The Atlantic Region Heat Pump Skills Gap Assessment was completed spring 2026 by more than 100 tradespeople with various licenses and certifications, representing the diverse workforce serving the residential heat pump market. All who completed the assessment have worked on a minimum of 25 residential heat pumps in the last two years.
This assessment was completed to better understand the existing knowledge and skill levels, specifically as it relates to modern heat pump technologies, for residential HVAC technicians working in the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).
The comprehensive technical skills assessment tool evaluated confidence levels and existing knowledge across key competencies that are important to the installation and servicing of residential heat pumps. The assessment included approximately 200 questions and took roughly two hours to complete. Those that completed the assessment were compensated for their time.
The anonymized responses are the basis for the research findings that help us understand the state of the existing workforce – their readiness from a skills and competencies perspective and any potential skills deficits that could impede their success with emerging and increasingly prevalent technologies.
HRAI has prepared a report on its findings, and it is available for the industry, government and others. If you wish to receive a copy of the report, please send your request to Abhi Kantamneni.
