PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service Technician | rncp39437

Commercial refrigeration and air conditioning service technicians perform preventive and corrective maintenance, as well as energy optimization, on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems, such as central refrigeration plants, CO₂ cascade or booster systems, and refrigeration units with secondary cooling circuits for large and medium-sized retail spaces and small-scale industrial processes.

Depending on the type of business, he performs commissioning and maintenance of single-stage, single-unit refrigeration systems, such as small walk-in coolers, refrigerated display cases, refrigerated cabinets, small-capacity heat pumps, and reversible air conditioning systems.

He often works alone and travels to job sites in a service vehicle equipped with specialized equipment and tools. The technician performs his duties by referring to the manufacturers’ technical documentation, the installation records, and the information provided by the building management system (BMS), if one is in place.

He works with several people: his supervisor, who assigns him tasks, monitors his work, and approves his decisions; and the client, to whom he reports on the work completed and has the relevant documents signed. He may be subject to specific time constraints and on-call duties.

The technician is exposed to risks associated with on-site work: electrical hazards, material handling, working at heights, working in cold temperatures, and using welding equipment.

With regard to refrigerants, the worker is exposed to hazards associated with their use, particularly CO2 (due to the risk of oxygen deprivation) and certain flammable refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, as well as refrigerants with very low environmental impact. Finally, the worker handles equipment that poses risks due to high pressures.

He performs his duties in compliance with individual and collective safety rules and, where applicable, in accordance with the prevention plan, environmental protection rules regarding refrigerants, and regulations governing pressure equipment.

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Target Audience & Prerequisites

– First-grade levelfirst science or technical track.
– CAP/BEP in electrical work or refrigeration, or alevel V (air conditioning installer–refrigeration technician, industrial electrician) with at least one year of experience in the field.

Terms of Access

Submission of a cost estimate to the funding agency following attendance at a group information session and an individual assessment interview to verify eligibility requirements.

Final admission is subject to approval by the referring institution/funding body; please allow 1 to 2 months before the start of the program.

The course is available as a continuing education program.

Next session scheduled: sometime in 2025

To find out the dates of the group information session for the next session, please contact us at 0477505102.

Training courses are accessible to people with disabilities following a feasibility study of the necessary accommodations.
Disability Coordinator: Ms. CHIPIER 0477505100

Duration and cost of the training *

Continuing Education Program

Duration:732 hours at a training center
Internships: 140 hours
Cost: €7,320 per person for a group of 12 people. Funding may be available through the CPF or other funding sources (OPCO, regional authorities, etc.). Custom quotes available upon request.

Estimated duration and work-study schedule, which can be adjusted based on the company’s needs and the learner’s prerequisites.

Career paths, professions, jobs

Business sectors:

– Commercial refrigeration: maintaining the cold chain at retail locations,
– Semi-industrial refrigeration: food storage and small-scale industrial processes,
– Refrigeration systems for commercial kitchens in the restaurant and hospitality industries,
– Comfort air conditioning,
for construction, installation, maintenance, and operation services.

Types of jobs available:

Refrigeration Technician; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician; Refrigeration System Operator; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Repair Technician; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician; Refrigeration Technician; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service Technician; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Maintenance Technician.

Key Metrics for the 2024 Sessions

Number of participants	10
Exam Success Stories	7
Failures Exam	3
Withdrawals during the race	0
Success rate	70%
Learners' overall satisfaction with the training	4.5/5 (8 reviews)

Proven skills:

1. Commission single-stage, single-unit refrigeration systems
Install a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system.
Commission a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system.
2. Perform maintenance on single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning systems
Check and configure a controller or interface dedicated to refrigeration applications.
Perform corrective maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning system.
Perform preventive maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning system.
3. Perform preventive maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems
Perform routine maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems.
Perform condition-based and predictive maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems.
4. Perform corrective maintenance on complex and centralized commercial refrigeration systems
Diagnose the causes of malfunctions in complex and centralized commercial refrigeration systems using a Centralized Technical Management (CTM) system.
Diagnose the causes of malfunctions in complex and centralized commercial refrigeration systems.
Repair and return complex and centralized commercial refrigeration systems to service.

Teaching and technical resources:

The training takes place in our technical workshops dedicated to energy maintenance trades and is led by instructors from the training center and teachers from the vocational high school.

Teaching methods and resources: practical exercises, real-world case studies, and comparing and contrasting activities carried out in the workplace with those conducted at the training center.

Educational systems focused on energy maintenance, positive and negative cold rooms, air conditioners, reversible air-to-water heat pumps, solar thermal collectors, oil, gas, and wood pellet boilers, cogeneration units, water treatment systems, and science laboratories

A computer lab equipped with 14 computers is available for conducting technological research.

A "traditional" classroom is also used whenever necessary.

Located in Sury-le-Comtal, in the heart of the Forez Plain and within an employment area that aligns with the training programs offered there, the CFC Sainte-Claire is easily accessible from throughout the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region thanks to the Loire’s extensive intercity transportation network.

You will complete your training in a 4,500-square-meter facility equipped with state-of-the-art technical labs for vocational instruction. The CFC also features a dormitory with 84 beds that can accommodate students from all over France, as well as a self-service and cafeteria-style dining service offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Assessment Criteria

Learning progress is assessed throughout the training program and results in the creation of a skills assessment logbook.

The final evaluation is conducted by the certification board authorized by the relevant regional representative of the Ministry of Labor. The board is composed of professionals in the field covered by the certification. (Art. R 338-6 of the Education Code)

It is based on a professional scenario, technical questions, the presentation of a professional portfolio documenting the candidate’s professional practices during the training program, and the results of evaluations completed during the training program.

Full certification (all competency modules approved by the panel) or partial certification (certain modules approved), followed by the issuance of a professional credential or a certificate of completion for the approved modules.

Demonstrated competencies and assessment methods:

RNCP39437BC01 – Commissioning single-stage, single-unit refrigeration systems

List of skills	Assessment Criteria
Install a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system Commission a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system	Work-based scenario: 2 hours 30 minutes In the workshop, all candidates simultaneously in the presence of the jury: Using a technical manual and instructions, the candidate performs the commissioning of a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system. The refrigeration system must be charged with nitrogen, and the electrical panel must be operational. On this type of system, the candidate performs the following: – Commissioning – Verifying the proper operation of the system – Preparing the documents related to commissioning: machine card, data sheet, reports – Preparing the current regulatory work order and the work order using a digital tool and sending them to the jury – Making the system available to the jury Discussion based on the work(s): 10 min This written report is a document describing a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system that the candidate installed during their training or professional career. This two- to four-page document includes photos of the installation. The panel will ask the candidate about: – the candidate’s description of the type of system involved, – how the candidate prepared for and carried out the installation, – a description of the work performed by the candidate. Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 2 hours 40 minutes

List of skills

Assessment Criteria

Install a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system
Commission a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system

Work-based scenario: 2 hours 30 minutes

In the workshop, all candidates simultaneously in the presence of the jury:
Using a technical manual and instructions, the candidate performs the commissioning of a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system. The refrigeration system must be charged with nitrogen, and the electrical panel must be operational.
On this type of system, the candidate performs the following:
– Commissioning
– Verifying the proper operation of the system
– Preparing the documents related to commissioning: machine card, data sheet, reports
– Preparing the current regulatory work order and the work order using a digital tool and sending them to the jury
– Making the system available to the jury

Discussion based on the work(s): 10 min

This written report is a document describing a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system that the candidate installed during their training or professional career.
This two- to four-page document includes photos of the installation.
The panel will ask the candidate about:
– the candidate’s description of the type of system involved,
– how the candidate prepared for and carried out the installation,
– a description of the work performed by the candidate.

Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 2 hours 40 minutes

RNCP39437BC02 – Perform maintenance on single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning systems

List of skills	Assessment Criteria
Check and configure a controller or interface designed for refrigeration applications Perform preventive maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning system Perform corrective maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning system	Work-based scenario: 3 hours 45 minutes The professional scenario consists of two parts. Corrective maintenance of a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration or air conditioning system Following instructions, the candidate performs corrective maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration or air conditioning system. This practical exercise is conducted on operational equipment and involves handling refrigerant. This section is organized for a maximum of 7 candidates at a time. It takes place in two phases. – Phase 1, duration 2 hours, in the workshop and in the presence of the jury: Using a randomly selected refrigeration system and based on information describing a malfunction, the candidate diagnoses, repairs, and restarts the system. Upon completion of the repair, the candidate returns the refrigeration system to the jury, who acts as the client. – Phase 2, duration 15 min, in a classroom, in the presence of a proctor The candidate uses a digital tool to draft the documents related to the repair. Case Studies Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes; all candidates take the exam simultaneously in the exam room under the supervision of an invigilator: Using a technical file and instructions, the candidate completes two case studies focusing on the following professional tasks: –configuring a controller designed for refrigeration applications; Using “manufacturer” documents, the candidate verifies and proposes the configuration of a controller designed for refrigeration applications. – preventive maintenance of single-stage refrigeration systems; Using diagrams and parts lists, the candidate proposes a solution for intervention or modification as part of the preventive maintenance of a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system. Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 3 hours and 45 minutes

List of skills

Assessment Criteria

Check and configure a controller or interface designed for refrigeration applications
Perform preventive maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning system
Perform corrective maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration and air conditioning system

Work-based scenario: 3 hours 45 minutes

The professional scenario consists of two parts.

Corrective maintenance of a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration or air conditioning system
Following instructions, the candidate performs corrective maintenance on a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration or air conditioning system.
This practical exercise is conducted on operational equipment and involves handling refrigerant.
This section is organized for a maximum of 7 candidates at a time.
It takes place in two phases.
– Phase 1, duration 2 hours, in the workshop and in the presence of the jury:
Using a randomly selected refrigeration system and based on information describing a malfunction, the candidate diagnoses, repairs, and restarts the system. Upon completion of the repair, the candidate returns the refrigeration system to the jury, who acts as the client.
– Phase 2, duration 15 min, in a classroom, in the presence of a proctor
The candidate uses a digital tool to draft the documents related to the repair.

Case Studies
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes; all candidates take the exam simultaneously in the exam room under the supervision of an invigilator:
Using a technical file and instructions, the candidate completes two case studies focusing on the following professional tasks:
–configuring a controller designed for refrigeration applications; Using “manufacturer” documents, the candidate verifies and proposes the configuration of a controller designed for refrigeration applications.
– preventive maintenance of single-stage refrigeration systems; Using diagrams and parts lists, the candidate proposes a solution for intervention or modification as part of the preventive maintenance of a single-stage, single-unit refrigeration system.

Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 3 hours and 45 minutes

RNCP39437BC03 – Perform preventive maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems

List of skills	Assessment Criteria
Perform routine maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems Perform condition-based and predictive maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems	Work-based scenario: 1 hour 15 minutes All candidates taking the exam in person in a testing room under the supervision of an invigilator: Using technical documentation and instructions, the candidate completes a case study on condition-based and predictive maintenance. Using diagrams and parts lists, the candidate proposes a repair or modification solution for the maintenance of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system. Technical interview: 15 min The technical interview focuses on the knowledge and skills required for the routine maintenance of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system. The candidate answers the panel’s questions while working on a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system to illustrate their points. Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 1 hour 30 minutes

List of skills

Assessment Criteria

Perform routine maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems
Perform condition-based and predictive maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems

Work-based scenario: 1 hour 15 minutes

All candidates taking the exam in person in a testing room under the supervision of an invigilator:
Using technical documentation and instructions, the candidate completes a case study on condition-based and predictive maintenance.
Using diagrams and parts lists, the candidate proposes a repair or modification solution for the maintenance of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system.

Technical interview: 15 min

The technical interview focuses on the knowledge and skills required for the routine maintenance of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system.
The candidate answers the panel’s questions while working on a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system to illustrate their points.

Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 1 hour 30 minutes

RNCP39437BC04 – Perform corrective maintenance on complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems

List of skills	Assessment Criteria
Diagnose the causes of malfunctions in complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems using a Building Management System (BMS) Diagnose the causes of malfunctions in complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems. Repair and recommission complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems	Work-based scenario: 3 hours 15 minutes The professional scenario consists of two parts. Case Study Duration: 1 hour; all candidates take the exam simultaneously in the exam room under the supervision of an invigilator: Based on a technical dossier and instructions, the candidate conducts a case study focused on diagnosing a malfunction using data from the central building management system (CBMS) of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration facility. Corrective maintenance of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system Based on instructions, the candidate performs corrective maintenance on a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system. This practical exercise is conducted on operational equipment and involves handling refrigerant. This section is organized for a maximum of 5 candidates at a time. It takes place in two phases. – Phase 1, duration 2 hours, in the workshop and in the presence of the jury: Using a randomly selected system and based on information describing a malfunction, the candidate diagnoses, repairs, and restarts the system. Upon completion of the repair, the candidate hands over the refrigeration system to the jury, who acts as the client. – Phase 2, duration 15 min, in a classroom, in the presence of a proctor: The candidate uses a digital tool to draft the documents related to the repair. Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 3 hours and 15 minutes

List of skills

Assessment Criteria

Diagnose the causes of malfunctions in complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems using a Building Management System (BMS)
Diagnose the causes of malfunctions in complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems.
Repair and recommission complex, centralized commercial refrigeration systems

Work-based scenario: 3 hours 15 minutes

The professional scenario consists of two parts.

Case Study
Duration: 1 hour; all candidates take the exam simultaneously in the exam room under the supervision of an invigilator:
Based on a technical dossier and instructions, the candidate conducts a case study focused on diagnosing a malfunction using data from the central building management system (CBMS) of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration facility.

Corrective maintenance of a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system
Based on instructions, the candidate performs corrective maintenance on a complex, centralized commercial refrigeration system.
This practical exercise is conducted on operational equipment and involves handling refrigerant.
This section is organized for a maximum of 5 candidates at a time.
It takes place in two phases.
– Phase 1, duration 2 hours, in the workshop and in the presence of the jury: Using a randomly selected system and based on information describing a malfunction, the candidate diagnoses, repairs, and restarts the system. Upon completion of the repair, the candidate hands over the refrigeration system to the jury, who acts as the client.
– Phase 2, duration 15 min, in a classroom, in the presence of a proctor: The candidate uses a digital tool to draft the documents related to the repair.

Total duration of the exam for the candidate: 3 hours and 15 minutes

Description of the procedures for obtaining certification through the accumulation of skill modules and/or through distance learning:

The professional qualification consists of four skill modules known as Certificates of Professional Competence (CCP), which correspond to the activities listed above.

The professional qualification may be supplemented by one or more skill sets certified by the supplementary specialization certificates (CCS) mentioned above.

This professional certification may be obtained by accumulating professional competency certificates (CCP) or by completing a training program, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the amended decree of December 22, 2015, issued by the Ministry of Labor regarding the conditions for granting professional certifications.

Monitoring procedures:

The program is based on teaching methods that focus on individualized instruction.

We have chosen an educational strategy aimed at:

Developing autonomy by empowering our trainees to take ownership of their learning,
Developing a culture of technology by integrating all components, including those related to workplace safety,
Developing professional attitudes, methods, and rigor.
Course modules and individualized case studies are assessed by the lead instructor through collaborative work in small groups.
Practical training phases are evaluated individually by the lead instructor, who records the results in a skills tracking booklet.
Supervised time during tutorials and practical training sessions is also scheduled to prepare for the certification.
A computer lab is available for preparing the internship and company activity report.

This fact sheet was updated on January 22, 2025

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