The Maintenance Academy · Black Boots Initiative
Online training in construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, safety and property maintenance. Lessons are filmed by working contractors on real job sites, with OSHA safety videos, questions along the way, a test for every section and a certificate when you finish.
Start here. Safety, construction math, tools, blueprints, rigging awareness, materials handling, communication, employability and first aid: what every apprenticeship expects on day one.
View courseCarpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, masonry, painting and roofing, with safety and soft skills throughout. The Black Boots Initiative's core course.
View courseSafety and NFPA 70E, test equipment, theory and calculations, the NEC, boxes and conduit bending, conductors, dwelling wiring, grounding and overcurrent protection, motors and HVAC circuits, and troubleshooting.
View courseSafety and EPA 608 rules, math, electricity and controls, gas and hydronic heating, the refrigeration cycle and charging, airflow and loads, brazing, evacuation and recovery, heat pumps and mini-splits, maintenance and troubleshooting.
View courseSafety and codes, tools, math and drawings, pipe and fittings, DWV sizing and venting, water distribution and backflow, fixtures, tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters, fuel gas, and service and repair.
View courseFor property management teams: electrical, plumbing, heating and steam, air conditioning and PTACs, appliances, interior and exterior repairs, locks, make-ready, preventive maintenance, work orders, fair housing and lead-safe work.
View courseFloor types and chemistry, equipment and pads, daily and periodic care, stone, tile, concrete and wood, stripping and refinishing, burnishing and slip safety, carpet care and spotting, and estimating.
View courseRenewable energy and solar safety, green building and weatherization with real testing, sustainable agriculture, waste management, environmental law and careers, ending with a capstone project.
View courseSafety, construction math, tools, blueprints and job-readiness: what every apprenticeship expects on day one.
Videos filmed in the field show the real work. Questions pop up in the video to check your understanding.
Score 70% or better to pass. You can retake a test as many times as you need.
Finish every lesson and test, and share a certificate employers can verify online.
Black Americans first. The Black Boots Initiative was built to open the skilled trades, and the businesses behind them, to Black Americans, whose path into these trades has its own history and its own barriers.
We also train other people of color, low-income residents, people whose skills need updating, veterans, and returning citizens through our Second Chance program. Hands-on practice, mentorship and job placement are arranged through the Black Boots Initiative, Maintenance 215 LLC and Foundational Fundamentals.
Film a short video on the job with your phone, upload it, and help train the next generation of tradespeople.
Apply to teachTrain your maintenance staff, or a cohort under contract, with team accounts and a progress dashboard.
Company and cohort plans