Refrigeration Service Engineers Society

What Refrigeration Service Engineers Society does

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1933 to deliver education, training, and certification to HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) service technicians and contractors. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, with a secondary office in Albany, Oregon inherited from the 2023-2024 RETA merger, RSES operates with a small staff of approximately 20-25 employees across both offices. The organization's core technology stack is a content-and-credentialing platform comprising the peer-reviewed RSES Journal (with archives back to 1995), the proprietary Service Application Manual (SAM) containing thousands of pages of technical data, an eLearning platform with printable certificates, a monthly webinar series archived since 2013, a certification testing system with a distributed proctor network, and a member portal with directory and chat functionality, all running on the YourMembership association management system.

RSES generates revenue through a diversified mix of recurring membership dues (Individual $47-$150/year, Corporate/Contractor $250-$1,000/year depending on tier and company size), testing and certification fees (EPA Section 608, NATE, R-410A, CM/SM/CMS designations), one-time training and eLearning purchases, journal subscriptions ($54/year for non-members), annual conference registrations (RETA-RSES National Conference, October 2026 in Orlando), and online store sales of training materials and merchandise. The organization serves five primary customer segments: HVACR service technicians and contractors, students and new industry entrants, HVACR contracting businesses, educational institutions, and industrial refrigeration operators, distributed across a chapter-based delivery model throughout the U.S. and Canada with training materials used in 50 countries.

Following the 2023-2024 merger with RETA (Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association, founded 1910), RSES expanded its scope to encompass both commercial/residential HVACR and industrial refrigeration, gaining ANAB-accredited certification credentials and a broader technical domain. The organization holds a privileged regulatory position through its administration of the EPA Technician Certification Program for refrigerant handling under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Strategic priorities include ANSI accreditation for RSES certification programs, Low GWP/A2L training for the regulatory transition to low-global-warming-potential refrigerants, the 'Introduction to HVACR' book series launched in 2025, and AMS modernization completed to ~90% of target.

Name

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society

Legal name

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society

Website

https://rses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RSES is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1933 that delivers HVACR education, training, and certification to technicians and contractors through chapter-based delivery, an eLearning platform, the RSES Journal, and EPA-administered certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $47 (Retired/Disabled/Veteran) to $150 (Individual), providing access to RSES Journal, SAM, webinars, chapter meetings, and training discounts.
2. Corporate/Organization Memberships: Annual corporate memberships including Contractor ($800), Power Utility ($300), Wholesale/Distributor ($250), Industry Association ($300), School ($275), with tiered Corporate membership (Small $300, Medium $500, Large $1000) based on employee count.
3. Testing and Certification Fees: Revenue from NATE testing, EPA certifications, R-410A certification, and RSES Certificate Member (CM), Specialized Member (SM), and Certificate Member Specialist (CMS) examination fees.
4. Training and Educational Materials: Sales of training courses, eLearning, manuals, and educational materials at discounted member rates. Includes Technical Institute training manuals and NATE exam preparation materials.
5. RSES Journal Subscriptions: Non-member subscriptions available for $54/year. Members receive journal at no additional charge.
6. Conference and Event Revenue: Registration fees for RETA-RSES National Conference and regional events, including educational sessions and certification testing.
7. Online Store: Sales of books, training materials, and merchandise through the RSES online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

RSES is a 501(c)(6) professional membership association that delivers HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) education, training, and certification to technicians and contractors. Its core deliverables include the peer-reviewed RSES Journal, the Service Application Manual (SAM), an eLearning platform, monthly webinars, an annual national conference, and certifications including EPA Section 608, R-410A, NATE testing, and the SM/CM/CMS designations, all accessed primarily through individual or corporate membership.

Product overview

RSES is a membership-based professional organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of HVACR education, training, and certification products and services. The core offerings include the RSES Journal (monthly peer-reviewed technical publication), the Service Application Manual (SAM, an extensive online technical reference), and RSES eLearning (online training with certificates). The organization provides certification pathways through its Technical Institute, including Specialized Member (SM), Certificate Member (CM), and Certificate Member Specialist (CMS) designations, along with NATE testing, EPA Section 608 certification, and R-410A certification. Additional offerings include the RSES Webinar Series (monthly live and archived sessions), chapter-based classroom training, the RSES Online Store for educational materials, and the RSES Career Center for job postings. The product architecture is a platform-plus-membership model where annual memberships provide access to core resources (Journal, SAM, eLearning) with add-on certifications and training modules available at additional or discounted rates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RSES Individual Membership
• RSES Corporate Membership
• RSES Journal
• Service Application Manual (SAM)
• RSES eLearning Platform
• RSES Webinar Series
• RSES Technical Institute
• NATE Testing Services
• EPA Section 608 Certification
• R-410A Certification
• Low GWP / A2L Refrigerant Training
• Hydrocarbon Training Program
• Specialized Member (SM) Certification
• Certificate Member (CM) Certification
• Certificate Member Specialist (CMS) Certification
• RSES Online Store
• RSES Career Center
• Introduction to HVACR Book
• RETA-RSES National Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• Members have unlimited access to RSES Journal archives back to 1995
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship/core, core and minor.

• Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA)flagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RSES and RETA completed a merger in 2024 to form a combined organization serving both commercial/residential HVACR and industrial refrigeration sectors. The merged entity offers unified training, certification, and conference programs. RETA brings ANAB-accredited certifications and industrial refrigeration expertise while RSES contributes commercial HVACR training materials and chapter network.
• North American Technician Excellence (NATE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATE recognizes RSES Technical Institute Training Manuals and many RSES training courses and events. Technicians completing RSES programs receive credit toward NATE certification renewal.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSES Educational Foundation administers the EPA Technician Certification Program for Section 608 refrigerant handling requirements.
• Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSES has partnered with ACCA to provide free PDF downloads of ANSI-recognized quality standards relevant to the HVACR industry.
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASHRAE is a key industry partner. RSES offers ASHRAE publications at member discounts and maintains close association with ASHRAE's standards development and technical resources.
• International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for industrial refrigeration safety standards and best practices, particularly relevant following RETA merger.
• Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration equipment. AHRI's 350 member companies account for over 90% of residential and commercial HVACR equipment in North America.
• Gallagher Member Services (GMS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRSES partners with GMS to provide exclusive discounts and savings to members on retail services, office supplies, PC products, and payment processing solutions.
• ESCO InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining and certification organization offering HVACR certifications. Listed as industry partner providing additional training and certification pathways for members.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC): National trade association for plumbing and HVACR contractors with overlapping membership and workforce-development mission. Comparable in serving the contractor side of the HVACR industry, though with a broader plumbing remit.

Broad incumbents

• ASHRAE: The global professional society for heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, and ventilation engineers. A key RSES content and standards partner; comparable in mission of advancing HVACR knowledge but at the engineer (rather than technician) level.
• Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI): The HVACR equipment-manufacturer trade association representing over 350 manufacturers producing 90%+ of North American HVACR equipment. A partner of RSES and comparable as an industry-association entity, but operating on the manufacturer side rather than technician side.
• Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA): The leading national trade association for HVACR contractors, focused on business standards, ANSI quality standards, and contractor advocacy. A formal partner of RSES, with overlapping membership and shared ANSI standards work.

Emerging players

• Interplay Learning: A venture-backed digital training platform offering VR/3D simulations for HVAC, plumbing, and other skilled trades. Comparable as a competing HVACR training and certification delivery vehicle, with a more modern technology stack and direct overlap in eLearning.
• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research): A broader construction-trades training and credentialing organization that increasingly includes HVACR within its curriculum frameworks. Comparable in mission of standardized craft training and certification, with a wider trade scope.

Direct peers

• ESCO Institute: HVACR-focused training and certification organization offering EPA 608, NATE preparation, and continuing education. Listed by RSES as a partner and competes for the same technician training wallet share across U.S. and Canada.
• North American Technician Excellence (NATE): The leading independent certification body for HVACR technicians in North America. Directly comparable to RSES as both administer and recognize HVACR certifications, with NATE-recognized training courses being a key product cross-sold by RSES.
• HVAC Excellence: Accreditation body for HVACR training programs and a certification organization for technicians. Directly competes with RSES on program accreditation and individual certifications, particularly in the educational-institution channel.
• International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR): Leading trade association for the industrial ammonia refrigeration industry and a partner of the post-merger RETA-RSES entity. Comparable as a technical standards, training, and certification body serving a specific HVACR sub-vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rseshq
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rseshq9079/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/rseshq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rses

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Refrigeration Service Engineers Society