HARDI Training Courses Earn NATE Certification, Reinforcing Commitment to Distributor Excellence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Allison Greene, Marketing Director

Email: agreene@hardinet.org

Direct: 614.345.4328

HARDI Training Courses Earn NATE Certification, Reinforcing Commitment to Distributor Excellence

COLUMBUS, OH, April 1, 2025 — Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) is proud to announce that four of its training courses have officially been certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE), the nation’s leading certification organization for HVACR technicians.

This milestone means that HVACR professionals — including technicians and distributor employees — can now earn Continuing Education Hours (CEHs) toward their NATE certification renewal by completing select HARDI courses.

The newly NATE-certified HARDI courses include:

• Intro to HVAC

• Intro to Refrigeration

• Fundamentals of HVAC

• A2L Technology and Transition

Each course has been reviewed and approved by NATE for CEH credit, with corresponding reference codes that participants can submit during the certification renewal process.

“NATE certification represents the highest standard of technical excellence in our industry,” said Talbot Gee, CEO of HARDI. “By earning this certification for our courses, we’re not only helping technicians stay credentialed — we’re empowering distributors to be stronger, more knowledgeable partners to their contractor customers. That’s what it means to advance the HVACR channel.”

While NATE certification is primarily aimed at technicians, distributors stand to gain considerable value from NATE-accredited training. Employees with a strong technical foundation are better equipped to recommend products, solve customer problems, and build trust — creating a competitive advantage in today’s evolving HVACR marketplace.

“We know that when distributor teams understand the technical challenges their contractor customers face, they can offer better solutions and stronger support,” said Stella Keane, Vice President of Talent Development at HARDI. “Certifying our courses through NATE helps ensure that our members are always learning, growing, and staying ahead of the curve.”

HARDI’s newly certified courses count toward the 16 CEHs required every two years to maintain NATE certification — eliminating the need to retake the exam and making it easier to stay current with industry standards and technologies.

To learn more about HARDI’s training programs, visit www.hardinet.org. For more on how to submit CEHs through NATE, visit www.natex.org.

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ABOUT HARDI

HARDI (Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International) is the single voice of wholesale distribution within the North American and Latin American HVACR markets.

A non-profit association, HARDI serves its members through government affairs and advocacy efforts, market intelligence and benchmarking, training programs, and world class events. HARDI proudly represents more than 490 distributor members and their 5,000 + branch locations, and close to 500 suppliers, manufacturer representatives and service vendors. HARDI Distributor members serve installation and service/replacement contractors in residential and commercial markets, as well as commercial/industrial and institutional maintenance staffs. HARDI Affiliate members market, distribute, and support heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment, parts and supplies.