PHCC Educational Foundation to Update National HVAC Contest, Merging Modern Skills with Future Tech
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association’s Educational Foundation announced major updates to its National HVAC Apprentice Contest. The annual event will be redesigned this year, with a focus on creating a competition addressing the skills apprentices need today, plus the technology they can expect to work with in the future.
The PHCC of South Dakota chapter, whose members are spearheading the redevelopment of the contest, will host the first pilot of the redesigned contest at its state convention in February 2026. No HVAC contest will be held in Grand Rapids during CONNECT 2025, but a special HVAC exhibit area previewing the new competition is being discussed for exhibit on the tradeshow floor.
A dedicated team of PHCC contractor members, led by Dan Hartman of Wolff’s Plumbing and Heating and Brett Kaltvedt of Midwestern Mechanical, will spearhead the contest redesign. The goal is to develop a competition format that can be replicated by other PHCC state chapters, creating a scalable model for technical excellence across the industry.
The foundation will release additional information about the enhanced competition format soon, with registration details for the 2026 event to follow. The PHCC Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing Apprentice Contest will occur as planned at CONNECT 2025, which will be held Oct. 27-30 in Grand Rapids.
