How you can use Sherwin-Williams Learning Pathway® courses to sharpen your skills, build your brand and expand operations.
Built to help pros grow throughout their careers, the Sherwin-Williams Learning Pathway website and app is packed with tools and resources you can use to support professional development for painters and business owners at every step of their career.
The free training modules are broken into three main focus areas: Trade Skills, Business Education and a Color Training Course for Pros.
Teach painting skills
Luis Carlos Rodriguez is the owner of Lifetime Custom Painting, a family-owned business based in San Diego that has grown steadily over the past 15 years and now employs 23 people. He was part of the initial brainstorming team that worked with Sherwin-Williams to help develop the S-W Learning Pathway program.
“I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats, so I like to be involved in any opportunity to help out the painting community,” he says.
He uses the Trade Skills courses extensively in his own company.
“It’s a great tool when I’m onboarding new employees that are fresh to the painting industry,” Rodriguez says. “It’s a much more structured approach than sending a bunch of YouTube videos and PowerPoints.”
In 11 modules that cover everything from safety and surface prep to clean-up, participants discover the ins and outs of the painting process and develop a deeper understanding of the profession. They also learn valuable information on coatings products and application tools and how to use them.
“It helps us give our new employees a baseline of knowledge so when they get to the job site, they have the standards down, and then my leaders can teach them on how to improve their craft,” Rodriguez says.
Scale up your business
In the Business Education part of S-W Learning Pathway, pros earn “business badges” by completing a series of courses to help them gain foundational industry knowledge and learn ways to build their brand and expand operations.
Among the topics covered are job estimating, recruiting and retaining employees, building a strong company culture, marketing strategies and generating leads and positive reviews.
Packed with valuable advice from successful contractors, this course offers excellent educational tools and “is really a big step in helping a medium- to small-size business grow,” says Gus Gutierrez Jr., owner of Gutierrez Painting in Fort Worth, Texas.
“We’re all trying to grow our business, get it to another level,” he says.
Build your color confidence
Color Training for Pros is the latest addition to the S-W Learning Pathway program. It’s designed to help painting professionals learn paint color basics and empower them to confidently answer customer questions and guide them in choosing paint colors.
“Communication about color is prone to misunderstanding,” says Francia Ordoñez, Manager of Marketing Communications Strategy at Sherwin-Williams. “Color Training for Pros courses educate you on building trust to connect with customers effectively. It will help you stand out and boost sales by helping your customers make informed choices.”
Advanced courses
Sherwin-Williams has also partnered with the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) to offer additional business-focused education.
S-W Learning Pathway users can purchase premium content from the PCA at a 50 percent discount. Their Business Foundations and Business Accelerator courses are designed to help businesses take the next step forward in their journey growth.
- PCA Business Foundation: Ideal for startups with up to $500,000 in annual revenue. This five-week online course includes three modules focused on essential topics: Business Planning and Mindset, Business Setup, and Business Building.
- PCA Business Accelerator: Designed for businesses aiming to grow beyond the $500,000 to $1.5 million revenue range. This seven-week online course includes the following modules: Vision, Values, Strategy, Finance, Sales and Marketing, and Leadership.
“Myself and the members of the PCA created industry leading training that was founded in the practices that helped the industry’s best businesses grow, scale and become profitable – all lessons learned by contractors and for contractors,” says Nick Slavik, founder of Nick Slavik Painting & Restoration Co. and current chair of the PCA Board of Directors. “If you want to have more fun, have less stress and create a lasting legacy, we lay out the steps really clearly, then help you find the resources to help along the way.”
The proof, he says, is in the results.
“PCA businesses are 15 times larger, longer lasting and far more profitable than non-members and firms that have not undergone this training,” Slavik says. “My company grew from one to 40 people and created a business that is not reliant on me daily because of this training.”
How to get started
Registration is quick and free, and you can immediately access training resources on demand.
Go to SWLearningPathway.Mindtickle.com and select “Create account or password.” You’ll receive an email with the subject line, “Activate your MindTickle Account!” Follow the instructions and make sure to “fill out profile fields” to be eligible to explore all courses.
“This program is the first of its kind in the painting industry,” Ordoñez says. “Sherwin-Williams is always proud to be an industry leader – not only when it comes to paint, but also when it comes to the learning and development of our customers.”
©2026 Fusable. Photo illustration courtesy Sherwin-Williams.
