Terrace, BC – Two cohorts trained on-site last month as Coast Mountain College (CMTN) partnered with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to expand access to heat pump skills training in Northwestern BC.
The Coast Mountain College Trades Department partnered with BCIT to deliver hands-on training in heat pump maintenance and installation. These are skills that are increasingly in demand as homeowners and contractors shift toward cleaner, more efficient heating and cooling technology.
BCIT approached CMTN Trades to co-deliver this training locally, with CMTN providing training space as part of the partnership. The installation module is the fifth in a curriculum series BCIT has developed in partnership with the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN).
Two cohorts were delivered in late September and early October 2026.
- September 21 to 25: MZEB 1145/1146 – Heat Pump Maintenance. This cohort included 2 days of class time followed by 3 days of laboratory experience.
- September 27 to October 2: MZEB 3110 – Residential Air Source Heat Pump Installation Skills. This cohort was made up of certified trades professionals, including refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, plumbers, gasfitters, and sheet metal workers and was lab-based. Participants earned a micro-credential that qualifies them to provide service to homeowners who wish to access provincial heat pump rebates.
This training gives licensed HVAC tradespeople hands-on practice installing ducted and ductless residential heat pump systems, covering everything from ductwork modification and refrigerant handling, to system controls, commissioning, troubleshooting, and homeowner handover. Training takes place in a dedicated lab equipped with the kind of residential heat pump equipment commonly found in single-family homes.
CMTN Dean of Trades Kelly Swain says the partnership delivers a direct benefit to the region by growing the pool of local tradespeople trained in heat pump maintenance and installation, which will improve homeowner access to provincial rebate programs for making the switch to heat pumps.
As part of the partnership, CMTN had an instructor participating in the training at no cost, on a train-the-trainer basis, building internal capacity to deliver similar training independently in the future.
Through this partnership, CMTN is responding to workforce demand in the clean energy sector while helping homeowners in the region access the training-linked rebates that make heat pump adoption more affordable.
For more information on the Residential Air to Air Heat Pump Installation Skills course and future offerings, visit bcit.ca.
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Media Contact:
Lucy Stanford
Interim Manager of Communications
communications@coastmountaincollege.ca
Tel: 250-635-6511 Ext 5494 | Mobile: 672-977-4190