| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Private, independent HVAC training company (BTrained, LLC); short non-degree courses and exam prep, not a college |
| Locations | 2 in Alabama: Birmingham (Oxmoor Circle, near Homewood) and Huntsville (Virginia Blvd) |
| Credentials | No degrees or diplomas; BTrained’s own course completion. Its BElite course is a board-approved pre-examination curriculum for the Alabama HACR contractor exam |
| Accreditation | None stated. Listed by the Alabama HACR Board as an approved curriculum and as an exam-prep provider |
| Federal aid | None mentioned; the school says payment arrangements can be made |
| 2026-27 cost | $2,950 for BElite (night or two-week Express); $595 for the two-day exam prep seminar |
| Students | Not published |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
BTrained: a small Alabama HVAC training company
BTrained, LLC is a private HVAC training company with classrooms in Birmingham and Huntsville. It is not a college: it runs short, in-person courses on heating and air conditioning basics and a seminar for the Alabama HVAC contractors exam, and it does not award degrees or diplomas. Brian Byrom started it in 2016, according to HVAC Insider (October 2018), which reported that he had taught HVAC basics for over 38 years and written his exam-prep seminar in 1984. The school’s About page lists his credentials as Alabama HACR contractor, Alabama master gasfitter, EPA certified and NATE certified. Co-owner Kathy Byrom, the page says, was executive director of the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR Board) for over 17 years. Eight other instructors are named, mostly without credentials.
Courses, and where they run
| Program | Credential | Campus | Schedule and delivery | Prepares for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BElite Night (12-week HVAC course) | Course completion; board-approved pre-examination curriculum | Birmingham (current dates) | In person; 24 evening classes, 6:00 to 10:00 pm, twice a week; also taught in Spanish | Alabama HACR certified contractor exam eligibility; entry-level HVAC work |
| BElite Express (2-week HVAC course) | Same course content as BElite Night | Huntsville and Birmingham | In person; ten weekdays, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm | Alabama HACR certified contractor exam eligibility; entry-level HVAC work |
| BPrepared HVAC Exam Prep Seminar | None (seminar) | Birmingham (current dates) | In person; two days, 8 am to 5 pm | Alabama HVAC contractors exam |
| Custom courses for employers | None stated | Birmingham or Huntsville | Up to 10 days; schedule set with the employer | Varies |
The school’s course calendar (checked October 2026) lists every scheduled class at Birmingham except an October 2026 Express course in Huntsville, which was full with a waiting list. A metal duct design and fabrication workshop and an exam prep seminar in Huntsville appeared on earlier versions of this page but are not currently scheduled. BTrained says it “will be offering” continuing education credits for licensed contractors, but its CE page lists no courses.
What the courses cover
BElite Night and BElite Express
BElite is one course offered in two formats. The night version is 24 four-hour evening classes over 12 weeks, about 96 class hours by our count; the Express version fits the same material into two weeks of 7:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays. The course pages list these topics: basic refrigeration; basic components and functions; HVAC and the environment; everyday skills and techniques; metallurgical science and practice; systems and sizing; properly sized duct systems; airflow (“All About Air”); system charging and vacuum; soft skills for customer relations; electrical safety, controls and wiring; and finishing touches for technicians. HVAC Insider described the 2018 evening classes as classroom teaching with substantial lab work on troubleshooting, maintenance and installation. A Spanish-language night course started at Birmingham in October 2026.
The school’s pages do not say whether EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification, books or tools are included, so ask before enrolling. Night-course days vary by listing (Monday and Tuesday on one page, Wednesday and Thursday on another), so confirm the schedule.
BPrepared HVAC Exam Prep Seminar
The BPrepared seminar is two days, 8 am to 5 pm, aimed at the Alabama HVAC contractors exam. The school says it covers test techniques, a review of the reference books, sample questions and a practice exam. It does not say whether the books, which the HACR Board’s application lists as allowed in the exam, are included in the $595.
Cost and how students pay
| Course (2026-27 dates) | Price |
|---|---|
| BElite Night, 12 weeks | $2,950 |
| BElite Express, 2 weeks | $2,950 |
| Spanish BElite Night, 12 weeks | $2,950 |
| BPrepared Exam Prep Seminar, 2 days | $595 |
| Custom employer course | Quoted on request |
Prices are from the school’s course listings, checked October 2026; BElite was $2,750 when this profile was last updated. The course pages say deposits are non-refundable and that “payment arrangements can be made” by phone, without giving terms. BTrained does not mention federal student aid, GI Bill approval or WIOA funding, so ask directly if you plan to use any of them.
Who can enroll
The course pages list no admission requirements beyond registering and paying a deposit; BTrained says BElite is for newcomers as well as working technicians. Classes are small: HVAC Insider reported a Birmingham classroom seating up to 25, and the January 2027 night course showed six seats left in October 2026. Employers can book a custom course of up to 10 days for their own staff.
Approval and results
BTrained is not accredited, and no accreditor is named on its site. Its standing comes from the Alabama HACR Board. Under Alabama law, quoted on the board’s exam application, a candidate can sit the HACR contractor exam after holding an apprentice registration, after 3,000 hours of coursework or experience, or as a graduate of an approved HVAC curriculum. That application lists “B-Trained, Birmingham, Alabama” among the approved curricula and “B Trained (Prep Course & Tutoring)” among exam-prep providers, and the BElite course pages say it is “approved by the Alabama HACR Board as a Pre-Examination Curriculum.” Confirm current approval with the board, since the application form we found dates from 2020.
We could not confirm whether BTrained holds a license from the Alabama Community College System’s Private School Licensure division, whose online list we could not fully search; ask the school. BTrained publishes no completion, exam pass or job placement figures.
Before you enroll
- BElite is roughly 96 to 100 hours of instruction. It is a short course, not a certificate or degree program like those at Alabama community colleges.
- Graduating qualifies you to apply for the HACR contractor exam; you still have to pass it, and you may need more experience to be hired as a technician.
- Ask whether EPA 608 certification testing is included. Working with refrigerants requires it, and the course pages do not mention it.
- Deposits are non-refundable, and no refund or withdrawal policy is published.
- Most scheduled classes are in Birmingham; Huntsville currently has one Express session, which is full.
Two locations
| Campus | Address | Main programs |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 240 Oxmoor Cir, Suite 111, Birmingham, AL 35209 | BElite Night (English and Spanish), BElite Express, BPrepared exam prep seminars |
| Huntsville | 1315 Virginia Blvd, Huntsville, AL 35801 | BElite Express |
Both locations share one phone number, (205) 732-7138.
What students say
BTrained’s site shows six testimonials, chosen by the school, praising the instructors and saying students passed the state exam. It links to a Google review listing, but we could not read the rating or review count when we checked in October 2026, and we found no other review site with real reviews. Treat reviews as thin and ask the school to put you in touch with recent graduates.
Facts checked October 2026.
Programs & Courses
HVAC training
- BElite Night 12-Week HVAC Course (24 evening classes; also offered in Spanish)
- BElite Express 2-Week HVAC Course (weekdays, 7 am to 5 pm)
Exam preparation
- BPrepared HVAC Exam Prep Seminar for the Alabama HVAC contractors exam (two days)
Employer training
- Custom courses for company staff (up to 10 days)
Campus Locations
Birmingham, AL 240 Oxmoor Cir, Suite 111, Birmingham, AL 35209
Huntsville, AL 1315 Virginia Blvd, Huntsville, AL 35801