Three new placement exams are now live in your dashboard — one for each Tech Builder trade. They tell you exactly which level to start each tech at, so nobody sits through training they don't need and nobody gets thrown into material they aren't ready for.

Why we built these

The most common question we heard from managers running Tech Builder was some version of: "Where do I start my tech with 2--5 years experience?"

Until now, the honest answer was a judgment call. A tech with three years in the field almost certainly doesn't need Level 1 Foundations, but "almost certainly" isn't good enough to skip 33 courses on. So most teams defaulted to starting everyone at Level 1. Safe, but expensive: seasoned techs lose weeks re-covering material they already know, disengage, and stop logging in.

The placement exams replace the guess with data.

What that gets you

• No wasted training hours. Techs skip the levels they've already proven, and start where the gaps actually are.
• A gap map, not just a grade. Results break down score by level, so you can see whether a tech is solid on fundamentals but shaky on diagnostics, or the reverse.
• Faster buy-in from experienced techs. Placing a 5-year tech into Level 3 signals you respect what they already know. That's the difference between a program they tolerate and one they finish.
• A shorter, cheaper path to graduation. Every level a tech tests out of comes straight off their program length and your labor cost.
• A benchmark to measure against. The exam score is a baseline you can point to later when you're showing what training actually changed.

Where to find them

1. Go to your Dashboard.
2. Open Assessments.
3. Scroll to the Tech Builder placement exam for the trade you need (HVAC, Plumbing, or Electrical).
4. Copy the link and send it to your techs.

The link is all your tech needs. No separate assignment step, and no login setup on your end.

How to use the results

When a tech finishes, open their session details. You'll see four things:

• Score: their overall result, with the company-wide average next to it for context.
• Time taken: how long they spent, compared to average.
• Anti-cheat activity: tab switches and an activity log, so you know the score reflects what they actually know.
• Performance by Tag: the part that drives your decision. Each of the four Tech Builder levels is scored separately.

The 70% rule

Any level scoring below 70% is a level to assign training for. Anything at or above 70% can be skipped.

For example, a tech who scores 85% on Level 1, 87% on Level 2, 64% on Level 3, and 74% on Level 4 has their fundamentals down cold. Start them at Level 3.

You can also download results to keep alongside your own records.

What to do next

Learn more about Tech Builder programs.

Reach out to your CSM if you have more questions or need help getting started.

New on SkillCat

BRAND NEW COURSE

The Building Science Principles (BSP) Certificate of Knowledge is an entry-level credential from the Building Performance Institute (BPI). It gives you a foundational understanding of how a home's parts (insulation, HVAC, ventilation, and appliances) work together to affect energy efficiency, comfort, and durability. No hands-on prerequisites, just the core knowledge that makes you sharper on the job. It is the perfect first step into energy-efficient home performance.

Note: This is a paid Certificate of Knowledge. Each attempt costs $120.

What you'll learn

• How heat, air, and moisture move through a home
• The role of HVAC in building performance
• How appliances, lighting, and plug loads affect energy use
• How to improve efficiency before adding renewables

Who it's for

• Trade pros (contractors, HVAC, insulation, solar): build credibility and educate your customers.
• Inspectors, appraisers, and realtors: assess and market high-performance homes.
• Policy makers and program managers: shape stronger energy and risk-reduction policies.
• Students and emerging pros: Kickstart your career in energy efficiency and sustainability

Why get started

Finishing the course and passing the exam earns you the official BPI-approved BSP Certificate of Knowledge, a credential you can put on a resume, a LinkedIn profile, or in front of a customer to show real building science know-how.

The exam is 100 multiple-choice questions, taken online on your own time, and you need a 70% to pass.

Already BPI Certified? Pass the exam and earn 6 BPI CEU credits. The course and exam are available in English and Spanish.

$119 Earn your official BPI-approved Building Science Principles Certificate of Knowledge. Payment is taken before the exam. No retakes included.

Ready to start? Register HERE.

Find it in the app: Home › Industry Certifications (partner fee) › Building Science Principles.

Certified is just the start

So you got EPA certified. Now what?

A cert proves you passed a test. Employers want proof you can do the work. The HVAC JobReady Certification takes you from certified to hireable to job-site confidence that make you legit from day one. Trades careers aren't handed out. They're built.

Power up her potential

Join Tools & Tiaras Boston Summer Camp 2026

A Boston-area summer camp in the trades for girls ages 6 to 14. Two days of real tools, real skills, mentorship, and a whole lot of girl power. Bring your bestie.

• When: August 27 & 28, 8am to 4pm
• Who: Girls ages 6 to 14
• Cost: $190 per camper (scholarships available)
• Where: New England Laborers' Training Trust Fund, 37 East Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748
• What she'll get: hands-on trade training, mentorship and girl power, certifications earned, swag and lunch, plus real talk about careers

Hats off

Congrats to our July JobReady Grads 🎓

Hiring

Need a job? Join our Facebook group

Connect with employers, get hiring leads, and meet others breaking into HVAC. Join HERE.

Okay so here's the thing. When we launched Skill Badges, we wanted to celebrate every step you took. You opened a course? Badge. You learned what a thermostat is? Badge. Honestly, good for you, thermostats are confusing.

But we've been thinking. You're out here putting in real hours, passing real exams, learning real skills. You deserve badges that actually mean something when you show them to an employer.

So we fixed it.

What are Skill Badges?

Skill Badges are proof of what you can actually do in the field. Not what you watched a video about. Not what you scrolled past at 11pm. What you genuinely learned and demonstrated by passing a final exam. That's it. That's the bar now.

What's new

We're adding 10 new badges, all earned by passing a final exam. Here's what you can now earn:

Identify Residential HVAC Systems

Identify Refrigeration Cycle

Interpret Superheat & Subcool

Identify HVAC Electrical Components

Identify Split System Components

Identify Gas Furnace Components

Identify Ductless System Components

Interpret Refrigerant Pressure

Identify Essential HVAC Tools

Apply HVAC Jobsite Safety

Perform Evaporator Maintenance
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Here's what they look like:
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The completed badges will change to orange and the incomplete ones will be gray

What's changing

Some of the older badges are being retired. They were part of our early badge beta and were awarded just for completing courses, which was a great start, but we can do better. If a course you completed is getting a new badge, it'll automatically show up on your account. No action needed on your end.
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If some of your badges disappear and there's no new one to replace them, we know that stings a little and we're sorry. You earned those fair and square, and we genuinely appreciate the effort you put in. This refresh is about making your next badges worth even more, not about taking away from what you built.

What's next

More badges are coming. We're building them around the skills that actually matter in the trades and we think you're going to want to collect them all. Consider this the start of something good.

Got questions? Hit up our support team at support@skillcatapp.com. We're always here.

We've updated the names of some of our programs and certifications to actually reflect what they are and what they can do for your career. The content hasn't changed at all. Same courses, same learning, same value. We just finally gave them names worthy of the work you're putting in.

Here's what changed:

Trade School Diploma Category is now Trade Career Launch Programs. Because that's what they are. Not just a diploma, a launchpad.

HVAC Trade School NEW May 2026 is now HVAC JobReady Certification. The name now actually tells you what you'll be after completing it. Job ready.

Electrical Trade School Diploma is now Electrical Basics Certification. Simple, clear, no confusion.

Appliance Repair Trade School is now Appliance Repair Theory Certification. Same content you know and love, better name.

HVAC Trade School [Old] is now HVAC Theory Certificate. It finally gets the name it always deserved.

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The certifications you earn have also been updated to match, so everything is consistent across the board.
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What does this mean for you?

If you're enrolled in any of these programs, the name might look different next time you open the app. Your progress, your completions, and your certificates are completely safe. You're exactly where you need to be.

Anything looks off or you have questions? Our support team is one message away. Email us at support@skillcatapp.com

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The five elements of the Training Flywheel are what make training a permanent engine for growth and development.

Think of it like pushing a heavy wheel. It turns slowly at first, but with persistent effort it gains speed with every rotation. Training isn't an isolated effort. It's connected to the other gears of your business, and when the five elements work together, they build lasting momentum. It's a continuous cycle: attract, qualify, educate, mentor, and refine your technicians into 5-star professionals.

THE 5 ELEMENTS OF THE TRAINING FLYWHEEL

1. Attract Talent: Bring the right people in the door. Hire for character, train for skill.
2. Qualify Training Candidates: Identify who's ready to train and set them up to succeed.
3. Educate with Structured & Intentional Training: Deliver clear, deliberate training rather than ad-hoc learning.
4. Field Mentorship to Support Training: Pair technicians with mentors who reinforce what they learn on the job.
5. Refine Skills to Become 5-Star Technicians: Keep developing skills until techs reach top-tier performance, then the wheel turns again.

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Ready to build your momentum? Join the upcoming Power Hours: https://skillcat-training.lovable.app/

Questions? Visit our Help Center: https://support.skillcatapp.com

A successful training launch doesn't happen by accident. This recommended path aligns your departments, prepares your team, and ensures your LMS is ready for day one.

THE 3 ESSENTIALS OF AN EFFECTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM

1. A Clear Owner Training needs an owner or primary point of contact — like a field supervisor — who understands the goal and is accountable for the results.
2. A Time-Bound Cycle Run training as a defined cycle with a clear, specific objective, selected content, and a way to measure progress — such as an LMS with skill badges and checkpoints tied to due dates.
3. The Right Students Identify who the training is for. It can be voluntary for existing technicians, or mandatory for new hires, career advancement, or performance improvement plans. Be sure to follow state and local policies.

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Ready to plan your launch? Join the upcoming Power Hours: https://skillcat-training.lovable.app/

Questions? Visit our Help Center: https://support.skillcatapp.com

Mentorship goes beyond "years of experience." It's consistently executing with integrity and intentionally helping peers reach their true potential. Choosing the right people to mentor others is essential to your long-term success.

THE 4 MENTOR COMPETENCIES

Use these to identify who's ready to mentor on your team.

1. Communication: Clearly communicates ideas and expectations through verbal, written, and non-verbal methods, ensuring understanding across varied personality types.
2. Emotional Intelligence: Maintains self-awareness, manages emotions in challenging situations, listens openly to others, and uses feedback to grow while supporting positive interpersonal interactions.
3. Relational: Establishes constructive, respectful relationships with diverse individuals, promoting a healthy, collaborative team dynamic.
4. Growth Mindset: Demonstrates continuous learning and supports others' development to drive strong performance and future readiness.

Download your resource (preview below)

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Want your team in the next session? Join the upcoming Power Hours: https://skillcat-training.lovable.app/

Questions? Visit our Help Center: https://support.skillcatapp.com

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!