NATE certification stands for North American Technician Excellence certification, which is a voluntary certification program for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technicians in the United States. The certification is awarded to individual technicians who pass a knowledge-based exam that tests their understanding of HVAC systems. The NATE certification program is the largest non-profit HVACR certification program in the United States.

To become NATE-certified, technicians must pass two separate exams: the Ready-To-Work and HVAC Support Technician. Both of these exams are designed for technicians just entering the field and are recommended by NATE to be completed within the first six months to a year on the job. After passing both these exams and completing at least two years of work in the HVAC field, technicians are eligible to become NATE-certified. Technicians that choose the traditional NATE certification pathway will take two exams – the 50-question NATE Core exam and a 100-question Specialty exam.

NATE certification is not legally required for HVAC technicians in most areas, but hiring a professional with this certification is highly recommended. NATE-certified technicians have knowledge and skills that help set them apart from their competition. They are required to complete a set number of continuing education hours or re-take exams to recertify every two years, which ensures that their knowledge of the industry and the systems in your home is up-to-date.