Heat Pump Ready: Training California’s Clean Energy Workforce

August 17, 2026

California’s clean energy goals will succeed with the people who make them real. To reduce carbon emissions from buildings, the state needs enough trained HVAC and plumbing technicians in the field who know how to install, service, and commission heat pumps. As part of a rapidly evolving industry, heat pumps are now outselling gas furnaces – yet many training programs still rely on solutions from a previous era, and many technicians have yet to be trained on this emerging technology. This is the gap the Heat Pump Ready program was designed to close.

Heat Pump Ready is a statewide training program led by TECH Clean California in partnership with ESCO Institute and leading HVAC and heat pump water heater manufacturers. Its goal is straightforward: equip instructors at HVAC and plumbing programs across California with the technical knowledge, curriculum, and equipment they need to send heat-pump-ready graduates into the field. The Heat Pump Ready program opens for registration on August 17, 2027. To learn more, visit techcleanca.com/heat-pump-ready.

Unlike most industry training efforts, Heat Pump Ready invests in instructors and programs. Participating instructors gain access to ESCO Institute's High-Performance Heat Pump Water Heater and High-Performance Heat Pumps (HVAC) courses, curriculum and Certified Subject Matter Expert Heat Pump credentialing support, and certificate-earning, manufacturer-led training. Qualifying schools will also be eligible for up to $15,000 in equipment. The rationale is simple: instructors who deeply understand heat pump technology are better equipped to pass on that knowledge.

This model is highly valued by both manufacturers and educators, who recognize it as a meaningful investment in workforce pipeline preparedness. “I am glad that this opportunity was here for us when we were being advised to get more into heat pump training at our college,” said one participant from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. “Budgets have been cut, so having this come through has sure been a blessing to our future efforts, and now with approval we have begun to write a 16-week course for heat pumps.”

One of the more notable outcomes of Heat Pump Ready is the relationships it has fostered between manufacturers and training programs. Manufacturer partners haven't just facilitated a session and moved on – they go on to advise programs, attend career fairs and fundraising events, travel across the country to provide hands-on training, and even connect local dealers with schools for employment opportunities. “Participating in the Heat Pump Ready Program has strengthened our HVAC training program by helping instructors integrate modern heat pump technology and electrification concepts into the curriculum,” explained one instructor from Capstone College in Pasadena. “The professional development and training resources improved instructor preparedness and enhanced student exposure to in-demand industry skills. The program also helped strengthen industry connections and better prepare students for careers in California’s evolving HVAC workforce.”

Heat Pump Ready currently supports 127 trades instructors across 53 locations statewide. The impact opportunity is substantial as each participating instructor trains thousands of students entering the market year over year.

ESCO Institute plays a central role in making Heat Pump Ready more than a one-time training effort. A trusted credentialing and curriculum partner in the HVAC education ecosystem, ESCO helps translate emerging industry needs into instructor-ready training materials, recognized credentials, and practical teaching resources. A representative from the Center for Employment Training described the program’s influence on classroom instruction, saying “one of the strongest impacts is on instructors. Manufacturer-led training and ESCO credentialing support help educators build deep expertise in high-performance heat pumps, including cold-climate considerations, controls, troubleshooting, and best practices.” This connection matters because it gives schools a consistent framework for teaching heat pump technology while helping align classroom instruction with the skills employees need in the field and with the equipment itself which gives students a hands-on learning opportunity.

One of the most significant aspects of Heat Pump Ready is that it is designed to build industry connections that have a lasting impact. By preparing a workforce that is heat-pump-educated, the relationships, curriculum, and influence on the industry will carry forward.