How to become a heat pump installer in the UK
By The Busy Busy Index team · Updated 10 November 2026 · Every figure links to its source
Is there demand?
Busier Longest wait of any common home trade (median 14 weeks) and lengthening year on year per TradeMatch; the CPA says heat pump activity is still growing while wider home improvement shrinks.
What it pays
Starter £24,000, experienced £46,000 a year on average in England (National Careers Service, not stated (live pages)).
Routes in
- Apprenticeship: Low Carbon Heating Technician (Level 3)
- College course, then a trainee role
- Start as an assistant or mate and train on the job
- Private adult courses for career-changers (below)
Routes: National Careers Service job profile
Key figures for heat pump installers
| Where | Measure | Figure | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | People who completed heat pump training, 2022 to Q3 2025 Heat Pump Association estimate quoted in report | 25,500 people | 2022 to Q3 2025 | WPI Economics for MCS Foundation, Nov 2025 |
| UK | Installers needed for the 2028 target (FTE) Heat Pump Association estimate quoted in report | 41,143 FTE | 2028 | WPI Economics for MCS Foundation, Nov 2025 |
| UK | Median wait to start (weeks) Capacity status per TradeMatch: Severe shortage | 14 weeks | Q3 2025 to Q1 2026 | TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026 |
| UK | Slowest 10% wait (weeks) 90th-percentile wait | 22 weeks | Q3 2025 to Q1 2026 | TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026 |
| England | MCS-accredited heat pump installers (estimate) Estimate: contractors x 4.8 installers | 8,645 installers | October 2025 | WPI Economics for MCS Foundation, Nov 2025 |
| England | MCS-certified heat pump contractors | 1,801 businesses | October 2025 | WPI Economics for MCS Foundation, Nov 2025 |
What the wider market is doing
Across construction, demand is softening: the UK Construction PMI was 43.6 in October 2026 (S&P Global UK Construction PMI, 5 Nov 2026) and the CPA expects private housing repair, maintenance and improvement work to fall 8% in 2026 (CPA Autumn forecasts, 26 Oct 2026). Training takes time, so it's worth thinking about where demand will be when you qualify, not just today. See all demand signals.
Courses and published prices
We haven't yet verified published course prices for this trade. Course providers can get in touch.