Boots on the Roof offers a six-day instructor-led course for professionals who are new to solar power. The course begins with the core concepts of solar power and provides hands-on experience installing residential and commercial roof-top solar power systems. The course is relevant to architects, engineers and contractors as well as business professionals and consultants.
Solar Energy International, SEI, offers a comprehensive course on solar electric design and installation. The course begins with the basics of PV systems and provides practical instruction on how to size, protect and ground a grid-direct solar electric system. After completing this course, students are eligible to take the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, NABCEP, entry-level exam. SEI offers the Solar Electric Fundamentals course in both an in-classroom and live online format. The instructor-led version is a five-day course and the online version is a six-week course.
The Florida Solar Energy Center offers a combination classroom and hands-on training program on solar power basics and system installations. Students learn how to conduct site assessments and to configure, plan, install and troubleshoot solar systems that are code-compliant. On the afternoon of the last day of this week-long course, students can take the NAPCEP entry-level exam for an additional fee. The course is conducted at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, Florida.
AIRE offers a five-day course that covers the basics of solar radiation, PV technology including batteries, charge controllers and inverters, grid installation and technique, wiring and inspections as well as maintenance and troubleshooting. It provides the basics for both grid-tiered and off-grid, stand-alone systems. The course is based on the learning objectives developed by NAPCEP to prepare for the NAPCEP entry-level exam. The classes are held at the AIRE campus in San Bernadino, CA.
Solar PV Boot Camp by CleanEdison is a six-day class that mixes instructor-led training with hands-on experience and computer simulations. It teaches solar electric design, installation and safety as well as business topics for industry professionals and consultants. On the last day, students take a certification exam and, if they pass, earn the CleanEdison Certified Solar PV Professional certification. CleanEdison has a special department to help unemployed workers apply for and receive federal grants that will pay for their solar training. ClenEdison conducts classes in almost 50 cities around the country.