Students
Brian Hurd teaching PV class
With increasing emphasis on the new “green” economy, the next boom area in jobs looks to be in the solar and clean energy sector. Also important will be those careers in “building efficiency” and “energy auditing.”
At present, training opportunities are limited, although schools across the country are rushing to enter the “Green Education” market. This rush to train creates various challenges and many problems.
With funding slated in the billions, many community colleges and public school districts are entering this relatively new field of instruction. Most of these traditional programs will not be immediately effective. In most cases, it will take several years for new educational programs to come up to speed to meet industry set standards of training.
Unfortunately at present, most solar training is hit or miss. Some students take online courses with no hands-on or real time experience. Others learn on the job from a contractor or crewmember. Still others attend workshops that range from one day to two weeks in length, sometimes at exorbitant prices. Few attend thorough, time-intensive instruction, complete with real time experience and intensive hands-on training.
Please take a minute to consider that residential photovoltaic circuits are allowed by code to carry up to 600 volts of direct current (DC). This is very dangerous voltage. We use DC current to arc weld, and DC current can arc over a foot in certain circumstances. Learning to deal with this type of electricity safely cannot happen in a weekend workshop or in an online course. System design is complex with a wide range of variables to consider.
Brian Hurd teaching PV class
Most PV systems are installed on rooftops on a variety of surfaces such as tile, composite shingles, wood shakes, metal, tar and gravel, and single membrane products. They are also installed at various angles and pitches on single and multi-story structures. Safety is a huge factor that must be taught in real time.
When Choosing a PV Program What Should You Look For?
Students should look to training programs that are well rounded and that give participants instruction in all of the major areas of photovoltaics.
You should first do some research. You want to receive the best instruction possible, over a reasonable period of time, and at a fair price. Students are urged to check out the quality of training provided.
Questions to ask the school and/or program you are considering:
1. Is the instructional program degree-track or certification-track?
Certificate programs in photovoltaics and solar thermal are usually less than a year in length, and are designed for students wishing to master the skills necessary to find entry-level employment.
Degree track programs take the instruction to another level and require considerably more time. For those who simply want to aquire the skills to get a good job, a degree track program is not necessary. Degree programs are for those who want to go into research, education, advanced design, etc. They require a major commitment of time and money.
2. Is the program approved by the North American Board Of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)?
Saturday lab
NABCEP offers a practitioner or professional certification-testing program to those currently working in the PV industry, and who meet the criteria. The very popular Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge program is for those new to the industry or interested in the technology. They must complete a training program at an approved provider school or college where instruction in photovoltaics prepares the student to sit for the entry-level exam. These are voluntary certificate programs that are recognized throughout the USA and Canada as the standard.
Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge approved provider institutions offer approved courses of instruction and train to the skills listed in the NABCEP course outline and task analysis. To find a complete listing of NABCEP approved Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge program provider institutions check this link: http://www.nabcep.org/
3. Are the instructors qualified to teach photovoltaics?
With a rush to offer instruction in this emerging area of education, teachers are often diverted from related fields, with no first-hand experience in the field of PV. Does the instructor have recent experience with PV installations?
4. Is the program ISPQ approved?
The Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) http://www.irecusa.org/index.php) is an international certification program that is administered by IREC in the US. ISPQ approval tells you that the program meets or exceeds rigorous training standards.
The Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) sets forth a framework of standards to provide a way to compare content, quality, and educational resources across a broad range of training programs covering renewable energy, energy efficiency and distributed generation technologies. If the program is ISPQ it insures the legitimacy of what is being taught and by whom.
5. What is IREC?
IREC stands for The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and emphasizes education and outreach, stakeholder coordination, technical assistance, workforce development, the adoption and implementation of uniform guidelines and standards, consumer protection and building networks to share experiences and information. http://www.irecusa.org
6. Are the instructors certified by ISP?
ISP (Institute for Sustainable Power) evaluates and qualifies instructors, master trainers, training programs, and continuing education providers through a process known as accreditation (in the case of organizations) or certification (in the case of individuals).
If instructors are ISP Certificants, the student can be assured that they have been thoroughly vetted, and that the training is based on industry-set standards.
7. Are the instructors state approved?
In many of the weekend workshop situations, instructors are not approved by the state or jurisdiction. Approved teachers have gone through a whole range of vetting, including background checks, resume and experience verification, and have experience with class and subject matter structure and delivery.
8. Have the instructors ever installed PV?
If I were going to learn how to extract a tooth in dental school I would want to learn from a trained dentist,
Inner city students in PV class
one who had hands-on experience in extracting teeth.
There are many teachers in PV instruction today who have never actually installed photovoltaics in the field. It is very important to check this out in advance of enrolling in a photovoltaics instructional program.
Other Relevant Questions Include:
- What is the graduation rate of the program?
- What is the job placement rate of the program? Are graduates actually
getting jobs? - Do PV installation companies support the training program?
- Do PV installation companies send their employees through the
program?
Types Of Instructional Programs In PV
Vocational programs
- Instructional Programs in the trades
College Programs
- Certificate Track Programs
- Degree Track Programs
Apprenticeship Programs
- Internships
- On the job training
NABCEP Approved Programs
- At the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners site find provider institutions, to include some Online Programs.
http://www.nabcep.org
Free Workshops Offered By:
- Major Utility Companies
- Public Utility Companies
- Non Profits
- At Libraries and Public Forums
Fee Based On-line Courses
- Convenient
- Most are pricey
- Offers no hands-on instruction
- Few will help you get a job
Fee Based Workshops / some include intensive hands-on training. Most do not.
- Through Equipment Suppliers
- Through Manufacturers
- By Non Profit Organizations
- By For-Profit Organizations
Types of Jobs and Job Skills In Photovoltaics *
- Contractors
- PV Public Relations and Sales
- Site Survey Tech
- Energy Efficiency / Title 24 Energy Analyst
- System Designer
- CAD Operator / Plans Technician
- Materials and Equipment Clerk
- Site Layout Technician
- Entry Level PV Worker
- Entry Level PV Installer
- Lead PV Installer
- Project Manager
- PV Systems Maintenance and Repair
Related Jobs With Large PV Firms
- Permitting and Rebate Clerk
- Code Compliance Specialist
- Fire Clearance Compliance
- Roof Manufacturers Warranty Compliance
There are also a wide variety of manufacturing jobs.