You could take a college course in a related subject like plumbing and heating, or a T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction.

These courses teach you some of the skills you'll need to apply for a trainee plumber, heating and ventilation engineer, or gas service technician position with a company.

Once you've built up your experience, you could take extra training, usually lasting between 3 and 5 days.

This would include:

• heat pump foundation knowledge
• low temperature heating and hot water systems
• individual heat pump technology

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

You could apply to do a Low Carbon Heating Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship to become a heat pump engineer.

You could also do a Heat Network Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

These take around 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You could train as a gas service technician, heating and ventilation engineer or plumber. You could then do additional training to become a heat pump engineer.

Training would cover:

• low temperature heating and hot water systems
• heat pump installation and maintenance
• different types of heat pump technologies

Lots of organisations offer training in heat pump installation. You can search for heat training providers in your local region.

You'll need:

• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• knowledge of building and construction
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of maths
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to use your initiative
• customer service skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As a heat pump engineer, you could:

• install, service and repair low carbon heating and hot water systems
• find and fix faults
• follow health and safety requirements
• decommission heating and hot water systems
• show customers how to use their new system

We've identified this as a green job

As a heat pump engineer, you'll help customers switch to more energy efficient heating. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

You could work at a client's business or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be cramped, at height and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear a uniform.