Solar Installer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, solar installers don't need a college education. The most common degree for solar installers is high school diploma with 40% graduates, with only 20% solar installer graduates earning bachelor's degree. Solar installers who decided to graduate from college often finish San Joaquin Valley College or Southern California Institute of Technology. Some good skills to have in this position include renewable energy, ladders and hand tools.

Popular solar installer certifications include Photovoltaic System Installation Certification (PVSI), Solar PV Certification, or EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA). To improve solar installer qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in solar installer education paths.

What education do you need to become a solar installer?

What degree do you need to be a solar installer?

The most common degree for solar installers is high school diploma, with 40% of solar installers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 20% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
  • High School Diploma, 40%
  • Bachelor's, 20%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Diploma, 13%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a solar installer?

You should major in electrical engineering technology to become a solar installer. 16% of solar installers major in electrical engineering technology. Other common majors for a solar installer include business and electrical and power transmission installers.

Best majors for solar installers

20 best online courses for solar installers

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1. Solar Energy for Engineers, Architects and Code Inspectors

coursera

This specialization provides an overview of solar photovoltaics (PV), intricacies of solar system design, and a framework for solar PV project management. Targeted for engineers, HVAC installers, architects and building code inspectors, it is also appropriate for anyone considering a career in the growing renewable energy field of solar power. Courses introduce how PV operates and the anatomy of solar electric systems, the economics of solar power, pros and cons of different systems,...

2. Photovoltaic solar energy

coursera

The course is an introduction to the photovoltaic (PV) applications in the general mix energetic context dominated by climate warming mitigation. The various uses of solar energy are firstly presented before a short description of the principle of the direct solar photon conversion into electricity (PV). The various PV technologies are reviewed in the current context dominated by crystalline silicon cells. The perspectives of the various technologies are then analysed in terms of R&D...

3. Solar Energy beginner to advanced.SolarPV System Design 2023

udemy
4.5
(304)

2023 Learn solar energy, from the components to the design of a Solar PV System. Focused on both technical & commercial...

4. SOLAR ENERGY Design Course(With SketchUp & PVSYST)-PV system

udemy
4
(1,260)

PV system/Solar Energy deisgn Course. Components, Site survey, Design, SOFTWARES,Pricing ,Technical & finanical Reports...

5. The Science of the Solar System

coursera

Learn about the science behind the current exploration of the solar system in this free class. Use principles from physics, chemistry, biology, and geology to understand the latest from Mars, comprehend the outer solar system, ponder planets outside our solar system, and search for habitability in our neighborhood and beyond. This course is generally taught at an advanced level assuming a prior knowledge of undergraduate math and physics, but the majority of the concepts and lectures can be...

6. Solar Energy Codes, Permitting and Zoning

coursera

This course equips learners to identify national code and zoning rules specific to photovoltaic (PV) systems, as well as key design elements and points for inspection. Curriculum includes zoning variances, critical elements of the permitting process, planning documents necessary for PV system installation and recommendations for permitting offices to streamline the permit process. Learners gain a code inspector’s perspective in relation to building and electrical code requirements. This course...

7. The Complete 2022 PV Solar Energy PVsyst, Excel & AutoCAD

udemy
4.1
(1,703)

Your solar Energy guide to design any Grid-tie & Off-grid Photovoltaic Solar Energy with software , layouts & manuals...

8. The Ultimate OFF-GRID Solar Energy Course. Become a Pro 2023

udemy
4.4
(1,553)

Solar Off-Grid certificate: The only SOLAR OFF-GRID course you'll ever need!...

9. Physics of silicon solar cells

coursera

The first MOOC “Photovoltaic solar energy” is a general presentation of the solar photovoltaics technologies in the global energetic context, without extensive details. In particular the description of the solar cell operation is restricted to the ideal case In contrast this second MOOC allows a deep understanding of the properties of solar cells based on crystalline semiconductors. It consists in a general presentation of the physics of the photovoltaics devices with a particular emphasize on...

10. Hydro, Wind & Solar power: Resources, Variability & Forecast

coursera

The development of hydro, wind and solar power is growing strongly with as one objective to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All these renewable energies are intermittent with more or less strong variability. This course provides the basis for estimating the resource of these different modes of production and understanding the physical causes of intermittency and seasonal variability. The different modes of electricity production are detailed as well as the sensitivity induced by...

Average solar installer salary by education level

Solar installers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $39,597 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, solar installers earn a median annual income of $38,141 compared to $36,875 for solar installers with an High School Diploma degree.
Solar Installer education level
ascdesc
Solar Installer salary
ascdesc
High School Diploma or Less$36,875
Bachelor's Degree$38,141
Some College/ Associate Degree$39,597

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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