SkillCat, the app-based training platform for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical workers, has officially partnered with North American Technician Excellence (NATE) to make industry certification faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever before.
This partnership makes it possible for aspiring technicians to train, test, and earn their NATE Ready-to-Work (RTW) certificate directly from their phone — eliminating the need for travel, expensive classes, or complicated scheduling.
In short: it’s a digital-age solution for one of the trades’ biggest challenges: getting new technicians job-ready quickly.
What the Partnership Includes
According to ACHR News, PM Magazine, and NATE.org, here’s what the collaboration offers:
Mobile NATE Certification: Students can now complete the Ready-to-Work exam directly in the SkillCat app — no classroom or testing center required.
Free Study Materials: The SkillCat app includes built-in lessons, simulations, and practice tests that align with NATE’s standards.
Lower Costs: By removing travel and testing-site fees, candidates can get certified at a fraction of the traditional cost.
Industry Reach: SkillCat already serves over 300,000 learners nationwide, expanding NATE’s impact to a broader audience of entry-level technicians.
24/7 Accessibility: Candidates can train and test anytime, anywhere — ideal for those balancing work, family, or multiple jobs.
Why This Matters for the Skilled Trades
This move is rebuilding the trades talent pipeline at a time when demand for technicians far outpaces supply.
1. It Helps Solve the Labor Shortage
HVAC and related trades continue to face a critical workforce gap. The SkillCat–NATE model makes it easier for new entrants, career-changers, and underserved populations to enter the field, all while maintaining NATE’s high training standards.
2. It Reduces Barriers to Entry
Many aspiring technicians can’t afford to take weeks off or travel to a classroom. With mobile certification, learning becomes flexible, and you can study from a jobsite, your couch, or anywhere with Wi-Fi.
3. It Standardizes Foundational Skills
The NATE Ready-to-Work certificate gives employers and recruiters a reliable benchmark for entry-level HVAC knowledge — safety, tools, and system basics — before hands-on training even begins.
4. It Modernizes Trades Education
App-based learning, virtual simulations, and on-demand testing signal a major shift in how technical education is delivered. It’s fast, scalable, and perfectly aligned with how today’s workforce learns.
How Contractors and Candidates Benefit
This partnership doesn’t just help students, but it also creates real advantages for employers and candidates.
For Contractors:
Expand your candidate pool by considering applicants with NATE RTW credentials earned through SkillCat.
Promote continuing education: employees can pursue further NATE certifications right from their phone.
Save on training costs while maintaining strong technical standards.
For Candidates:
Get your first HVAC certification in days, not months.
Learn at your own pace: no tuition debt or travel expenses.
Stand out to employers with a nationally recognized credential.
The Bigger Picture
While the NATE RTW certificate is an entry-level credential, it represents something much bigger: a reimagined pathway into the trades.
By combining credible industry testing (NATE) with digital training access (SkillCat), the partnership tackles two of the industry’s biggest challenges: accessibility and awareness.
It also positions the HVAC sector as a leader in mobile learning innovation. This model could soon expand to other trades, helping electricians, plumbers, and welders access similar tools.
About SkillCat
SkillCat is a digital training platform built to make skilled trades education accessible to everyone. Through its free mobile app, SkillCat offers interactive courses, virtual simulations, and certifications across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, appliance repair, and other hands-on trades.
With over 300,000 learners nationwide, SkillCat is helping bridge the gap between education and employment by providing real-world, job-ready training that can be completed anytime, anywhere. Its mission is simple: train, certify, and connect the next generation of skilled trades professionals — all from a smartphone.
About NATE (North American Technician Excellence)
North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is the nation’s largest nonprofit certification organization for HVACR technicians. Founded in 1997, NATE develops and administers industry-recognized certification exams that validate real-world working knowledge of HVACR systems.
Backed by manufacturers, distributors, educators, and contractors, NATE certification is widely regarded as the gold standard for technical excellence and professionalism in the HVAC industry. Technicians who earn NATE credentials demonstrate proven expertise, helping employers build more efficient, reliable, and trusted teams.
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