Courses and Certification
A student from the University of Madrid in Spain reads at a desk inside the university team's 2005 Solar Decathlon home.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Program awarded funds to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and New Mexico State University (NMSU) to develop solar education and training resources for solar professionals. Through Market Transformation activities such as these, the Solar Program's goal is to increase market acceptance of solar technologies.
The primary audiences for the professional education and training courses listed on this page are installation technicians, contractors, and engineers. The list of college and university courses includes associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree courses offered in solar energy technologies.
Professional Education and Training
The following resources provide information about solar energy education for professionals.
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Renewable Energy Training Catalogue
IREC is developing a database of solar education courses available from institutions and groups nationwide, including installer certification. -
National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC)
The NJATC is the training arm for the organized electrical construction industry, providing training for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. They provide training in PV as an extension of training provided for electrical workers. -
Solar Pro Magazine
This magazine for solar professionals covers design, installation, and performance. It has a section for training workshops held by the solar industry nationwide. The print version has a more extensive list of industry training workshops. -
Training Courses on the National Electric Code
NMSU's Southwest Technology Development Institute provides training courses in the National Electric Code. Visit its Web site for a schedule of upcoming courses.
College and University Courses
Many U.S. colleges and universities offer courses, associate degrees, and advanced degrees for solar energy and renewable energy technologies. The following list of universities is updated periodically and is not intended to be exhaustive. DOE has not vetted these institutions and does not endorse them. If you would like us to consider listing a course, please contact us. Other resources for finding college and university courses for solar energy technologies include the American Solar Energy Society, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and the American Council on Renewable Energy.
- Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
- Arizona State University, School of Sustainability (See the Arizona Solar Center for links to all colleges and universities in Arizona with solar courses.)
- Boston University, Center for Environmental Studies, Boston, Massachusetts
- Humboldt State University, Arcata, California
- Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
- Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon Renewable Energy Center
- Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
- Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
- University of California, Energy Efficiency Center, Davis, California
- University of California at Berkeley, Energy and Resources Group, Berkeley, California
- University of Delaware, Institute of Energy Conversion, Newark, Delaware
- University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
- University of Wisconsin, Solar Energy Laboratory Madison, Wisconsin
- Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
Solar Decathlon
The Solar Decathlon is an international competition sponsored by DOE. The competition joins college and university teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The colleges and universities represented by the Solar Decathlon teams are required to develop a curriculum in solar energy.