Education · 1 of 5

The path

There are two very different versions of this trade. Decide early which one you want.

1. 1

   High school diploma or equivalent

   Grade 12

   Most employers want one, some do not. Math for measuring and cutting, and shop class if it is offered.

2. 2

   Route one: get hired as a helper

   Weeks

   Residential insulation contractors hire people with no experience and train them on the job. You can be working within weeks.

3. 3

   Route two: apply to an apprenticeship

   4 years

   The mechanical insulating trade runs registered apprenticeships, usually four years, through local unions and contractor associations. Competitive to get into, paid from day one.

4. 4

   Safety certifications

   First months

   Fall protection, respirator fit testing, confined space and hazard communication training. Asbestos awareness is required on any older building.

5. 5

   Journeyman or lead

   4 to 8 years

   On the union side you finish the apprenticeship as a journeyman. On the residential side you become a crew lead or an estimator, or you start your own contracting business.