Get your Solar Technician Certificate in 12 weeks!
Course Objectives:
This certificate path encompasses a comprehensive spectrum of grid-direct and battery-based residential and commercial photovoltaic design and installation applications. The program strongly emphasizes the application of the National Electrical Code for solar and addresses job-site safety considerations. It will also cover the technical concepts needed for solar professionals working on single-family homes, commercial projects, or utility-scale systems. This Certificate Program fulfills the prerequisite requirement to qualify for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associate Exam.
Program Schedule:
Summer 2025 cohort: June 2, 2025 - Aug. 8, 2025.
Location: The University of New Mexico-Gallup
Program Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
1st Course: PV 101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct) 5 weeks
June 2 - July 4, 2025
2nd Course: PV 203: Photovoltaic System Fundamentals (Battery-Based) 5 weeks
July 7 - Aug. 8, 2025
Hands-on Training:
Location: Sunburst Hands-on Training Campus - Gallup
PV System Assembly and Site Preparation
Aug. 11-15, 2025
PV System Installations
Aug. 18-22, 2025
Course Description:
PV 101: Solar Photovoltaic Systems: Design & Installation (Grid Direct)
Starts with the fundamentals providing a solid understanding of various components, system architectures, and applications for Photovoltaic (PV) systems. Topics covered include site analysis, system sizing, array configuration, and performance estimation, electrical design characteristics such as wiring, overcurrent protection, and grounding; a detailed examination of module and inverter specifications and features; mounting methods for various roof structures and ground mounts; and an introduction to safely and effectively commissioning grid-direct PV systems. While focusing on grid-direct PV systems, the material covered is critical for understanding all types of PV systems. These core concepts will be expanded upon in upper-level PV courses.
PV 203: Photovoltaic System Fundamentals (Battery-Based)
Since their inception, energy storage has been integral to many PV systems, and the market is now experiencing unprecedented growth. In PV 203, we focus on the fundamentals of battery-based PV systems. Various applications and configurations are explored, with their complexity significantly exceeding that of grid-direct PV systems. Detailed coverage includes components such as batteries, charge controllers, and battery-based inverters, along with safety and maintenance considerations unique to battery-based systems.
Load analysis is critical to system design and will be addressed along with other design criteria, such as battery bank configuration and the electrical integration of the system.
Required Learning Materials:
- Text books and course packets (distributed at the start of the course).
- A laptop, and if student does not own a laptop, then computer lab will be accessible.
- Calulator and notebook.
- Lab safety gear (as specified during lab orientation).
- A Solar Technician Tool Kit will be provided.
Registration Form:
To register for Community Education courses, please submit a completed Community Education Registration Form.
In partnership with Purpose Focused Alternative Learning.
