Heat pump engineer
Heat pump engineers install and service zero carbon central heating and hot water systems in buildings.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a heat pump engineer, you could:
- install, service and repair low carbon heating and hot water systems
- find and fix faults
- follow health and safety requirements
- decommission heating and hot water systems
- show customers how to use their new system
We've identified this as a green job
As a heat pump engineer, you'll help customers switch to more energy efficient heating. This can have a positive impact on the environment.
Find out more about green careers
Working environment
You could work at a client's business or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be cramped, at height and you'll travel often.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into supervisory and management roles, with responsibility for a team of engineers.
You could also:
- set up your own business
- train apprentices
- teach in a further education college
Find out more about teaching in further education.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- design skills and knowledge
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to use your initiative
- customer service skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could take a college course in a related subject like plumbing and heating, or a T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction.
These courses teach you some of the skills you'll need to apply for a trainee plumber, heating and ventilation engineer, or gas service technician position with a company.
Once you've built up your experience, you could take extra training, usually lasting between 3 and 5 days.
This would include:
- heat pump foundation knowledge
- low temperature heating and hot water systems
- individual heat pump technology
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You could apply to do a Low Carbon Heating Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship to become a heat pump engineer.
You could also do a Heat Network Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
These take around 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You could train as a gas service technician, heating and ventilation engineer or plumber. You could then do additional training to become a heat pump engineer.
Training would cover:
- low temperature heating and hot water systems
- heat pump installation and maintenance
- different types of heat pump technologies
Lots of organisations offer training in heat pump installation. You can search for heat training providers in your local region.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Heat Pump Association (HPA) for professional development opportunities.
Further information
You can get more advice on heat pump careers and training from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.