Career Track · Darco Real Estate Academy

Maintenance & Repair — From Zero to Employed

No license required in most states. No degree required. No prior experience required to start. This 8-module track covers everything you need to land your first apartment maintenance job, build the skills that advance your career, and eventually go independent — on your own schedule, your own terms.

8Modules
32Lessons
62Glossary Terms
$19–$35Hourly Range · Entry to Senior
🔧

No License Required to Start

Apartment maintenance tech work covers plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliances, and interior repairs — none of which require a contractor's license at the entry level in most states.

📈

Clear Career Ladder

Porter → Tech I → Tech II → Senior Tech → Supervisor → Regional Director. Every rung is defined, the pay increases are real, and advancement is based on skill and reliability — not degrees.

🏢

Employers Are Desperate for Good Techs

Fewer young people enter the trades every year while demand grows. Property managers are not turning away qualified candidates — they are actively searching for reliable, skilled maintenance people.

The 8 Modules — your complete path

Start at Module 1 and work through in order, or jump to any module you need.

Module 1
The Maintenance & Repair Career
What the job actually is, who hires maintenance techs, the difference between working for a property management company vs. going independent, and why this career is better positioned now than it has ever been.
4 Lessons2 Videos
Module 2
Tools, Safety & Professional Judgment
The essential tool kit every maintenance tech needs from day one, how to stay safe in occupied units, when to handle repairs yourself vs. call a licensed pro, and the six-step research system that means you are never truly stuck.
4 Lessons2 Videos
Module 3
Plumbing Fundamentals
The largest single category of work orders at any apartment complex. Faucets, running toilets, clogged drains, shutoff valves, water heaters, P-traps, and more — the repairs property managers need done without calling a licensed plumber every time.
4 Lessons3 Videos
Module 4
Electrical & HVAC
Outlets, GFCI troubleshooting, light fixtures, ceiling fans, circuit breakers. Thermostat replacement, AC diagnosis, furnace maintenance, filter changes, and the HVAC skills that unlock the highest-paid work in apartment maintenance.
4 Lessons5 Videos
Module 5
Appliance Repairs
The model number system, refrigerator and oven repairs, dryers, washers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and the high-value swap framework — the repairs that look expensive but take 20 minutes and cost $20 in parts.
4 Lessons4 Videos
Module 6
Interior Repairs
Drywall patching all hole types, professional painting technique, door and window repairs, lock re-keying, floor repairs and LVP installation, cabinet adjustments, and the complete turn-ready walk-through checklist.
5 Lessons5 Videos
Module 7
Getting Hired by Property Managers
How property management companies actually hire, what disqualifies candidates immediately, where to find openings, how to write your résumé, interview questions and answers, the career ladder with real pay ranges, and the first 90 days on the job.
4 Lessons2 Videos
Module 8
Going Independent & Certifications
EPA 608, CAMT, CPO, and OSHA — the certifications that open the highest-paying work. The independent contractor model, LLC formation, insurance, pricing your work, and the full long-term career picture for someone who masters this trade.
4 Lessons1 Video

Certifications that pay

Each certification unlocks a category of work and a pay increase. All four are covered in Module 8.

EPA Section 608

+$3–$5/hr
~$20 exam · Lifetime · No expiry

CAMT

+$3–$6/hr
$881–$1,101 · 12 months exp req.

CPO

+$1–$3/hr
$250–$400 · 5-year renewal

OSHA 10

+$0.50–$2/hr
$30–$100 · No expiry

The Career Ladder — where this goes

Every rung is defined. Advancement is based on skill and reliability — not degrees or connections.

Role
Pay Range
Notes
Porter / Groundskeeper
$15–$19/hr
Entry point. No experience required. Grounds, trash, painting, light repairs.
Maintenance Tech I
$18–$24/hr
Basic work orders — plumbing, electrical, appliances, drywall. 1–2 years.
Maintenance Tech II
$22–$30/hr
Complex repairs, HVAC diagnostics, mentors new techs. 3–5 years.
Senior Tech / CAMT
$26–$35/hr
CAMT + EPA 608 certified. Leads maintenance program on a property.
Maintenance Supervisor
$35K–$55K/yr
Manages all maintenance staff. Often includes on-site housing benefit.
Regional Maintenance Director
$55K–$100K+/yr
Oversees maintenance across a portfolio of properties. Senior management.

See the job before you start

Pepe Gomez — veteran apartment maintenance supervisor — walks through a real workday.

Pepe Gomez · Maintenance Man Narratives

A Day in the Life of an Apartment Maintenance Technician

Pool chemicals, laundry room, work orders, a dryer not heating, a thermostat swap, a remodel in progress. This is what a real apartment maintenance workday looks like — varied, hands-on, never boring.

📖 Full Course Glossary

62 terms across all 8 modules — every component, tool, certification, and professional concept in one searchable reference. Use it throughout the course and throughout your career.

View Full Glossary →

Ready to go deeper?

We recommend starting with the Core Foundation before diving into this career track. The 10 Core Foundation modules cover everything you need — deal analysis, financing, valuation, negotiation, and leases — so that the Maintenance & Repair deep dive actually makes sense when you get there. Once you have completed all 10 modules, come back here and continue with Module 1.

🔥 Recommended Starting Point
Begin Core Foundation — Module 1 →
— or —
✅ Already Completed All 10 Core Modules?
Continue to Module 1: The Career →
← Explore All Careers