What is Photovoltaic?
Solar energy (photovoltaic) is a clean, reliable, and affordable source of electricity. Photovoltaic technology makes use of the sun’s plentiful energy, has low impact on the environment and can be used in a wide range of products from small consumer items to large commercial solar electric systems.
Is this program right for you?
If you have worked in construction, and like hands-on work, this program will give you more marketable skills taught in applied learning labs.
If you enjoyed ROP Automotive or Construction, this program may appeal to you. Students who like to work on their cars, design projects, tinker with equipment, use hand tools and take things apart to see how they work, may find they really have an aptitude to be a solar energy technician.
Men and women who are good at problem solving, thinking about how a system works and enjoy working with their hands may excel as solar energy technicians.
In the program, you will learn essential safety skills, construction skills, and the fundamentals of photovoltaic system installation and maintenance. The training will qualify you to work for photovoltaic companies, homebuilders, government and electric utility companies.
You need to be comfortable working with electricity; students work with AC generators, invertors, batteries and wiring. Basic math is also needed for conducting site assessment, energy audits and designing appropriately sized systems. On the job, you’ll work with power tools, climb on roofs, carry equipment, use meters and work alongside other trades.
Technicians work in the field at building sites, commercial buildings and customers’ homes as well as in the office estimating, designing, assembling and building systems.
When does the Solar Energy Technician Program start?
Some of the new classes start in fall of 2009 in both Roseville and Grass Valley. The new classes will be posted online for registration during the summer 2009. Check back to this web site, or sign up below for notifications.
What is the Solar Technician coursework?
Since this is a brand new program, the curriculum is under design. Watch this site for more details.
- Certificate Program – Four to five courses may cover electricity, solar system design, residential wiring, solar panel roof installation, site assessment, energy audit, electrical safety and sizing systems. It will probably take two to three semesters to complete. Students should be well prepared to take the NABCEP PV Installer Certification test, an industry standard qualification. http://www.nabcep.org/pv_installer.cfm
- AA degree – Four to five core classes plus electives from select courses and General Education requirements.
- Employee Training – Short training classes may be offered in Solar Roof Installation, Energy Auditing, Solar for Building Inspectors and Solar System Fire Safety.
- Transfer – Once the program is established Sierra College will seek transfer opportunities for students.
- What classes should I be taking now? Sierra College courses such as CTR 60 Residential House Wiring & Codes may be useful but until the curriculum is finalized, you may want to fulfill General Education requirements leading to an AA degree.
How can interested students be updated?
Please send the following information to sierraenergytech@sierracollege.edu:
- First and Last Name
- Mailing Address
- E-mail Address
- Phone Number
- Which campus (if any) you prefer to attend - Rocklin or Nevada County Campus (NCC)
What are the career opportunities in Solar Energy?
The California Solar Initiative, approved on January 12, 2006, created a $3.3 billion ten-year program to put solar panels on a million roofs in the state. Utility rebates are also encouraging solar panel installations. Employment in the solar installation industry must grow by 30% each year to meet anticipated demand. Learn more from these links:
- Greenjobs.com reports a growth in PV Solar jobs.
- CNNMoney.com The green job boom Oct. 2007
- North American Board of Certified Energy Technicians Job Board
Who are Sierra College’s solar industry partners?
List coming soon.
Where can I learn more?
- Sierra College Construction Technology
- Sierra College Mechatronics
- 49er Regional Occupational Program (49er ROP)
- Nevada County Contractors’ Association (NCCA)
- North State Building Industry Association (North State BIA)
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) US Solar Market Trends 2007 (.pdf)
- US Department of Energy The Million Solar Roofs Initiative 2006 (.pdf)
- US Department of Energy Learning About PV: Quick Facts
Where can I get instructor information and minimum qualifications?
Please fill out a Part-Time Faculty application located on the Human Resources webpage located at http://da1.sierracollege.edu/people/employment/index.asp and submit it to the Human Resources office on the Rocklin campus.
** Please indicate “Solar Energy Systems Program” as the position you are applying for and as specify at which campus location(s) you are available to teach.
How is this program funded?
Sierra College was awarded $468,000 in Industry Driven Regional Collaboratives (IDRC) funding by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to develop a Solar Energy Technician program.
Sierra College will be the first community college in Northern California (and the second in the entire state of California) to offer a certificate program for Solar Energy Technician. This program will address both new construction and retrofit.
Our partners, the City of Roseville and the Nevada County Economic Resource Council will both provide locations to conduct hands-on training essential to the photovoltaic industry.
Press Releases
- Sierra College Awarded $468,600 for Photovoltaic Installer Training
Partnership with Roseville and Nevada County Economic Resource Council will Train “Green Collar” Workers for Capital Region (.pdf)