Heat pump installer
Help homes and businesses switch to low-carbon heating by installing, commissioning and servicing heat pumps.
- Salary£24,000 – £46,000
- Hours35 to 43 hours a week; evenings and weekends as customers need (National Careers Service)
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible
What the job is like
Heat pump installers (also called heat pump engineers or low carbon heating technicians) fit and look after heating systems that take warmth from the air, ground or water instead of burning gas or oil. The National Careers Service classes it as a green job, and it is a practical way to work on the move to cleaner energy.
Many people come into it from plumbing, gas or heating work and add heat pump training, while newcomers can start through an apprenticeship. You will need solid technical knowledge, a feel for design and the ability to explain a new system clearly to the people who will live with it.
What you'll do
- Plan, select and size low-carbon heating and hot water systems to suit each building
- Install heat pumps, hot water cylinders, pipework and controls
- Commission new systems and check they run efficiently
- Service and repair heat pumps and find faults
- Decommission old boilers and heating systems
- Hand over new systems, explaining and demonstrating to customers how to use them
- Follow health and safety and regulations on every job
Where you'll work
- Indoors
- In customers' homes
- Working at height
- On the road
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
- Working with your hands
- Problem-solving
- Maths and measuring
- Attention to detail
- Safety-conscious
- Customer service
- Communication
- Science
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a heat pump installer
Apprenticeship
Low Carbon Heating Technician – Level 3 apprenticeship (ST1020), typical duration 36 months; typical job titles include heat pump installer and renewable heating technician.
Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician (Level 3) includes an air source heat pumps and solar thermal option; Heat Network Maintenance Technician (Level 3) is another related standard.
T Level
T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction – the low carbon heating engineering specialism is new for September 2026.
Skills Bootcamp
Some Skills Bootcamps for adults (19+) cover heat pump technology; availability depends on where you live.
Other ways in
Qualify first as a plumber, gas engineer or heating engineer, then take a short heat pump course (usually 3 to 5 days) covering low-temperature heating, hot water and heat pump technologies.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- Heat pump installation training from a recognised provider
- MCS certification (through your business) if customers want to use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant
- Competent person scheme membership to self-certify installations in England
- Knowledge of the F gas regulations on refrigerants – part of the Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship
Where it can lead
- Supervisory and management roles leading installation teams
- System design and surveying
- Training apprentices or teaching in a further education college
- Setting up your own business
Good to know
- Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, householders in England must use an MCS certified installer, who applies for the grant on the customer's behalf.
- The government's Heat Training Grant offers heating engineers up to £500 off eligible heat pump training in England, as of September 2026; courses usually last at least 3 days.
- Some work is outdoors (fitting outdoor units) and some at height or in tight spaces, and you will travel between customers.
Courses and training
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T Level
Find a T Level near you – T Levels (Department for Education)
Two-year technical courses for 16 to 19 year olds in England, with an industry placement of at least 315 hours. Search for schools and colleges offering the T Level you want.
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Skills Bootcamp
Skills Bootcamps – Skills for Careers (Department for Education)
Free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over in England, ending with a guaranteed job interview. Subjects include construction, engineering, heat pump technology and HGV driving.
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Funding
Heat Training Grant – GOV.UK
A government grant towards heat pump installation training in England for eligible heating engineers and small businesses. Check the current amount and eligibility on GOV.UK.
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Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
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Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Heat pump engineer nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/heat-pump-engineer
- Low carbon heating technician (Level 3, ST1020) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1020-v1-2
- Heat network maintenance technician (Level 3, ST1308) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1308-v1-0
- Plumbing and domestic heating technician (Level 3, ST0303) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0303-v1-2
- T Level: Building Services Engineering for Construction tlevels.gov.uk/students/subjects/building-services-engineering
- Heat Training Grant (GOV.UK) gov.uk/government/publications/heat-training-grant-for-heat-pumps
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (GOV.UK) gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme
- Skills Bootcamps (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/skills-bootcamp
- ACRIB F Gas SKILLcard acrib.org.uk/acrib-skillcard