Maintenance Technician Training Checklist

Training and staying up to date on the latest procedures or technology is an essential part of being a technician. It can provide the foundation for newer workers to learn the essentials and also is a great way to refresh veteran technicians’ knowledge. Below we have a maintenance technician training checklist that you can use to make sure everyone is prepared and ready.

Types of Training

• Technical skills – This kind of training is the essential foundation. It teaches technicians the foundation of equipment, identifying systems and all the maintenance steps they will need to go through. Whether you are working on HVAC systems, plumbing or foodservice equipment, the type of skills can be different. 
• Equipment-specific training – Some technicians will focus on a specific type of equipment or category. There are HVAC technicians that will know all the systems for heating and cooling. Meanwhile hot side technicians might only focus on commercial cooking equipment like fryers, ovens and ranges. Getting equipment-specific training is essential for any technician that wants to focus on certain appliances. 
• Brand training – Some equipment brands prefer to only have technicians trained for their units to work on them. If a technician plans on handling maintenance for specific brands, it’s essential they get trained and certified by that brand. This also allows technicians to become “certified” for that brand, giving them more opportunities for service work. 
• Safety & compliance training – Depending on the type of equipment, state and local laws, technicians will need a variety of certifications. Some certifications you might need are:
  • OSHA 10/30
  • EPA HVAC Certification
  • Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician (CMRT)
  • Certified Professional Maintenance Manager (CPMM)
  • NATE Certification (North American Technician Excellence)
  • Plumbing License
  • Commercial Food Equipment Service Association (CFESA) 
• Customer service training – Part of the job is knowing how to handle customers and handle service calls. Some customer service training can help maintenance technicians feel prepared to handle frustrated or worried appliance operators. We have some great insight into this knowledge with our HVAC technician customer service training guide. 

Maintenance Technician Training Checklist

• Electrical systems – For technicians who will handle more electrical systems, they should understand basic electrical theory, reading electrical schematics and wiring diagrams and lockout/tagout procedures. 
• HVAC systems – Understanding heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems is a key part of maintenance training. Technicians should be able to identify parts, air flow directions and how the system works. Check out our detailed HVAC maintenance checklist if you need a detailed list of all the essential maintenance steps to handle. 
• Plumbing and mechanical systems – Technicians should be familiar with plumbing systems, fixtures, and basic repairs. Learning the proper steps before performing maintenance, like shutting off any water valves, is especially important with water systems. Mechanical systems need technicians to be able to identify all essential parts. 
• Tool identification and safe usage – Don’t forget about all the tools within your tool box or van. Knowing all the tools you could need for maintaining equipment is an essential part of training. 
• Equipment inspection – Every piece of equipment is different, but knowing routine parts that need cleaning or inspecting is essential. Inspection checklists with the basic parts like gaskets or filters are a great starting point for anyone who needs to get familiar with equipment maintenance. 
• Documentation – Learning and training on how to document and report maintenance calls or work orders is just another skill every technician should have. It’s always best to keep a clear record of protocols, maintenance performed and any issues an appliance has.