Become a HERO Academy Contractor Partner

The Workforce Challenge

The residential construction industry faces a skilled labor shortage, making it difficult for home performance, HVAC, and plumbing contractors to find reliable, trained workers. As demand for energy-efficient retrofits grows, the gap between industry needs and the available workforce continues to widen.
 

Build your Workforce. Grow your Business. Shape the Future.

The Home Energy Retrofit Occupations (HERO) Academy is a training program offered by Earth Advantage and designed to provide home performance, HVAC, and plumbing contractors with job-ready new workers who are trained for success and ready to meet the growing demand for heat pump and water heater installations.

The HERO Academy offers a next-step training program with position-specific technical skills, workplace preparation, and work-based learning (WBL) to prepare new workers for entry-level positions as Heat Pump or Water Heater Installers within the residential sector.

Cohort Timing & Job Areas

The HERO Academy will offer three cohorts of trainings, each focused on one career pathway:
 

• Ductless Heat Pump Installer
  • Cohort 1: Oct 2025 - Jan 2026 
• Water Heater Installer
  • Cohort 2: Feb - May 2026
• Heat Pump Installer
  • Cohort 3: August - Dec 2026

These job focus areas will address crucial skills gaps in this sector and ensure contractors have capacity to implement home energy rebates while offering high road jobs and sustainable careers to new workers from underrepresented backgrounds in the construction sector.

A Phased, Low-Risk Model for Employer Engagement

We’ve designed HERO based on employer feedback and with the goal of reducing the risk of hiring new workers while ensuring quality training and support throughout the process.

During the HERO program, trainees become employees of a small group of trusted contractors - our "Work-Based Learning (WBL) Partners" - during their full 15-week paid training. Our WBL Partners are: 

• Cohort 1 - Heat Pump Installer Cohort:
  Mt. Hood Ductless, The Heat Pump Store & GreenSavers
• Cohort 2 - Water Heater Installer Cohort:
  Great Northwest Installations
• Cohort 3 - Heat Pump Installer Cohort
  Contractors TBD

Trainees will complete 3-weeks of classroom “Specialization” + 12-weeks of “Work-Based Learning" under HERO. 

By providing specialized training and job-ready candidates, HERO Academy helps businesses develop a strong, dependable workforce pipeline while benefiting from financial incentives to offset an employer’s own internal onboarding and training costs.

Contractor Participation & Benefits

Partnering with HERO Academy offers several benefits:
 

• Access job ready workers
  HERO Academy employers are paired with motivated trainees who have received foundational training in heat pump or water heater installation and eager to learn on the job.
   
• Trainee wages are paid in full
  During the 12-week work-based learning portion of the program, trainee wages are fully paid through the HERO Academy. 
   
• Upskill your existing workforce
  Participating employers can also enroll 1-2 current employees in portions of the HERO Academy at no cost, including the opportunity to earn their EPA 608 certification and receive in-field mentorship.
   
• Additional wage offsets available for permanent hire
  Upon program completion, if you are interested in hiring a trainee, your company may be eligible to sign up with our partners at WorkSource to leverage new worker wage reimbursements and hiring support to reduce internal onboarding and training costs.

HERO Program Model

HERO Academy Trainees will:

• Have graduated from an 8 to 10-week, state-certified Pre-Apprenticeship to gain fundamental construction skills and employment readiness training. Select trainees with prior construction experience will be eligible to participate without pre-apprenticeship program participation. 
• Attend Info Sessions to learn more about the program and career opportunities, apply to participate, and complete interviews.
• Complete 3-week intensive hands-on Specialization Training taught by contractors and industry professionals in order to earn certifications (EPA Section 608 Technician) and become work / field-ready in heat pump or water heater installation.
• Earn a minimum $25/hour wage as a full-time (30 hours/week) employee during the 15-weeks of HERO Academy participation.
• Receive a professional-grade toolkit ($2,500 value) upon program graduation to keep and use in their future career.
• Access wrap-around services (stipends for childcare, transportation, etc.) to ensure they have what they need to succeed.

What to Expect

1. Sign Up – Attend a short employer orientation meeting and if interested, sign a participation contract.
2. Training - We ask contractor partners to attend a 3-hour safe & successful workplace training prior to hosting a trainee.
3. Host – Be paired with a trainee for 12-weeks of field-based work. As a bonus, 1-2 of your existing workers can get trained as well!
4. Access Hiring Support – Convert a trained HERO Academy trainee into a full-time employee and receive onboarding guidance and post-hire wage reimbursements from our partners at WorkSource.

Join Us!

Get involved and reserve your spot as a HERO employer partner today!

Submit the Interest Form below or reach out to schedule an Intro Call at workforce@earthadvantage.org