OUR IMPACT
Explore The Trades is delivering information about plumbing, HVAC, and electrical directly to students throughout North America.
Schools, businesses & other agencies utilizing our resources
Students impacted by our resources
U.S. school districts using our materials
Parents and Educators
As someone who is helping a young adult choose a career path after high school, you probably have a few questions about these industries. We have the information and insight to assist in your career exploration.
Parents and Educators
As someone who is helping a young adult choose a career path after high school, you probably have a few questions about these industries. We have the information and insight to assist in your career exploration.
Educators: Request a Poster Kit
To request a poster kit for your school, please click the button to send us your information. Poster kit will include four 18″x24″ posters of the infographics below. Please allow one to two weeks for delivery.
Plumbing
HVAC
Electrical
Customer Experience
Skilled Trades
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more than an elective
“More Than an Elective” is a partnership program created out of the need to get the skilled trades back into the classroom and is exclusively for educators, school counselors, and their schools.
Why consider a career in the trades? Why not!
Working for a plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical service company provides many career opportunities and has great benefits!
As a technician, a typical day will include:
Residential service technicians travel to different homes and meet new clients each day. You’ll be like an everyday superhero – taking care of your community, fixing plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical problems and keeping homeowners safe and healthy in their homes.
From the start, people are earning while they’re learning. Apprenticeships provide thorough and extensive on-the-job training and education. That means young people are earning a wage while learning technical, highly sought-after skills and on their way to six-figure salaries, not six-figure student loan debt.
Your work truck is your own space. It’s a mobile office and warehouse all in one. Keeping it clean, fully stocked and organized will not only make your job easier, but will provide you with a sense of pride. Residential service companies provide many career opportunities for plumbers, electricians, heating and cooling technicians.
New technologies in the trades are always advancing. As a technician, you’ll not only provide customers with devices that save on utility expenses, but are also energy efficient that help protect the environment.
Looking for a career that provides for leadership growth and develop? Look no further! The trades provide opportunities that allow you to master your technical abilities in the field and continue your path as a service manager, general manager, or even as a business owner.
Our partners are essential to the success of Explore The Trades’ efforts to bridge the technical talent gap in the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical trades. Support from industry-leading companies and residential service businesses make accomplishing our mission possible and are leading the way in growing the skilled trades industry.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are a time-tested employee training system that combines job-related technical instruction with structured on-the-job learning experiences.
The benefits of going through an apprenticeship are many! Apprentices gain skills and in-depth industry knowledge through paid on-the-job training that puts them ahead of the crowd in their pursuit to a great career.
Most states require aspiring skilled PHCE technicians complete formal education through a trade or technical college. In some instances, students may complete their apprenticeship during school as part of their training. Other times, a license may be obtained in school, then followed by an apprenticeship.
Watch our video to learn more about apprenticeships.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are a time-tested employee training system that combines job-related technical instruction with structured on-the-job learning experiences.
The benefits of going through an apprenticeship are many! Apprentices gain skills and in-depth industry knowledge through paid on-the-job training that puts them ahead of the crowd in their pursuit to a great career.
Most states require aspiring skilled PHCE technicians complete formal education through a trade or technical college. In some instances, students may complete their apprenticeship during school as part of their training. Other times, a license may be obtained in school, then followed by an apprenticeship.
Watch our video to learn more about apprenticeships.
Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson
Since 2021, 25 schools in 15 states have participated in the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” initiative. Over 2,100 students have been impacted by having the plumbing and HVAC trades as part of their middle or high school education. The skilled trades are vital to the wellbeing and growth of communities and all schools are encouraged to apply for equipment grants through this program to bring the plumbing and HVAC trades to their students.
STEM and the Skilled Trades
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propels our future workforce forward to stability, career growth opportunities and success. STEM is the skilled trades of plumbing, heating and cooling (HVAC) and electrical.
In this section, we’re going to dive deeper into plumbing, HVAC and electrical and illustrate how STEM impacts the trades that keep you safe, healthy and comfortable each day.
STEM and the Skilled Trades Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propels our future workforce…
STEM and the Skilled Trades Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propels our future workforce…
STEM and the Skilled Trades Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are the essential building blocks of careers that cross industries and impact our daily lives in different ways. STEM is the foundation of technical careers that propels our future workforce…
Spanish-Translated Career Paths
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the 49.6 million students enrolled in elementary and secondary school in 2022, 14.4 million were Hispanic. With the growing number of Spanish-speaking student, Explore The Trades recognized an opportunitiy to make sure skilled trades information is accessible to more students.
Plumbing Career Path
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HVAC Career Path
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Electrical Career Path
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