Solar Installer Helper Job Position & Solar Training Requirements
Requirements
Looking to get into the solar industry and in search of solar training, then first you need to understand the job that most entry level positions consist of. The solar system installer helper is the entry level position for the solar industry.
The specific job description and tasks will vary depending on what field of solar you are entering into. There is solar thermal and solar electric and both vary greatly. The basic description for either position are as follows:
The helper assists solar system installers in installing and repairing solar systems for residential, commercial and industrial use.
Assist in racking setup. This can include any of the following tasks; drilling, sealing, lifting, cutting, splicing, bolting, removal, replacement and painting of metal or wood racks for either ground mounts or roof mounts.
Assist in electrical maintenance. This can include stringing of solar panels, bending and anchoring of conduit, cutting and splicing of wire, completing electrical connections, replacement of fuses, soldering, replacement of faulty electrical components, de-energizing the system, energizing the system, lock out tag out procedures, battery handling, repair, maintenance and troubleshooting, etc.
Assist in electrical installation. This can include installing solar panels, inverters, junction boxes, control boxes, disconnect switches, etc. Also grounding of panels and other components, wiring of system, conduit installation and routing of wires, system commissioning, de-energizing system.
Cleans and prepares surfaces for painting and installation of system components. Keeps work areas in clean and safe condition and cleans up and packs up upon work day conclusion.
Completes forms related to the work. These can include, equipment requisitions, invoices, estimates, assists in maintaining records for material, equipment and supplies. Completes safety checklists, system inspection forms, etc.
Things You Need To Know Before Beginning Your Solar Training
There are two specialties in the solar industry. You can specialize in solar electric systems or solar thermal systems where you will deal with solar hot water for domestic and commercial uses. So when choosing your solar training course make sure you verify it is the right specialty. Solar electric is math and electric heavy while solar thermal is plumbing heavy.
Another consideration is who you are taking the course through. Make sure they are an accredited organization and that at least the courses they offer are approved by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) which is the current certification organization for the industry. NABCEP offers all the industry certifications currently that are industry recognized. They offer the PV Installer Certification Exam, Solar Thermal Installer Certification Exam, PV Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge Exam, Small Wind Installer Certification Exam and PV Technical Sales Certification Exam. Also keep an eye on rather the organization is accredited by the Interstate of Renewable Energy Council which is another major player for accrediting and solar training requirements.
The last thing to consider is method of solar training. There are two methods and they are online solar training or hands on solar training. Each meet different requirements for NABCEP exams.
The online courses usually meet the training needs for the Certification Exams but do not count for any of the system installations required to sit for the exams. Online solar training also can meet the requirements for the PV Entry Level Exam.
The hands on solar training courses sometimes can count toward one of the system installations required to meet the certification exam requirements of NABCEP. Only one student per course is able to claim the title of responsible person on the installation that will count toward your requirements. Also the system needs to be connected to an actual system customer unless otherwise approved by NABCEP.
