Beyond the Classroom: What SkillsUSA Reveals About the Next Generation of HVAC Technicians

What can an HVAC competition teach us about preparing students for the realities of the field? In this episode, Clifton sits down with Jim Fultz of Copeland and White-Rodgers to recap their experience at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference—and share what instructors and industry professionals can learn from watching the next generation of technicians in action.

We explore:

• How SkillsUSA connects students, educators and industry professionals

• What the competition reveals about the current state of HVAC education

• Why students must understand both equipment operation and the troubleshooting process

• How technicians can approach unfamiliar equipment with greater confidence

• The importance of teaching proper flaring, torquing and pressure-testing procedures

• How competing under pressure prepares students for real-world service calls

• Why technicians should communicate diagnoses as “what I’ve found so far”

• How instructors and manufacturers can get involved as participants, observers or judges

Jim and Clifton also discuss the remarkable 17-year-old student who won this year’s HVAC competition, the growing number of high school participants and the value of collaboration among instructors—even when their students are competing against one another. For HVAC technicians, instructors and industry partners, this episode offers a candid look at the skills students are mastering, the areas where additional training may be needed and how the industry can help prepare tomorrow’s workforce for success.

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