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A Career in Solar
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
What does it take to get started with a career in installing solar panels? At the moment, because it is such a new industry, not all states require solar installers to have licenses. This means that for some individuals with certain existing qualifications, getting started with a career in solar is easy.
Electricians Electricians are particularly suited to expand their list of services to include installing solar panels. In fact, the hardest part of installing solar panels is tying in a solar system with the grid and the building, so that the panels actually do their job of providing the home or business owner with electricity. Electricians already have the know-how and the experience to easily learn how to do this. However, a wise electrician will still beef up their knowledge with a solar PV course in order to save themselves time and money from making common beginners' mistakes.
Roofers
The second type of experience that helps immensely in the business of solar installation is roofing. As solar panels are typically installed on a roof, whoever is installing the panels needs to understand roof structures and the supporting rafters underneath – skills that experienced roofers already have. Roofers can safely make additions to roofs without damaging them, and most are familiar with local codes and building permits. While a typical roofer may not have the electrical experience that they need to jump into installing solar panels, a solar training course can quickly fill up the gaps in their knowledge.
General Contractors
General contractors are also well-positioned to make a leap into installing solar panels. Already familiar with permitting and organizing complex building projects, general contractors often have networks of engineers, electricians, and roofers they can call upon to help them complete a solar installation project. Ultimately, installing solar panels are another type of construction project, and general contractors already understand how to organize and execute various construction projects. By taking a few solar training courses, a general contractor can easily make the transition from constructing or remodeling homes to installing solar panels.
Other Fields
But those who are not already an electrician, a roofer, or a contractor, should not despair: the demand for solar installers in certain states, such as California, is so high that anyone who completes a solar PV training course is virtually guaranteed a lucrative career in solar. Consider the case of Daniel Morabito, age 29, who used to work in a white-collar environment in Los Angeles closing film deals. He gave up the commissioned-based, white-collar job for a "green-collar" job installing solar panels for the California company, SolarCity. For Daniel, his green-collar salary compares with his white-collar one, and if anything, it is more stable because it's not commissioned-based. Right now, anyone who decides to make the switch into a career in solar can find a job as long as they receive the right training and live in the right place.
Sources: Hsu, Tiffany. "So you want a green career?" Los Angeles Times, Business: November 15, 2009.
Labels: green career jobs, solar career, solar installer training, solar training
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