Apprenticeships: An Opportunity for Building Performance and Weatherization Industries

The building performance and weatherization industries are growing. As governments, businesses, and residents strive to lower energy bills, reduce carbon footprints, and increase resilience, the demand for skilled professionals has never been greater. Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) are a time-tested model for hiring motivated employees who learn new skills on the job.

A Time-Honored Tradition for Skill Development

An apprenticeship is a career path that includes on-the-job training under the supervision of a mentor. Individuals also receive related technical instruction (in person or virtually) from a community college, a technical school, or an apprenticeship training school—or by the business itself. Upon the completion of an apprenticeship, the individual is issued a nationally recognized credential that identifies them as a skilled practitioner for the occupation.

Through apprenticeship programs, employers cultivate a skilled and loyal workforce tailored to their specific needs, while reducing training costs and increasing productivity.  

Why Apprenticeships Make Sense for Employers

Apprenticeship programs provide a unique opportunity for companies to shape the next generation of workers, instilling them with the precise skills, knowledge, and company culture required for success. Through hands-on training and mentorship from experienced professionals, apprentices gain invaluable practical experience that complements their theoretical education, ensuring they are well prepared to tackle real-world challenges. 

Investing in apprenticeship programs has been shown to reduce employee turnover, increase worker efficiency and safety, and improve employee retention. Rather than relying on finding trained and experienced candidates, companies can develop their own talent pipeline from the ground up using apprenticeships. Apprenticeships can also be used to develop existing employees into new roles in their career pathways within the company. 

Apprenticeable Occupations in Building Performance and Weatherization

An occupation must be recognized as “apprenticeable” by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to be eligible for a Registered Apprenticeship program. These occupations are industry-vetted and approved to ensure alignment with industry standards, in-demand occupations, and training and experience requirements. The building performance and weatherization industries offer a wide range of apprenticeable occupations. 

• A Home Performance Laborer or “Weatherization Technician” apprenticeship can lead to a career as a Retrofit Installer Technician or Crew Leader. 
• An Energy Specialist or Energy Auditor and Analyst apprenticeship can lead to a career as an Energy Auditor or Quality Control Inspector. 

Other apprenticeships can lead to building performance careers along with a wide range of occupations in clean energy and beyond. Within the construction trades, additional apprenticeable occupations include Carpenter, Construction Craft Laborer, Electrician (Interior), Glazier, HVAC Installer/Technician, Insulator, Pipefitter, and Plumber.

There are many non-construction apprenticeable careers that align with these industry occupations as well, including Customer Service Representative, Designer Drafter, Human Resources Specialist, Operations Manager, Project Manager, Purchasing Agent, Software Developer, Technical Sales Representative, Training and Development Specialist, and many more!