Along with their primary duty of installing and maintaining solar panels, solar technicians also play a very critical role in the industry – which is to help regular individuals enjoy the power of solar panels.
In their quest to become professional solar technicians in the state, interested individuals often find the journey much more straightforward when they already have a clear picture of what to expect.
To that end, we have provided an in-depth guide below, containing everything an aspiring solar technician in Georgia will have to know to make their journey pleasant.
We start with the essential requirements before moving on to possible training destinations, licensing and certification requirements, top state programs, and the salary outlook.
How to Become a Solar Technician in Georgia
Generally, the path to becoming a solar technician in Georgia involves having a high school diploma or GED and then acquiring actual solar technology training. However, seeing as there are no advanced educational requirements, candidates may obtain training on the job by working as assistants to actual solar technicians.
This way, they will receive all their training in actual job sites. However, those who want to give themselves even better leverage may consider enrolling in organized training programs such as academic programs and apprenticeships.
Academic Solar Technology Training
Community colleges and vocational schools can offer academic training for future solar technicians. These institutions have different arrangements which may lead to a diploma, certificate, or associate degree.
To gain admission into a training program of your choice, you will need a high school diploma or GED certificate. During your stay, you’re most likely to receive extensive training in introduction to solar technology, electric wiring and circuits, reading schematics, and more.
Candidates are also expected to develop strong communication and interpersonal skills if needed.
Solar Technician Apprenticeship
Solar technician apprenticeships are commonly offered by trade unions, organizations, and government initiatives seeking to produce new batches of solar technicians in a specific area.
An important distinction between academic and apprenticeship programs is that the formal focus is heavily on classroom instructions with little hands-on training. In contrast, the latter focuses on hands-on training with some classroom instructions.
Certification
Lastly, after completing their actual solar technology training, aspiring solar technicians in Georgia may also seek professional credentials to give themselves more leverage in the employment market. We dive deeper into this subject below.
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Licensure and Certification Requirements
The state body responsible for licensing construction trade workers in Georgia is the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board. However, aspiring solar technicians will be glad to know that the board currently has no state licensing requirements for solar technicians.
This means that all a solar technician has to do in the state is acquire training and start looking for employment. Of course, certification is always an excellent and valuable alternative to consider.
Solar technicians in Georgia may consider acquiring NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification, which assesses a solar practitioner’s knowledge and gives them what is referred to as the gold standard for photovoltaics certifications.
Learn about solar technician licensing and certification in neighboring states:
Top Solar Technician Schools in Georgia
Below are some of the top solar technician schools in Georgia.
Savannah Technical College
Candidates looking for a top-quality solar technician school in Georgia may consider the program offered by Savannah Technical College. This program is undoubtedly one of the most robust in the state, and the school even boasts of being a certified testing agency for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.
Albany Technical College
Albany Technical College is another institution in Georgia offering high-quality photovoltaic systems installation and repair training. Topics in this program include electrical prints and schematics, photovoltaic systems, and direct and alternating current analysis.
Notable Mentions
Other notable mentions of high-quality solar technology training in Georgia include the programs offered by South Georgia Technical College, Lanier Technical College, West Georgia Technical College, and Imagine Solar.
All these destinations offer robust training that ensures that candidates are ready to secure employment immediately after graduation.
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Salary & Career Outlook
In Georgia, a solar technician is likely to earn an annual average salary of $55,823 if they fall into the midpoint of certain optimizable factors such as experience, location, and establishment type.
If they fall into the higher end of these conditions, they will earn an annual average salary close to $78,950. If they fall into the lower part, they may make an average yearly salary of around $39,471 – which is moderate for solar technicians in the bottom 10% in the state.
Solar technicians in Georgia can also earn non-cash benefits and additional income, such as compensation for working overtime, among other sources.
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