Designed for students eager to explore the world of high-performance building, this six-month program provides certified pre-apprenticeship and a foundation in passive house principles, offering both technical knowledge and real-world exposure to energy-efficient construction and design.

Participants will engage directly with leading professionals in the field—builders, designers, developers, and project managers—gaining insights and networking opportunities with local organizations like Juniper Design + Build and Maine Passive House. They’ll also become certified pre-apprentices under Maine’s apprenticeship program. Whether you're considering a future career in sustainable building or simply want to expand your understanding of passive building, this program offers a unique, hands-on introduction to the industry.

Upon program completion, participants will be recognized through the state’s apprenticeship program and be certified for Osha 10.

If you have an interest in hands-on projects, design, building science, engineering or carpentry, we welcome you to apply. We hope this program will encourage young Mainers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to become a part of the trades!

We will begin reviewing applications in 2026 for our second cohort. Click here to check out the application.

Program details

Running from April 8 through November, the Pre-Apprenticeship Program combines flexible learning and real-world exposure to passive house design and construction.

Each month, students will participate in:

• One in-person training session or repeat virtual session to accommodate different schedules. The first session is three hours, while later sessions run about two hours. In-person sessions happen Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30p, while virtual sessions will happen Wednesdays between 12 and 1p.

• Monthly job shadowing opportunities with phME partner firms, providing an inside look at passive house projects—whether at a firm’s office or an active job site. While primarily observational, these experiences will give students a first-hand understanding of the daily work involved in sustainable building. Floating job shadowing events will be announced in advance.

• Access to an available stipend to help support student participation.

By the end of the program, certified pre-apprentices will have built valuable connections with industry professionals, making this an excellent stepping stone toward future apprenticeships, internships, and job opportunities in the growing field of high-performance building. For questions, please email phME’s Training Director, Erin Scally at erin[a]passivhausmaine.org.

Session dates

Session 1 - April 8, 2026 in-person at phME in Freeport (35 Main St.) or May 22, 2026 virtual | No job shadowing this session

Session 2 - May 6, 2026 in-person at phME in Freeport or May 20, 2026 virtual | Job shadowing: May 13, 2026

Session 3 - June 10, 2026 in-person at phME in Freeport or June 24, 2026 virtual | Job shadowing: June 17, 2026

Session 4 - July 8, 2026 in-person in Freeport or July 22, 2026 virtual
| Job shadowing: July 15, 2026