Solar & Energy Career Advantages
Our Mission
At the Solar Energy Institute, we're committed to helping develop the renewable energy industry one professional at a time. It is our goal to create a diversified workforce of skilled professionals in various areas of the industry, including project management, leadership and all areas of installation, as well as programming and monitoring with the latest innovations.
It is our goal to create career opportunities that diversify the industry in gender, race and skillset. We are proud partners of the Department of Energy, Solar Ready Vets Program and work with multiple accredited trade schools and career placement programs.
Our Programs
Our programs offer every level of learning, training and development.
- Online Learning & Courses: To familiarize candidates with the basics of solar, electric fundamentals, energy, terms for parts, safety and procedures, our programs start with online courses.
- Advanced Innovation Training: With the advancements in energy monitoring, permits, design, engineering and even municipality communications we take it a step further with our digital innovations training.
- Mentorship & Guidance: Understanding the skillset, career goals and proper path for each candidate takes time to get to know them individually, we pride ourselves in offer complete mentorship for assisted guidance.
- Hands-On Job Site Training: Finally, when its time to take it to the job site, our candidates are confident in their tools, what it takes to complete a quality installation and most of all, how to be SAFE!
Certified Trainers
Our team of certified energy professionals span from in-class teachers, on-line educators and in-field installers. Each area of the industry requires different skillsets not only in the educators/trainers but in the students. This is why encourage mentorship and don't just stop at skill training, we work with each candidate to understand the individual, and help guide them toward their best path for career development in the industry.
Our trainers have various levels of Certifications including:
- State Licensed Contractors
- OSHA Safety Training Professionals
- NABCEP Certified Solar Professionals and Exam Practitioners
- Manufacturers Install Certifications
- Energy Audit Certifications
INDUSTRY, EDUCATION & CAREER PLACEMENT
Creating a combined effort is what Workforce Development is all about. In Florida, we combined our Partnership Network to include a Local Trade School, Veterans in the community, Training courses and certification requirements from MREA (Midwest Renewable Energy Association) and NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) as well as funding and candidates from the local Career Source locations for job placement to create a well-rounded program!
NABCEP: PV ASSOCIATES CERTIFICATION
Upon completion of Level 1 Training, candidates will have the opportunity to test and earn their NABCEP PV Assocaites Certification & an OSHA-10 Certification.
NABCEP The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives that includes representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certified professionals, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades. Each member of the board was chosen because of his or her experience and involvement in the solar energy industry. NABCEP’s mission–to support, and work with, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholders–is intended to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners. Certification offers the public a high degree of protection because practitioners have to meet standards or qualifications and pass an exam, and they do so voluntarily. Developing a certification is a complex and time-consuming process and requires a strong administrative organization in order to maintain its quality.
SOLAR JOB CENSUS
The 13th annual National Solar Jobs Census is a comprehensive review of employment and workforce development in the U.S. solar energy industry, nationwide and state by state. It is published by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This year’s report also includes information on jobs in the battery storage sector and other clean energy industries.
- As of December 2022, there were 263,883 solar workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. This represents an increase of 8,846 jobs, or 3.5% growth since 2021.
- This growth came in a year of transition for the solar industry, as the threat of new tariffs on panels and cells and other supply chain concerns led to a slowdown in large-scale solar installations. Nationwide, the utility-scale solar market lost about 6,000 jobs in 2022. In contrast, residential solar jobs grew by 11%, or about 9,500 jobs, balancing out the losses in utility-scale solar.
- About two-thirds of all solar jobs in 2022 (171,558) were at installation and project development firms. There were 33,473 jobs at manufacturing firms, 30,618 in wholesale trade and distribution, 16,585 in operations and maintenance, and 11,648 in a miscellaneous “all others” category.
- Solar jobs grew in 42 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The state with the most jobs added in 2022 was California, the nation’s largest solar market, with 2,404 jobs added. California was followed by New York (988 jobs), Texas (904 jobs), Florida (506 jobs) and Massachusetts (476 jobs).
DEMOGRAPHICS & DIVERSITY
The Solar Jobs Census tracks U.S. solar workforce demographics including gender, ethnicity, race, veteran status, and other characteristics. In recent years, these data have told a consistent story. While the solar industry is growing more diverse, there is still a need for concerted action to ensure there are equitable opportunities for everyone to work in solar. In particular, women and Black people continue to be underrepresented in the solar workforce. While these challenges are shared with similar industries, solar firms represent the future of America. They have an opportunity and a responsibility to lead.
Some of the key findings on workforce demographics are described in the paragraphs and charts by clicking the TAB below.
Find A Career In The Energy Industry
The Green Buildings Career Map is a highly interactive tool that explores an industry exploding with job opportunities across four major sectors of the green buildings and energy efficiency industry, charting possible progression between those occupations, and identifying the sorts of credentials necessary to do them well.
This map is designed for a broad audience including educators, career advisors, job seekers, employers, policymakers, and workforce professionals. It demonstrates the breadth of the green buildings and energy efficiency industry, some of its critical occupations, and the multitude of advancement routes (over 300!) between jobs and sectors. The map also includes a section on “New-Collar” jobs within the industry—jobs that don’t require a traditional four-year degree, but rather rely on gaining skills through on-the-job training, high school technical education, on-the-job apprenticeships, vocational schools, technical certification programs, community colleges, the military, and internships. These 55 jobs have a mission to design, build, and operate high-quality, healthier, and more energy-efficient homes and commercial and industrial buildings.
Solar Courses
LEVEL 1 SOLAR & ENERGY STORAGE
LEVEL 1 SOLAR & ENERGY STORAGE
LEVEL 1 SOLAR & ENERGY STORAGE
This program is a competency-based, applied learning program, that develops skills in the field of solar / energy storage and provides a foundation in design, maintenance, and installation of various systems used in the residential and commercial environment. This program provides students with the technical knowledge and skills needed to adapt a solar photo-voltaic design; conduct a site assessment; read blueprints; and install, maintain, and troubleshoot a solar photo-voltaic system. Students will learn basic electricity concepts in DC and AC electrical circuits, voltage, and electric codes, as well as practice hands-on basic residential wiring. Solar installation site assessments and design skills will be developed through hand sketches, use of IT Technology and Computer Aided Drafting software.
Solar Electric
LEVEL 1 SOLAR & ENERGY STORAGE
LEVEL 1 SOLAR & ENERGY STORAGE
Our PV course encompasses everything from understanding system sizing & design, roof attachment hardware for various types of roofing, conduit runs, multi-meter reading, inverters, micro-inverters, rapid shutdown, AC/DC Disconnects and so much more!
Solar Pool Heating
One of the oldest forms of solar is solar thermal and one of the most popular solar installs in states like Florida, California, Arizona and Texas is Solar Pool Heating! At the Solar Energy Institute, we will train you on everything from PVC plumbing, connecting to existing pool equipment, temp sensors, auto controllers and more!
Energy Storage
With the increasing electrical rates and the need for backup power in a state of emergency in The Sunshine State, there has never been a better time to add energy storage to your solar system!
At Solar Energy Institute our hands-on training will teach you installation on various types of inverters and batteries as well as critical load panels, transfer switches and tying in generators!
FlaSEIA: Solar Buyers Guide
The latest edition of the Florida Solar Buyer's Guide is now available. Including questions homeowners should ask their solar installer, guidance on identifying exaggerated claims and more.
