Renewable Power Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of solar energy installation services for residential, commercial, non-profit and governmental buildings, announced today that it has been awarded the first exclusively solar apprenticeship program by the State of California. The company has partnered with the San Jose Metropolitan Education District's Central County Occupational Center to organize the in-classroom portion of the program.
"As the renewable energy industry, and solar panel installations in particular, are poised for explosive growth in the years ahead, we felt it was necessary to address standards of workforce qualification and ultimately the quality of solar installations. These standards will provide the industry with the necessary and systematic training for a successful future of the solar workforce."
The State of California apprenticeship program allows for learning while earning, combining training on the job with related and supplemental instruction at school. The new program developed by Renewable Power Solutions provides accredited training to individuals seeking a career in the photovoltaic industry. The curriculum includes on-the-job learning, classroom teaching and homework. The program requires the successful completion of 4,000 hours to achieve photovoltaic journeyman status and will typically take up to two years to complete.
Glen Forman, acting chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, added, "DAS offers an earn-while-you-learn model for talent development. It is an age-old solution to workforce training that fits for today's innovative businesses. Partnering with business, DAS creates standards to establish uniform skill sets for positions within an industry, helping to strengthen California's workforce."
According to John Fox, director of CCOC, "The Central County Occupational Center, a unit of the Metropolitan Education District, is looking forward to partnering with Renewable Power Solutions to serve as the Local Education Agency for the solar apprenticeship program."
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