Fortis College in Orange Park will begin training heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians in November, expanding beyond its medical programs at the Blanding Boulevard campus.

The 48-week HVACR program will operate out of a former Superfit Foods storefront that the college is remodeling into a working classroom at the South Blanding Village shopping center, 700 Blanding Blvd., Clay Today first reported Thursday, Sept. 24.

Fortis President Wyman Dickey said the idea had been in the works for 10 to 12 years, since shortly after the school moved into its current location.

"A big part is just the population growth in our area was more substantial than we had anticipated, and it's just created that much more of a need," Dickey told Clay Today.

Dickey said the college spent the past two years conducting market research and consulting with CareerSource Northeast Florida to confirm local demand. Clay County's population has grown 9.8% since 2020, according to the Clay Today report.

Another 14,500 homes are planned, permitted or under construction countywide, the report said.

Students in the program will train on residential and commercial heating systems, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The curriculum covers troubleshooting, repair and maintenance. In their final quarter, students can sit for the EPA Universal Certification Exam, an industry certification, according to Fortis.

The program takes about a year to complete. Dickey described the coursework as "very intricate," with hands-on practice on real equipment guided by instructors.

HVACR training is already offered at Fortis campuses in Pensacola and Port St. Lucie. Orange Park's existing programs include nursing, practical nursing, medical assisting, dental assisting and surgical technology, according to the college's website. The campus is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

Fortis has not announced a specific November start date, tuition cost or class size. Prospective students can contact the campus at 700 Blanding Blvd., Suite 16, Orange Park.