OPERATING ENGINEER HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING APPRENTICE
Operating Engineer Heating and Air Conditioning Apprentice is non-competitive, meaning the state checks your education and experience against the spec instead of ranking you on a test.
The FY 2027 range lands between $52,308 and $75,954.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
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See where to apply for this title →Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the close supervision of a supervisory officer in a state department, institution, or agency, as apprentice and productive worker, receives on-the-job training in the operation, maintenance, adjustment, and repair of air conditioning and heating systems and auxiliary equipment; does other related duties.
Examples of work
- Learns to operate and maintain boilers, engines, turbines, motors, generators, and auxiliary equipment used in power heating plants and air conditioning systems.
- Learns to operate, maintain, and make repairs to generators and motors, feed and vacuum pumps, feed conveyors, blowers, governors controlling the rate of fuel consumption, and automatic stokers.
- Learns to operate, maintain, and make repairs to automatic temperature control systems for heaters and for ventilating and air conditioning equipment.
- Learns to make repairs and adjustments to compressors, thermostats, pumps, filters, screens, condensers, and other air conditioning equipment.
- Conducts periodic comprehensive tests and takes readings of fuel consumption, pressure, room circulating units, draft conditions, temperature and steam flow, and other recordings, after a period of training.
- Receives, stores, safeguards, and records the use of equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Maintains records and files.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform in essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of types of boilers, engines, motors, and auxiliary equipment used in heating and air conditioning systems, and their proper use, care, adjustment, and maintenance after a period of training.
- Knowledge of problems, procedures, and methods used in operating, maintaining, and making minor repair and adjustments to types of feed and vacuum pumps, generators and motors, feed conveyors, blowers, and automatic stokers after a period of training.
- Knowledge of operating characteristics, controls, adjustments, and repairs common to air conditioning systems after a period of training.
- Knowledge of methods used in setting governors after a period of training.
- Knowledge of safety devices and measures used in the operation of heating and auxiliary equipment after a period of training.
- Knowledge of methods used in conducting periodic comprehensive tests and in recording periodic readings of fuel consumption, pressure, draft conditions, temperature, steam flow, and other recording apparatus after a period of training.
- Ability to learn to analyze heating operation and maintenance problems, organize assigned work, and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to work cooperatively with associates and with those concerned with the operation and maintenance of the heating systems.
- Ability to learn to operate, maintain, and make repairs to varied types of boilers, engines, electrical generating equipment, and other types of machinery and equipment used in power and heating plants.
- Ability to learn to inspect, check, and make proper use of safety units and devices.
- Ability to learn to set varied types of governors and to record accurate readings of fuel consumption, pressure, draft conditions, temperature, and steam flow.
- Ability to learn to lubricate and clean machinery and equipment and operate and maintain varied types of feed and vacuum pumps, generators and motors, feed conveyors, blowers, and automatic stokers.
- Ability to obtain, store, and safeguard the use and recording of power plant equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Ability to prepare simple reports of time, readings, and fuel consumption.
- Ability to maintain power plant records and files.
- Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- <b>ADVANCEMENT:</b>
- Appointee's work performance will be reviewed and rated semi-annually during each twelve (12) month periods of the two (2) year apprenticeship program. Upon successful completion of the twenty-four (24) month apprenticeship program, and the attainment of an operating engineer's license (blue seal minimum) of appropriate grade and type as issued by the New Jersey Department of Labor, within the training period, appointees will be eligible for advancement to the title of Operating Engineer, Heating and Air Conditioning in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.7 et seq.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Appointee may be required to obtain a valid Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician Certification of the appropriate level commensurate with type of equipment serviced, issued under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.
The inability of an appointee in the apprentice title to successfully complete the required training period and to obtain the required blue seal license shall be considered cause for separation.