Plumbing News

Trade Academy opens applications for trade school scholarships

Students in the plumbing, electrical and HVAC fields are invited to apply

Image courtesy of Trade Academy.

Trade Academy announced that applications are now open for its Trade Academy Scholarship program. Designed to empower the next generation of skilled trade professionals, the scholarship provides funding, tools and training resources to aspiring tradespeople pursuing careers in the plumbing, electrical and HVAC fields across the U.S.

"The biggest barrier to entering the trades isn't lack of interest anymore, it's lack of access," said Roland Ligtenberg, co-founder of Housecall Pro. "These scholarships turn 'I can't afford trade school' into 'I'm starting my career.' When you remove financial obstacles and provide real training resources and tools, you create opportunities for people to build six-figure careers in the trades that desperately need them."

Launched in 2021, the Trade Academy Scholarship has awarded more than $250,000 in tuition assistance to students nationwide. The program partners with more than 114 trade schools to ensure that instructors have access to updated, technology-focused curricula so students develop both technical prowess and digital fluency.

Earlier this year, Trade Academy awarded $125,000 in scholarships to 50 recipients representing 214 technical programs nationwide. Those winners were selected from a pool of more than 1,100 applicants ranging in age from 16 to 72, showcasing the growing enthusiasm for careers in the skilled trades.

Each scholarship recipient receives tuition funding as well as access to the Trade Academy’s national network of instructors and employers. The program, originally launched for HVAC students, has since expanded to include electrical and plumbing fields, reflecting Trade Academy’s and Housecall Pro’s commitment to supporting all facets of the residential service industry.

“Skilled trades attract people who like to build, fix, and solve,” Ligtenberg said. “The right mentor in a lab or on a job site changes the entire trajectory of a student. When we champion the trades, we send a clear signal that this work matters, pays well, and deserves long-term investment.”