Skilled Trades Training Blog, News, & Insights
The Skilled Trades Training Blog offers detailed insights and best practices on teaching hands-on construction trades, leveraging simulations for advanced manufacturing readiness, preparing learners for booming data center construction careers, standardizing HVAC training across locations, expanding skilled trades pathways through Workforce Pell, and adapting electrical work education to online formats to meet growing workforce demands.
Best Practices for Teaching the Construction Trades (With Implementation Checklist)
Teaching construction skills like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing is unique from almost every other teaching discipline. Instructors teach hands-on skills that carry immediate real-world applications.
5 Ways Simulations Can Support Advanced Manufacturing Career-Readiness Programs
Manufacturing is undergoing the biggest transformation in generations. Conventional manufacturing relies on manual labor, repetitive processes, and established workflows. Simulations can help support advanced manufacturing career-readiness programs by providing hands-on, practical experience in a controlled environment.
The Data Center Boom is Here: How to Prepare Learners for Careers in Data Center Construction
The U.S. has approximately 5,400 data centers today, representing about 50% of the world’s capacity. Preparing learners for careers in data center construction is essential to meet the growing demand in this sector.
How to Roll Out HVAC Service Training Across Multiple Locations
If you manage HVAC services across locations, you likely have stars and stragglers. Location A has top performers, while other locations may need additional support. Rolling out consistent HVAC service training across multiple locations can help standardize skills and improve overall performance.
How Workforce Pell Opens New Pathways for Careers in the Skilled Trades
Everyone’s hiring in the trades, but they’re struggling to find the skilled workers they need. Trade programs and initiatives like Workforce Pell are opening new pathways for individuals to pursue careers in the skilled trades.
How to Learn Electrical Work Online: What Career-Readiness Leaders Need to Know
The U.S. needs 77,000 new electricians by 2034, not including replacing retirees. Can traditional job training keep up? Learning electrical work online is becoming an increasingly viable option for career-readiness leaders.
What Workforce Pell Means for Community and Technical Colleges: Opportunities and Impact
Community and technical colleges are being asked to grow enrollment while facing a shrinking pool of high school graduates. Workforce Pell presents new opportunities and impacts for these institutions.
EPA 608 Certification: How Much Does It Cost?
If you or anyone on your team repairs, maintains, or disposes of equipment with refrigerant, you need to know about EPA 608 Certification and its associated costs.
Why Should Your Team Be NATE Certified?
North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is a leading certification for HVAC technicians. Having your team NATE certified can provide numerous benefits for both individuals and organizations.
Can HVAC Be Learned Online? Your Top Questions Answered
With hands-on skills like installing ductwork, handling refrigerant, and brazing, can your team learn HVAC online? This article addresses the top questions about online HVAC training.
What Kind of Training Is Available for Commercial Building Maintenance?
Facility leaders know that well-trained maintenance teams are the backbone of operational performance. There are various types of training available for commercial building maintenance to ensure teams are prepared for the demands of the job.
The Ultimate Maintenance Manager Training Guide
Multi-family maintenance managers are struggling with staffing and under-skilled technicians. The solution is to hire for attitude and then provide comprehensive training to build the necessary skills.
How Davidson County, NC, is Building a Skilled, Confident, and Safer Facilities Team
Davidson County Facilities Maintenance manages a diverse portfolio of facilities from commercial office spaces and residential buildings. Their approach focuses on building a skilled, confident, and safer facilities team through targeted training and development initiatives.
Related
Skilled Trades Course Catalog and Roadmap
The Skilled Trades Course Catalog and Roadmap offers industry expert-developed, interactive training across diverse industries such as HVAC, electrical, manufacturing, and clean energy, with courses available at beginner to advanced levels in multiple formats (video, 3D simulation, assessments), supporting certification preparation (OSHA 10, EPA 608) and continuing education units (NATE, IACET, NABCEP), and provided in both English and Spanish to help learners advance their technical skills and careers.
3D & VR Simulation-Based HVAC Training
Interplay Learning offers 3D and VR simulation-based online HVAC training programs that accelerate skill development, enabling technicians to gain hands-on experience and become job-ready in weeks rather than years, as demonstrated by case studies and testimonials highlighting faster productivity, increased confidence, and reduced callback rates for HVAC companies.
Pricing - Education and Workforce Development - Interplay Learning
Interplay Learning offers three customizable education plans—Achieve with 500+ hours of courses, LMS integration, and advanced management; Academy with 9 pre-packaged job-ready programs and career tools; and Solo providing individual access to 500+ hours of career-readiness training at $54/user monthly—all featuring interactive 3D simulations, certifications, and progress tracking tailored for trades like HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Solar.
3D & VR Sim-Based Training for Students
Interplay Learning provides online, on-demand 3D simulation and virtual reality training for skilled trades students, offering industry-aligned courses and certifications across various trades to enhance curriculum, enable flexible practice, track progress, and prepare students for workforce success, as evidenced by positive testimonials from educators and workforce leaders.
NATE Training Academy
Interplay Learning's NATE Training Academy offers comprehensive, flexible online courses in both English and Spanish to prepare HVAC technicians for NATE certification exams, including the Ready-to-Work Certificate and the Certified HVACR Professional-5 (CHP-5) across five detailed exam domains covering fundamentals, electrical controls, comfort and airflow, installation, and service.
Individual Skilled Trades Training | Interplay Learning
Interplay Learning offers affordable, flexible, and expert-led individual skilled trades training through on-demand courses and 3D simulations in HVAC, plumbing, solar, electrical, and more, enabling learners to quickly upskill or reskill anytime and anywhere using various devices, with customer testimonials highlighting its effectiveness in real-world job readiness and career advancement.