AHRI will increase its administrative and operational support of NATE by providing financial, human resource, legal, government affairs, and marketing/communications support.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating, commercial refrigeration, and water heating equipment. An internationally recognized advocate for the industry, AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products. AHRI’s 309 member companies manufacture quality, efficient, and innovative residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment and components for sale in North America and around the world.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE), Arlington, VA, was founded in 1997 as the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. NATE tests technicians while others train. Testing validates the technician’s knowledge and a training program’s instruction. NATE-approved testing organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada offer NATE tests. Candidates can earn installation and/or service certification in nine specialty areas: air-conditioning, air distribution, heat pumps, gas heating, oil heating, hydronic gas, hydronic oil, and commercial, light commercial refrigeration and senior efficiency analyst. NATE also offers the International Ground Source Heat Pump test.

For more information about NATE, visit natex.org