3 Certifications That Pay Off in the Solar Industry
May 17, 2026
Article by Catherine Lane
One of the best parts of solar is its accessibility - both as a technology that brings affordable energy across the globe, and as a viable career path. Unlike other industries, many solar trade positions don’t have a strict set of certification or degree requirements for you to enter the workforce. If regulations do exist, they can vary between states, or even between towns.
Just because they aren’t required, it doesn’t mean that holding a certain set of credentials won’t help you get your foot in the door. But, it can be hard to discern which programs are actually worth pursuing, especially when some of them require sizable investments of your time and money.
In April 2026, Solar for Women spoke with three industry veterans about what certifications, licensures, and trainings they found provided the best return on investment.
Amanda Bybee, CEO at Amicus O&M Cooperative
Brit Heller, Director of Program Management at Heatspring
Jenny Conrardy, Journeyman Electrician; Lead Instructor at Heatspring
Each of these women brought a unique perspective shaped by their own experiences in the solar field, and clued us in on what credentials are worth investing in.
Watch the full Smart Investments: Certifications and Licenses That Pay Off webinar at the links in the buttons below:
Not all credentials are created equal
One of the most difficult things to navigate is understanding the difference between different solar credential offerings. Once you know what they all are, you can determine which one is the most beneficial in building your career.
Amanda Bybee broke down the possible solar career development options into three categories:
Training Programs: Trainings are online or in-person courses that provide solar specific training, designed to get the information to you quickly and efficiently. Typically, these result in a certificate of completion and sometimes require an assessment (but not always!). Training provides you with extra knowledge but doesn't technically “certify” or “qualify” you for any specific function. They can still be incredibly useful, helping provide additional context and broadening your knowledge base.
Popular Training Resources: Solar Energy International (SEI), HeatspringApprenticeships: Apprenticeships are structured workforce programs that combine classes and on-site training with a professional, and are often backed by state or federal regulations and result in a license to do work within a specific trade. The most relevant apprenticeship for the solar industry is for electrical licensure, which can take four to five years to complete. That’s a significant investment, but the field work is paid, allowing you to learn the foundational skills for your career while making an income.
Learn More about Apprenticeships:Apprenticeships in Clean Energy from IREC
Certifications: You can think of certifications as the proof that you know a certain set of information. The certifications are typically earned through rigorous assessments and backed by third parties. Often, trainings aren’t required to get certified, you just need to pass the assessment, but the courses can be vital in helping you learn the information to earn that certification.
Popular Solar Certifications: NABCEP, OSHA
Often, the magic happens when you have a combination of all three, but which are the most worthwhile?
3 solar certifications and licensures with the best return on investment
1. Electrical Licensure
Electrical licensure was on everyone’s lists as a license worth pursuing to get into the solar field. Many states, though not all, do require an electrical license to perform certain types of PV work, and those requirements may expand as the industry matures and inches closer to standardization.
Not only does an electrical license set you apart when applying for solar jobs, it can give you a leg up after you’re hired, opening up opportunities and promotions you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Another significant benefit of seeking out electrical licensure is that it isn’t solar-specific, giving you flexibility down the line if you need or want to make a career change.
While becoming a journeyperson provides some of the best returns on investment, it is just that – an investment. There are a few different approaches to obtaining a license, whether it’s through union or non-union paths, a trade school, or college program. Regardless of the method, it can take four to five years to reach journeyperson status, and it requires finding an apprenticeship opportunity.
Even though there is a growing demand for electricians in the the United States, apprenticeships can be difficult to find. Not only because there are limitations on the ratio of licensed professionals to apprentices on site, but also because you need to find the right one.
“It took me a couple of tries to get to a journeyman that was a good fit for me, that was helpful and compatible, and had the patience to work with me, and make me feel comfortable,” said Jenny Conrardy on her experience with the trial and error of finding a mentor. “It was a rocky road to arrive at that point, but once I got there I was so thankful, and it really helped me fly.”
2. NABCEP Certifications
Certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals, or NABCEP, are another excellent option when pursuing a solar career, especially when paired with an electrical license. As the top certification body for the U.S. solar industry, NABCEP credentials prove your PV knowledge, making you a serious candidate in the job market. Getting NABCEP accreditation can cost anywhere from $125 to $500, depending on the certificate.
There are different tiers of certifications from NABCEP.
The entry level certification from NABCEP that newcomers often pursue is the PV Associates (PVA) Credential. Another more recent addition is the O&M Associate Technician Credential. Both of these require industry experience or completion of an approved training preparation course before taking the exam. These are excellent stepping stones for those just entering the industry.
Then, there are Board Certifications, which have rigorous prerequisite training and certifications requirements and more comprehensive exams. The gold standard here is the PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification, which encompasses almost everything you might do as an installer.
3. Solar Trainings
While solar training doesn't provide the same “official seal of approval” that certifications do, they can be incredibly useful when getting started in the solar industry. They can be used to help prepare for NABCEP certifications, or even just serve as a way to understand if solar is the right path for you.
Some solar trainings are available online from platforms like Heatspring, which offers a wide variety of free and paid trainings. These can range from one to two hour video courses or practice tests to 30+ hour courses to prepare and qualify you for NABCEP certifications.
Solar Energy International (SEI), also offers online courses and several in-person classes at its solar laboratory in Paonia, Colorado. The on-site trainings serve not only as knowledge building opportunities, but networking ones as well. Networking is essential to getting into solar, or even just as a way to learn more about if it’s the right path for you.
4. Safety and Specialized Credentials
Many people forget the importance of supplementary credentials for the solar industry that can help you stand out and bring a specific skill set to a company. OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certifications can highlight your readiness to work on a job site safely, improving hiring managers confidence in you as a candidate.
Drone pilot certification is another incredibly useful tool in your arsenal. It’s especially useful for operations & maintenance jobs, as they often need skilled drone pilots for aerial surveys and thermal imaging. Building Performance Certification or LEED Green Associate Certifications lean more towards the energy efficiency side of things, providing you a unique knowledge base.
According to our webinar attendees, the most sought after credentials were project management related. Though not strictly for solar, project and construction management certifications, like PMP or CCM, can establish you as an organized and efficient leader.
The best return is doing something you love
Licenses, certifications, and courses aren’t always required to work in solar, but they can certainly help. But, pursuing them does require an investment of both time and money. When it comes to the return on that investment, electrical licensure and NABCEP certifications can often lead to higher salaries and greater career opportunities, while training programs and supplemental courses help build a stronger technical foundation and expand your skill set.
More importantly, though, you can’t overstate the value of investing in yourself and pursuing work you’re passionate about. Employers sometimes offer professional development funds to help you with courses as well. The solar industry offers a unique opportunity to do hands-on, meaningful work that contributes to a cleaner future while building a rewarding and stable career.
Join us for the third and final webinar in the Spring 2026 series
Upcoming Webinar: Ace the Interview, Know Your Value, and Negotiate Like a Pro
Our spring webinar series is focused on Making Yourself Indispensable in a Tight Job Market. The third and final webinar in the series is focused on what you do once you have landed an interview and need to prepare and what to consider after you have a job or job offer and need to negotiate your salary. This webinar will feature three experts in the field to share their wisdom, and we hope you’ll join us.
