We just added over 1,000 hours of NexTech TechBuilder content to your dashboard across three trades:

HVAC TechBuilder Levels 1-4 — 446 hours*

Plumbing TechBuilder Levels 1-4 — 338 hours*

Electrical TechBuilder Levels 1-4 — 218 hours*

*NOTE: Hours includes on the job assessments that are not yet directly in the app. More coming soon on the assessments.

What is Tech Builder content?

NexTech TechBuilder is contractor-designed, test-gated training built to take your techs from inexperienced to independent and revenue-generating. Every level ends with a test so you know they're ready before they move on.

What's the difference between the SkillCat Content?

SkillCat HVAC level names have changed.

We renamed the existing SkillCat HVAC levels to better match what each plan actually covers. Same content, same progress, clearer names:

Level 1 → HVAC Electrical Foundations Level 2 → HVAC Systems & Theory Level 3 → Residential Equipment & Service Level 4 → Commercial HVAC Systems

Quick answers:

What do the E, P, and H labels in course titles mean? Some courses are universal across trades but include a trade-specific focus. E = Electrical, P = Plumbing, H = HVAC. The core content is the same, but examples and scenarios are tailored to that trade.

Already have techs enrolled in Trade School or SkillCat levels? Keep them going. Their progress is saved, and any completed course will automatically carry over to future plans. Layer in TechBuilder as the next step when they're done.

Not on Pro Tier? NexTech TechBuilder is available exclusively on Pro Tier. Email support@skillcatapp.com to learn more about upgrading.

This is the April Power Hour: From Technician to Mentor. We went over what it means to be a mentor, the importance, and the ways it can help your business.

First and foremost you must build trust. Language and the way you communicate is so important. Try these tips:

• Empathy: Meet mentees where they are. "Don't sweat it — let's try this instead."
• Expertise: Know your stuff and know when to look it up. "It's been a while — let's check the training app."
• Expectations: Set them early, make them two-way. Unmet expectations erode trust faster than anything.
• Invitation: Ask "What do you need from me?" — trust is a partnership, not a lecture.

Be sure to sign up for our next power hour and join in on the conversation!

We're hosting monthly tech trainings for new techs to attend. You can check out our training hub page for all upcoming live events where participation and learning from one another are encouraged.

April Highlight: Developmental track

Where are you in your career? Are you on the path of growth you envisioned?

Think about how intentional:

1. You are
2. Your company is
3. The people you're surrounded by are

in supporting your goals and how you get there.

Join us next time to hear more and learn how we can help.

Where techs see growth opportunities

Here is a word map of the most common areas techs think they can find growth. Some are humorous, some are heartwarming, most you can probably relate to. They're all backed by a story and we're so grateful to be a part of helping them achieve success.

Thrown off by Taco Bell? Training = smarter work = more business = more pay = more company outings to Taco Bell 🌮🔔

ICYMI we're hosting an onboarding webinar series to help you create the training program your business needs.

Check out the highlights of the first webinar and be sure to register for the upcoming sessions.

What does it mean to treat in-house training like PTO?

Why you need to be the CRO of your training program!

Job Board

Looking for a job as an apprenticeship for maintenance? Apply with Harbor Group Properties today!

New Rochelle, NY: Maintenance Apprentice | Dayforce Jobs

Elmsford, NY: Maintenance Apprentice | Dayforce Jobs

Phoenix, AZ: Maintenance Apprentice | Dayforce Jobs

New Courses

Interview Skills (1.5 hrs)

Practice making strong first impressions, expressing strengths with confidence, and using professional tone, body language, and written communication. The course also covers digital communication tools and habits, helping technicians build trust with employers and customers alike.

HVAC Career Path Intro (1.5 hrs)

The realities, pathways, and opportunities within the HVAC industry. This course covers daily work conditions, career progression options, and the importance of building strong foundations before EPA certification.

Meet us at Installar Show in NYC!

We’re excited to be joining the Installer Show on March 18th and 19th. We hope to see you there!

InstallerSHOW is bringing its first US edition to the Javits Center, NYC, on 18–19 March 2026, co-located with New York Build Expo.

Find us at Booth 2141 Register Now →

What's in the News?

💻 For AI to survive, more trades workers needed

Help Improve SkillCat!

Take a 5 minute survey on our course content.

🧰 Join us in NYC for the InstallerSHOW

We’re excited to be joining the Installer Show on March 18th and 19th. We hope to see you there!

InstallerSHOW is bringing its first US edition to the Javits Center, NYC, on 18–19 March 2026, co-located with New York Build Expo.

Find us at Booth 2141

NEW YORK'S LARGEST CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN SHOW!

• 500+ world class speakers across 14 conference tracks sharing their expertise and insight on the industry.
• AIA CES accredited workshops.
• 14+ conference tracks including new topics of International Business, AI & Digital Construction, Tall Buildings & Skyscrapers and more...
• Government Hub connecting suppliers with Government agencies to learn how they can get involved in upcoming projects and win new business.
• More exclusive networking events than ever before for every part of the AEC industry.
• An expanded Ambassador Programme including women & diversity in construction alongside sustainability ambassadors and real estate gurus.
• 500+ exhibitors showcasing the latest services, products and innovations transforming the industry
• 40,000+ registered visitors from contractors, architects, civil engineers, realtors, developers, government and construction professionals

February

💡Join us at the Installer Show on March 18th and 19th

💪 Empowering Kids Through GRIT Camps

We’re excited to highlight the growth of the GRIT Foundation, a new non-profit organization focused on getting kids excited about the skilled trades! Our mission is to empower the next generation of skilled trades workers and encourage skilled trades opportunities to fill the ongoing skilled labor gap.

If this sounds like an opportunity you’re interested in, we’re looking for help: ​

• CONTRACTORS: Host a GRIT Camp at your facility! Give back to your community, build a pipeline of apprentices, and get some great press.
• MANUFACTURERS: Donate equipment or resources for each GRIT Camp.
• TEACHERS: Volunteer to help teach and support a GRIT Camp near you.

Hi there,

We've shipped some major improvements to the B2B platform. A few of these are game-changers.

Big Wins

Shareable Portfolio Links
Every employee now has a "View Portfolio" button on your dashboard. Click it and their public portfolio opens in a new tab, making it way easier to check certifications and share progress with managers or clients.
​

Note: Employees need to be on the latest app version for this to work properly.

Smarter Billing for Adding Employees
When you add new employees, you'll now see exactly what it costs before confirming. You can choose to pay immediately or add it to next month's invoice. No more surprise charges.
​
​

Plan Ahead with Seat Management
During signup, you can now set how many seats you want upfront, even if you're not filling them all right away. Gives you breathing room to onboard people without scrambling to adjust your plan.

Other Updates

Regional Breakdown in Billing Portal
If you're managing employees across different regions, you can see the invoice breakdown by regions

Menu Rename
"Manage My Subscription" is now called "Billing Details"

Pro Tier Learning Plans
Pro Tier accounts now have access to different learning plans than Basic/Growth tiers. This lets us offer more specialized content based on your plan level.

Questions?

Hit us up if you run into anything weird or have questions about these changes.

Hi there,

We've been squashing bugs and smoothing out the rough edges. Here's what's different in 7.0.2.
​

What Changed

Navigation Stuff

• Modules won't auto-play when you reopen the app anymore - only when you're actually going through them
• Home screen carousels snap to each card now (no more weird half-scrolling)
• You can swipe down anywhere to close course previews instead of hunting for that tiny bar at the top

Search & Recommendations

• Search now shows exact course name matches first, then keyword results
• "Featured Courses" is now "Recommended Courses" (because that's what it actually is)
• "More Like This" capped at 3 course suggestions instead of throwing everything at you

Fixes

• Fixed the camera permission text to match what your phone actually says ("While using the app" on Android, "Allow" on iOS)
• Modules close automatically now when you finish them

TL;DR

Same app, less annoying. Update when you can.

Questions? Hit us up.

Most training programs don’t fail because technicians don’t care.

They fail because engagement wasn’t intentionally designed.

In our recent Power Hour, we unpacked what actually drives technician participation and long-term motivation inside training programs. Not theory. Real, practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Here are a few of the key concepts we covered:

Clear expectations drive completion

If technicians don’t know what success looks like, they won’t move toward it. Engagement increases when expectations are defined up front and reinforced consistently.

STRAM (not SMART) goals create accountability

Training should tie to measurable outcomes, not vague improvement. When goals are specific and trackable, supervisors can coach more effectively and technicians understand what they’re working toward.

Motivation is individual

Some technicians are driven by advancement. Others by pay, pride, speed, or recognition. Programs that treat motivation as one-size-fits-all struggle to gain traction.

Engagement gaps are predictable

Drop-off points exist in every training program. The key is identifying where they happen and designing reinforcement before momentum is lost.

If you’re responsible for technician training, workforce development, or LMS adoption, this conversation was built for you.

We host Power Hour sessions regularly to share practical strategies, real examples from the field, and actionable frameworks you can apply immediately.

Keep an eye out for the next session. We’d love to see you there.

Training Lifecycle

Check out this snippet from our webinar on the training lifecycle