NATE is in excellent shape. Since its inception in 1997, NATE has grown steadily, administering more tests with each passing year, enlisting partners to train and broaden the avenues of testing, and becoming an industry standard of excellence. In 2002, the nonprofit organization administered 6,200 tests, almost triple that amount in 2003, and in 2004, more than 21,000 tests were administered - a record year!

From the beginning, NATE has constantly kept its eyes on the prize and has unwaveringly adhered to its mission and vision of helping to create better technicians and, by so doing, benefiting everyone in the HVACR industry. Its mission and vision are to recognize high-quality industry technicians through voluntary testing and certification, and to develop and promote excellence in the installation and service of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. As the industry provides better training, and thus more knowledgeable technicians, the level of technician professionalism rises.