ASA University’s Year in Review: Most Used Courses, MDM Milestones

ASA members stayed busy in 2025, taking full advantage of ASA University’s tools and training to boost employee performance and drive profitability across their businesses. This year also marked a return to some familiar training trends, with members gravitating back toward foundational product knowledge.
 

Top ASA University Courses of 2025
 

Far and away, the most popular training for members continues to be ProductPro. These vendor-agnostic courses deliver essential product knowledge and provide a strong foundation for PHCP/PVF supply industry professionals. While soft skills training surged in 2024, ProductPro reclaimed the top spot in 2025.
 

ASA University’s most-used courses this year were:
 

1. Introduction to Pipe, Valves, and Fittings
2. Introduction to Copper Tube, Plastic Pipe, and Fittings
3. Introduction to HVACR
4. Industrial Valves
5. Introduction to Steel, Stainless Steel, Iron Pipe, and Fittings

In addition to individual courses, ASA University’s off-the-shelf and custom training tracks saw strong engagement in 2025. More than 130 learners enrolled in comprehensive, role-based tracks—whether built by ASA or customized by member companies.

By the numbers, the top five Training Tracks this year were:
 

1. College of Sales – Inside Sales Training Track
2. College of Leadership – Branch Manager Training Track
3. College of Sales – Outside Sales Training Track
4. College of Purchasing – Purchasing Agent Training Track
5. College of Purchasing – Purchasing Manager Training Track

Master of Distribution Management Surpasses 50 Graduates

ASA-U’s Master of Distribution Management (MDM) Certificate Program continues to support the next generation of industry leaders as they sharpen their skills and develop strong leadership instincts.

In 2025, we proudly surpassed a major milestone—celebrating our 50th graduate (and then some!). This achievement reflects the dedication and growth of students throughout the program. Participants consistently highlight the networking component as a standout benefit, particularly the peer-to-peer connections built along the way. We’re also looking ahead with excitement as our 2025 enrollees complete the program and reach graduation this year.

MDM classes for 2026 are now open! The next cohort begins February 16, 2026, with eligible graduation in 2027. Spots are filling quickly—reach out to us at mdm@asa.net for more information.

Be sure to check out the new and improved MDM webpage, now featuring a Capstone Project Lookbook, a “Meet the Grads” section, and enhanced program details that showcase the ROI students can unlock through the program.

ASA-U Course Uplift: A Fresh Look at Trusted Industry Education

Your go-to training resource just got better. In 2025, the ASA Education Foundation embarked on the transformation of ASA University through our ASA-U course uplift — a comprehensive update to our trusted eLearning platform.

With many newly refreshed courses already available and more rolling out throughout early 2026, this initiative brings a fresh look and feel to the high-quality education our members have always relied on.

This upgrade is more than a cosmetic refresh. It’s a strategic reimagining of how education is delivered to make learning more approachable, engaging, and effective:
 

• A modern, intuitive interface for a smoother, mobile-friendly experience
• Visually rich live-action videos that simplify complex concepts through demonstration
• Scenario-based assessments that place learners in real-world situations
• High-impact 3D product imagery that adds depth to technical training
• Concise, take-home summaries for practical, on-the-job reference
• Hands-on application activities to reinforce learning with real-world relevance

Take a test drive here!

Manufacturer Training Added to ASA University

ASA University continues to provide FREE vendor product training for distributor and rep firm members. In 2025, we expanded the course catalog to more than 280 courses by adding several new manufacturer partners, including Prier Products, Mansfield Plumbing Products, FIAT, Stern-Williams, and Bemis.

Vendors interested in featuring their products on ASA-U can contact us at education@asa.net.

Ready to Start 2026 on the Right Foot?

Contact us at education@asa.net or visit www.asa.net to explore everything ASA University has to offer. We look forward to serving our members again in 2026 and continuing to expand the reach and impact of ASA-U training across the industry.