Owns the business outcomes: finance, people, culture, compliance and the strategic shifts reshaping the trade.

Found in shops of every size. 25 required, 10 recommended and 4 elective skills in 4 stages.

Stages follow the tiers: Foundation, then Core, then Advanced. Skills inside a stage are in learning order.

Stage 1 · Foundation

10 required · 4 recommended

Required

1. PPE and jobsite hazards Foundation & Safety Safety-critical
2. Ladders and fall protection Foundation & Safety Safety-critical
3. Lockout / tagout Foundation & Safety Safety-critical
4. Emergency first aid Foundation & Safety Safety-critical
5. Refrigerant and nitrogen handling safety Foundation & Safety Safety-critical
6. Industry orientation Foundation & Safety
7. Efficiency ratings literacy Foundation & Safety
8. Electrical shock and burn prevention Electrical & Controls Safety-critical
9. Carbon monoxide safety Heating Safety-critical
10. Customer communication fundamentals Business & Leadership

Recommended

1. Heat, matter and pressure Foundation & Safety
2. Refrigeration cycle basics Refrigeration Circuit
3. Building science fundamentals Building Science & IAQ
4. Call handling and booking Business & Leadership

Stage 2 · Core

8 required · 5 recommended · 4 elective

Required

1. Rigging, hot work and confined spaces Foundation & Safety Safety-critical
2. Explaining system options to homeowners Business & Leadership
3. Rebates and incentive programs Business & Leadership
4. Comfort advisor sales process Business & Leadership
5. Pricing and proposals Business & Leadership
6. Office operations and administration Business & Leadership
7. Inventory and warehouse management Business & Leadership
8. Digital tools and remote diagnostics Business & Leadership

Recommended

1. Recovery, recycling and reclaim Refrigeration Circuit Safety-critical
2. A2L refrigerant fundamentals Refrigeration Circuit Safety-critical
3. Heat pump types and selection Cooling & Heat Pumps
4. Efficiency standards and incentives Building Science & IAQ
5. Dispatching and scheduling Business & Leadership

Elective

1. Manual J load calculation Design & Commissioning
2. Commissioning fundamentals Design & Commissioning
3. Systematic troubleshooting method Design & Commissioning
4. Preventive maintenance programs Commercial & BAS

Stage 3 · Advanced

6 required · 1 recommended

Required

1. Service department management Business & Leadership
2. Installation department management Business & Leadership
3. Financial fundamentals for contractors Business & Leadership
4. Hiring and onboarding Business & Leadership
5. Teaching and mentoring technicians Business & Leadership
6. Regulatory and technology transition Business & Leadership

Recommended

1. Panel capacity for electrification Electrical & Controls

Stage 4 · Specialist

1 required

Required

1. Leadership and company culture Business & Leadership