MOS 1161 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician
MOS 1161 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician
MOS Description
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning technicians must be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to handle Hydro Chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). They install, operate and perform organizational and intermediate level repairs on field refrigeration and environmental control units for all ground operations and equipment. These duties include installing refrigeration systems according to engineering specifications; recovery of specified gases or fluids from systems; dismantling and testing malfunctioning systems using electrical and mechanical, testing equipment, and repairing systems by replacing or adjusting defective and worn parts. An apprenticeship program, leading to U.S. Department of Labor certification as a Journey Worker, is available to Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians under the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP).

National Certifications
You selected Early Career—this applies to Marines in paygrades E1-E3. To help you focus on the credentials most appropriate for early in your career, the National Certifications list below has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply.
You selected Mid-Career—this applies to Marines in paygrades E4-E5. To help you focus on credentials most applicable to this phase in your career, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and helps prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.
You selected Late Career-- this applies to Marines in paygrades E6-E9. To help you focus on credentials most applicable to this phase in your career, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.
You chose Transitioning-- this applies to Marines who are not reenlisting and are planning their next steps. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to only show in-demand credentials that are GI Bill approved. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining a credential can help prepare you for civilian employment, and can demonstrate knowledge and skills in a way civilian employers understand. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly. If you are already within that six-month timeframe, you can still choose to pursue the credential yourself or explore other funding options to pay for credentials.
As a transitioning Marine, you may also want to visit the Marine Corps' Transition Readiness Program for other guidance regarding reentering the civilian workforce.
You chose Promotion-Seeking-- this applies to Marines who plan to stay in the Corps and who are actively working on advancement. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
Obtaining credentials related to your rating helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.
Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.
You chose Veteran-- veterans are any former Service member who has been discharged from active duty military service. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to show in-demand credentials that are GI Bill approved. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.
COOL does not pay for credentialing exams for veterans, but you may be able to get your credential funded through the GI Bill. Explore your funding options to see what funding may be available to you. Also, visit our page of Related Sites and expand the Resource Sites For Veterans section to see what other resources may be available to you
The following civilian credentials are related to MOS 1161 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician. These credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these credentials, click on the credential title below.
For more supervisory and managerial credentials, please refer to the LEADER summary page.Compare | Credential | Agency | Related As | Attainability | COOL$ | GI Bill® | Accreditation | ID | |
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Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
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Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) | ![]() |
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Air Conditioning Service Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Air Conditioning Installation Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Air Distribution Specialty (Service) Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Heat Pump (Air to Air) Service Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Certified Control Systems Technician - Level I (CCST-I)
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International Society of Automation (ISA) | ![]() |
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Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician (CMRT) Is Not In Demand | Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) | ![]() |
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Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator (CARO) Is Not In Demand | Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA) | ![]() |
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Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO)
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Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA) | ![]() |
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Air Distribution Specialty (Installation) Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Gas Heating (Air) Installation Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Air to Air Heat Pump Installation Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Light Commercial Refrigeration Service Is Not In Demand | North American Technician Excellence (NATE) | ![]() |
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Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
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Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) | ![]() |
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Certified Control Systems Technician - Level II (CCST-II) Is Not In Demand | International Society of Automation (ISA) | ![]() |
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Certified Control Systems Technician - Level III (CCST-III) Is Not In Demand | International Society of Automation (ISA) | ![]() |
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STAR Residential-Light Commercial HVAC Mastery Is Not In Demand | National Inspection Testing and Certification Corporation (NITC) | ![]() |
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STAR HVACR Mastery Is Not In Demand | National Inspection Testing and Certification Corporation (NITC) | ![]() |
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Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP) Is Not In Demand | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) | ![]() |
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Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP) Is Not In Demand | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) | ![]() |
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High-Performance Building Design Professional (HBDP) Is Not In Demand | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) | ![]() |
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Operations and Performance Management Professional (OPMP) Is Not In Demand | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) | ![]() |
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Reliability Operator Certification (RC) Is Not In Demand | North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) | ![]() |
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Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission Operator Certification (BT) Is Not In Demand | North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) | ![]() |
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Transmission Operator Certification (TO) Is Not In Demand | North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) | ![]() |
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Balancing and Interchange Certification (BI) Is Not In Demand | North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) | ![]() |
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Infection Control Awareness (ICA) Is Not In Demand | International Certification Board (ICB) | ![]() |
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State Licenses
Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor. For more supervisory and managerial occupations, please refer to the LEADER summary page.
Apprenticeship
The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) is a formal military training program that provides active duty and Full Time Support (FTS) Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Service members the opportunity to improve their job skills and to complete their civilian apprenticeship requirements while they are on active duty. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides the nationally recognized "Certificate of Completion" upon program completion.
USMAP enhances your job skills and shows your motivation for more challenging military assignments. Having a DOL Certificate of Completion is an advantage in getting better civilian jobs since employers know the value of apprenticeships.
The following USMAP apprenticeship trades are related to MOS 1161 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician:
Completing an apprenticeship is a process with four major steps. Proceed to Step 1 on the USMAP website to select an apprenticeship trade that is related to your military occupation.
Related Civilian Occupations
The following civilian occupations are similar to the duties performed by MOS 1161 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below. For more supervisory and managerial positions, please refer to the LEADER summary page. To search for related civilian job opportunities, go to the Veteran’s Employment Center.
Civilian Job | Duties Matched | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
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Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders |
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Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers |
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Maintenance and Repair Workers, General |
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The following federal occupations are similar to MOS 1161 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the federal occupation below.
In addition to obtaining certifications in your field, advanced education is another way to enhance job performance.
For help in making informed choices on schools and education programs when using tuition assistance, see: