As climate change continues to be one of the world's most pressing issues, developing renewable and green energy is critical. According to a recent International Energy Agency report, renewable energy is expected to grow by 50% between 2019 and 2024, with solar power accounting for 60% of that growth.
Solar power is the most rapidly expanding source of new energy. Solar panels have been around for decades, but it wasn't until the mid-2000s that more affordable panels were developed, allowing this low-carbon, renewable energy from the sun to enter the mainstream.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the cost of installing solar has decreased by more than 70% since 2010. Not only have large corporations such as Walmart, Google, Starbucks, Target, and General Motors signed renewable energy contracts, but household adoption is also increasing.
With a median annual wage of $47,670 and a great job outlook through the next decade this is one of the easiest industries to get into. In fact, you don’t even need a degree to break into the industry. With just a High School Diploma (or GED equivalent) and a certificate from a short course, you are ready to start earning.
This article will also frequently refer to solar electric technicians as photovoltaic installers which is usually the official title of employment in the industry.
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Because of its abundance of sunlight, wind, and geothermal resources, New Mexico is an ideal location for renewable energy production and clean energy jobs. Taken as a whole, New Mexico has the most renewable energy potential of any state.
Indeed, New Mexico is ranked second in the country for potential solar-generated electric power production and tenth for potential wind production.
The New Mexico State Land Office has approximately nine million acres of land available for lease to renewable energy companies, and it has a proven track record of collaborating with companies to develop successful projects.
New Mexico is a great place to install solar panels because it has a lot of sunshine and great solar incentives - there's a reason the state flag has a sun on it!
New Mexico is also a great place for solar because of the many solar incentives and rebates.
Check out: Best Paying Trade Jobs in New Mexico (Salary Insight & Details)
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Solar Technicians or Solar Photovoltaic Installers' employment is expected to grow 52 percent between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Over the next decade, an average of 2,300 job openings for solar photovoltaic installers are expected. The continued growth and adoption of solar PV systems are expected to create jobs for installation and maintenance.
As the cost of PV panels and shingles continues to fall, more households are expected to benefit from these systems, increasing the demand for workers who install and maintain them.
Because homeowners no longer bear the upfront costs of installation, the growing popularity of solar leasing plans—in which homeowners lease rather than purchase systems—should generate additional demand.
If you are in a related field such as being an electrician or into construction, you have a great opportunity to switch to Solar or add it as additional capabilities. This will increase your earning potential.
Related: Can I use community college to help me change careers?
The median annual wage for solar photovoltaic installers was $47,670, as of May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half of the workers in a given occupation earned more and half earned less.
The lowest 10% earned less than $36,320, while the highest 10% earned more than $72,080.
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Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Source: salary.com
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Source: salary.com
While only a high school diploma is required to become a solar technician, furthering your education can vastly improve your job prospects and career trajectory. Consider getting a certification or a degree, for example.
There are post-secondary institutions that provide programs that will teach you some basic solar power skills, such as system design and safety principles. As part of your career planning, you can take advantage of various on-campus and online solar technician training courses.
If you opt for a community college for these courses you have the additional advantage of federal financial aid and easy payment plans.
Related: Do community colleges have payment plans?
Other options for training include on-the-job experiences, apprenticeships, and learning opportunities with manufacturers of solar photovoltaic solutions.
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There are several ways to become a solar technician. However, it is critical to understand that as electronics become more sophisticated and equipment becomes more complex, the level of expertise required rises.
Technicians must have more knowledge than in the past to obtain entry-level positions. The four most common steps for aspiring solar technicians can be found below.
Aspiring solar technicians should start taking shop classes and learning how to work with their hands at a young age. Because electronics are becoming an increasingly important component of solar installations, students should also take science, math, computer, and electronics courses.
Students must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and participate in extracurricular activities such as physical education classes, sports clubs and teams, and volunteer work, internships, or part-time jobs for solar or construction companies.
Prospective technicians who worked as high school students for solar companies may be able to continue their on-the-job training after graduation. Others may be able to find a company that will hire them without additional formal training.
The length of on-the-job training can range from one month to one year. The use of tools and job safety are frequently emphasized. Beginners seeking more formal training can attend community colleges or trade schools, which typically last one to two years. They may also study system design, depending on their goals and abilities.
People with relevant job experience, for example, as electricians or builders may choose to take online courses or specialized training offered by their professional organizations. Equipment vendors also provide product training. Completion times for any of these are usually only a few months.
Because solar technology is becoming more sophisticated, so are the regulations that govern it. Technicians with a background in solar technology, systems design, renewable energy, or alternative energy will be in high demand. If not a bachelor's degree, students can still obtain other solar certifications that can get them started in the industry.
We have recommended a few courses in the next section to help you jump start your career.
Related: Can You Get a Bachelor’s Degree at a Community College?
Licensing is distinct from certification. Most states require contractors (i.e., self-employed solar technicians) to be licensed, and each state and municipality has its own licensing requirements and fees. In some states, a separate and specialized solar permit is required.
According to the IREC Solar Licensing Database the following licensing requirements are in place for the state of New Mexico
We have shortlisted the following courses from accredited community colleges to help you get started in Solar Energy and then build your career moving forward.
The great thing about these certifications is that you can pace them according to your own time and financial constraints, even opting for night classes if you are challenged with time.
Related: Do community colleges have night classes?
For example, you can do the first beginner-level certification and immediately start a job. 6 months or a year down the road you can do the intermediate certification and finally when you are ready you can get the final NABCEP certification to become fully certified.
Course Description: Jump start your career in the solar energy industry.
Solar Electric Basics is an overview of the fundamentals of solar energy. This course is designed for people who are just starting out in the solar industry as well as those who want to learn about the fundamentals of solar energy, specifically photovoltaic principles.
There are numerous job opportunities where basic solar energy knowledge would be advantageous. Photovoltaic knowledge can be applied to: construction trades, engineering, electrical trades, firefighting, code enforcement, manufacturing, city planning, energy efficiency, energy production and distribution and real estate.
Course Fee: $248.75 Total Price (Excluding Tax)
Course Duration: 7 Hours per Week, 3 Estimated Weeks
This course is for aspiring:
After the course you can put the following work activities on your resume:
Related: How to get hired from a community college
Course Description: Solar (PV) & the National Electric Code is a thorough examination of the electrical requirements for photovoltaic system installations with and without battery systems.
The major sections of the National Electric Code (NEC) that apply to PV installations are covered in detail, including General Requirements, Wiring and Protection, Wiring Methods and Equipment Use, PV Equipment Special Conditions, and Utility Interconnection Special Conditions.
This course will benefit anyone involved in photovoltaics or interested in advancing a career in photovoltaics.
This course fulfills some NABCEP CEU requirements and serves as preparation for the NABCEP Photovoltaic System certification exam.
Course Fee: $648.75 Total Price (Excluding Tax)
Course Duration: 10 Hours per Week, 3 Estimated Weeks
This course is for aspiring:
After the course you can put the following work activities on your resume:
Course Description: This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of photovoltaic or solar energy systems. PV market analysis, the solar resource, electrical PV principles, solar module fundamentals, system components, system types, site assessment, system applications, energy production analysis, and best practice code compliant practices such as mounting, wiring, and interconnecting systems to utilities are all covered.
This course is open to anyone interested in learning more about the solar industry or anyone working in fields related to solar energy.
This course meets the prerequisites for taking the NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Exam. The exam is given by the CNMI's Industry Testing Center. The instructor will provide more information to participants who wish to take the exam. The exam fee is not included in the course fee.
Course Fee: $1,023.75 Total Price (Excluding Tax)
Course Duration: 10 Hours per Week, 6 Estimated Weeks
This course is for aspiring:
After the course you can put the following work activities on your resume:
Consider investing in the solar industry if you want to be a part of a booming industry that is poised for explosive growth. Solar energy technician jobs are among the fastest-growing in the United States, and with the recent IPCC report stating that the world must rapidly decarbonize in the next 12 years, you can be confident that solar technicians will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.
In this article, we talked about how to get into the solar energy business in New Mexico. We showed you that the easiest way was to get certified as a Photovoltaic Installer and then work your way up. We hope that this guide proves to be useful for you in order to make informed decisions in your future.
