Apprentice Program
Your Next Chapter is Hands-On
Eastern’s Apprentice Program is here to provide you with a new skill set, a career path, and a team invested in your future. This paid, two-year program combines classroom learning with thousands of hours of hands-on field experience, all while working alongside experienced professionals.
From our state-of-the-art Training Center in Rochester, NH, to real-world experience in the field, you’ll develop the skills to work with both propane and oil heating systems and prepare for a career at Eastern.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Apprentices are initially assigned to a specific district, with opportunities to transfer to other districts. Over two years, they’ll spend roughly 450 hours in the classroom with our Technical Trainers and other training staff, plus approximately 3,700 hours putting their skills to work in the field alongside a mentor.
Training consists of:
- Company specific policy and procedures
- Propane Education and Resource Council (PERC) Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) curriculum and subsequent PERC Education Program (PEP)
- National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) Technician Certification Program
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) training
- Department of Transportation (DOT) training
- Technical installation, repair, and troubleshooting courses to prepare apprentices for real-world field work
Graduating Class of 2026
Breakdown
Apprentices are generally hired before the start of the program to familiarize themselves with Eastern and the industry. They will spend their first day of training in an orientation session in the Rochester Training Facility to learn more about what to expect as training progresses. The orientation will include the following topics –
- Meet the Technical Trainers and training department
- Review of program components, goals, and objectives
- Tour of the training facility
Throughout the two-year program, apprentices receive structured classroom and hands-on training at the Rochester Training Facility, working alongside our Technical Trainers and experienced technicians. Formal training begins in October each year and includes customer service skills to prepare apprentices to work with current and prospective customers. The program culminates in a fall graduation following the second year.
Field Experience
Apprentices spend approximately 3,700 hours in their district, primarily working with a mentor on appliance and storage tank installations, gas and oil piping, and service calls. They also gain experience in the bulk plant with propane container maintenance and evacuations, crane truck operations, and delivery. By the end of the second year, apprentices are expected to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL-B) with a Hazmat Endorsement to support crane operation and tank setting. We provide CDL-B training in-house.
On Call
During each year of the program, apprentices will partner with an on-call service technician to learn how the on-call system works.
Apprentices are generally hired before the start of the program to familiarize themselves with Eastern and the industry. They will spend their first day of training in an orientation session in the Rochester Training Facility to learn more about what to expect as training progresses. The orientation will include the following topics –
- Meet the Technical Trainers and training department
- Review of program components, goals, and objectives
- Tour of the training facility
Throughout the two-year program, apprentices receive structured classroom and hands-on training at the Rochester Training Facility, working alongside our Technical Trainers and experienced technicians. Formal training begins in October each year and includes customer service skills to prepare apprentices to work with current and prospective customers. The program culminates in a fall graduation following the second year.
Field Experience
Apprentices spend approximately 3,700 hours in their district, primarily working with a mentor on appliance and storage tank installations, gas and oil piping, and service calls. They also gain experience in the bulk plant with propane container maintenance and evacuations, crane truck operations, and delivery. By the end of the second year, apprentices are expected to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL-B) with a Hazmat Endorsement to support crane operation and tank setting. We provide CDL-B training in-house.
On Call
During each year of the program, apprentices will partner with an on-call service technician to learn how the on-call system works.
Mike Breton
Meet Mike! Mike joined Eastern in February 2017 as a Service and Installation Technician, working in the Rochester and Springvale districts through 2023. During that time, he was a mentor for the Apprentice Program and served on Eastern’s Emergency Responder team before joining the Training Department as a Technical Trainer. With more than 22 years of experience in the HVAC and fuel industries, Mike enjoys sharing his knowledge, watching students grow into skilled technicians, and giving back to an industry that has been good to him and his family. Outside of work, Mike enjoys skiing with family, playing golf, hunting, fishing, and riding ATVs.
Ryan Klopfenstein
Meet Ryan! Ryan joined Eastern as a Service Technician in the Loudon office in July 2004. After working in three different districts, he transitioned to the Training Department as a Technical Trainer in February 2022. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, hunting, and fishing. He’s also an avid welder who enjoys creating all kinds of things.
Technical Evaluations
Biannually
Apprentices will be formally evaluated every six months, for a total of four evaluations over the course of the two-year program.
Weekly
Ongoing evaluations should take place in each apprentice’s district using a weekly checklist.
On-going Evaluation
The Technical Trainers will meet with each supervisor to share informal evaluations, make recommendations for prioritized field experience, and highlight remaining program requirements. These meetings will take place in late December/early January of the first and second year of formal classroom training.
Performance, Licensing, and Compensation
Apprentices are not expected to become fully licensed and work independently until after completing CETP 4.6, regardless of potentially different state requirements. Apprentices are entitled to increases in compensation at various stages of the apprentice program, including upon achieving different milestones as reflected in these materials.
Apprentices are subject to ongoing active performance management coaching from their manager and may receive additional performance management feedback from the Safety & Risk Department. Managers are encouraged to provide regular feedback to Apprentices relating to their day-to-day performance in the field and will coordinate 1-2 formal performance reviews during each year of the Apprentice Program.
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