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Critical Infrastructure

Critical Facilities Technician

Available in:HybridIn-Person

Help keep data centers and other essential facilities powered, cooled, and running safely. In 15 weeks of no-cost, hands-on training, learn to operate and troubleshoot HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and control systems. Prepare for entry-level critical facilities roles and EPA 608 and safety certifications at no cost to you. These credentials help show employers you are ready to work safely around essential building systems.

Time Commitment: Full-Time, 35 hours/week

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Course Level

Foundational

Length

15 weeks

Exact dates vary by class

Certifications

  • EPA 608
  • NFPA 70E Electrical Safety
  • OSHA-10 General Industry

Requirements

No previous experience is required. You must:

  • Be comfortable with hands-on physical work, including occasionally lifting up to 50 lbs, standing or bending for extended periods, and working in loud environments.
  • Meet Per Scholas minimum eligibility requirements.
  • Complete 20 hours of free online Tech Prep Work before class begins.

Get Class Details by Location

Critical Facilities Technician is offered in two locations. Select a location to view specific campus class schedule and details.

What is a Critical Facilities Technician?

Data centers and other critical facilities power the digital world – and Critical Facilities Technicians are the experts who keep the electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems running reliably behind the scenes.

Keep Critical Infrastructure Running: You'll get hands-on with tools, blueprints, and repairs through labs and real projects – learning to keep the power and cooling systems that run data centers working around the clock.

Execute Operational Excellence: Develop an "uptime" mindset by executing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), tracking system performance logs, and managing emergency response protocols.

Prove You're Ready on Day One: Finish by running a full simulated shift – handling emergency procedures, troubleshooting scenarios, and a hands-on qualification exam, so you graduate with proof you can do the job.

Supercharge Your Job Search: Work directly with dedicated career coaches and leverage AI tools to develop a tailored resume, practice for technical and behavior interviewing, and learn to present your technical skills with poise so you can launch your career with confidence.

Smiling young professional wearing a headset, working at a desktop computer in a bright, modern call center.

Is This Right for You?

  • You may be successful in this training if you want to start a career in data centers or critical facilities and you:

    • Are comfortable with hands-on physical work – including lifting equipment, standing for extended periods, and working with tools – and ready for an accelerated learning experience.
    • Are a careful, detail-oriented person who prefers doing things the right way over the fast way, and stay level-headed when the stakes are high.
    • Have some prior mechanical or electrical exposure – like HVAC, automotive repair, or vocational training – which is a plus, but not required.
    • Can commit 35 hours weekly to instruction, labs, and career prep (plus 10–20 hours studying outside class).

What You'll Learn

  • By the end of the training, you'll be able to:

    • Follow strict safety protocols, including OSHA-10, NFPA 70E, and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, and safely troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, and fluid-power systems using tools like digital multimeters.
    • Maintain mission-critical cooling infrastructure, including chilled-water loops, CRAC/CRAH systems, and white-space airflow management, and earn your EPA 608 certification working with refrigerants.
    • Manage the critical power chain, from electrical distribution and transformers to UPS systems and standby generators, diagnosing alarms to keep power uninterrupted.
    • Configure and troubleshoot Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) that automate and control facility equipment.
    • Navigate Building Automation Systems and OT networking protocols like BACnet and Modbus, applying cybersecurity practices to protect facility control systems.
    • Execute Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Method of Procedure (MOP) documentation, and Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) to systematically resolve mechanical faults and respond to emergencies.

How You'll Learn

  • Build confidence by practicing the same types of maintenance and emergency-response scenarios you'll encounter on the job.

    • Hands-On Training: You'll start with the fundamentals – reading schematics and blueprints, safely using hand and power tools, and mastering basic electricity, pumps, valves, and pneumatics/hydraulics – before moving into the specialized systems that keep a facility running: electrical distribution and standby power (UPS, generators, transformers), Variable Frequency Drives and PLCs, and the full chilled-water cooling loop, from central plant chillers to white-space CRAC/CRAH units. You'll also learn to navigate Building Automation Systems and OT networking protocols like BACnet and Modbus, applying cybersecurity practices to protect facility controls.
    • Safety and Certification: Dedicated training in OSHA-10 and NFPA 70E prepares you to work safely around electrical and mechanical hazards from day one, while a dedicated HVAC module builds toward your EPA 608 certification for handling refrigerants.
    • Capstone and Career Preparation: You'll finish the program with a full simulated shift – executing emergency procedures, working through troubleshooting scenarios, and passing a hands-on and written qualification exam, the same kind of proof you'll show employers that you're ready for the job. Alongside that, you'll work with career coaches to prepare your resume, practice interviewing, and confidently launch your job search.

Career Opportunities After Training

  • After completing the program, you'll be prepared to pursue entry-level positions such as:

    • Critical Facilities Technician
    • Data Center Facilities Technician
    • Industrial Machinery Mechanic

    In these roles, you'll help ensure the high-availability infrastructure powering our modern economy stays online 24/7 – inspecting thermal cooling systems, monitoring electrical distribution panels, testing backup generators, and executing emergency maintenance.

  • Your Career Can Grow From Here

    Many graduates begin their careers in critical facilities before advancing into specialized roles such as Senior Facilities Engineer, Data Center Manager, or Power Plant Operator. Critical facilities maintenance also creates a strong foundation for future paths in advanced HVAC management, industrial automation, or electrical engineering.

  • What to Expect:

    • Most graduates begin in roles that are fully on-site, since the work involves physically maintaining large-scale infrastructure, hardware, and industrial equipment.
    • Day-to-day work may include reading system blueprints, tracking equipment temperatures, monitoring Building Management Systems (BMS), and safely troubleshooting mechanical faults.
    • Your first role is the beginning of your critical facilities career – not the destination.

Critical Facilities Technician