From 2019 through October 2025, the Solar Ready Vets Network helped service members and veterans understand and navigate solar career pathways. While the Network is no longer funded, its many resources remain available. The Solar Ready Vets Network offered resources for community colleges, other training institutions, and career services organizations to support veteran students and job seekers. Explore related resources below.
Free Online Course: Exploring Careers in the Solar Industry
Through eight engaging, and thought-provoking modules, the course “Exploring Careers in the Solar Industry” helps answer common questions about starting a career in solar, including a module exploring resources and considerations specifically for veterans and service members. Explore “day in the life” and featured employer videos, explore career navigation tools, and learn about developing a right-sized training plan to fit your career goals. This tool is made for job seekers at any stage of their careers, and may also be helpful for educators, career advisors, or workforce development professionals.
Mentorship Series Recordings
In 2024, three Solar Ready Vets Mentorship sessions featured military veterans with established solar careers. These mentors shared their solar career pathways and led discussions about leveraging transferable skills and building a solar network. Recordings of the Fall Session and Summer Session 1 and 2 are available, and similar sessions will be hosted in the future.
Summer 2024 Mentorship Series Recordings
Fall 2024 Mentorship Series Recording
FREE NABCEP Training Provider Registration available for Local Labor Unions
Solar Ready Vets partnered with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to offer free training provider registration for up to 100 local labor unions. NABCEP offers industry-recognized certifications and credentials for professionals in clean energy. NABCEP Registered Training Providers deliver training that meets the education requirements for individuals to qualify for NABCEP credentials and certifications. Registering your solar training courses with NABCEP will put your local union in front of job seekers looking to get into this fast-growing sector. In addition to listing on NABCEP’s training directory, unions registered with NABCEP can (still) be listed on IREC’s Green Workforce Connect platform.
In addition to attracting workers interested in clean energy careers, labor unions who have members that have earned NABCEP credentials are able to show contractors that their workforce is trained and certified by the industry’s most respected credentialing body. Supporting member’s training and certification to industry standards demonstrates to clean energy contractors that your local has the knowledge and skills relevant to their needs. Being recognized as a NABCEP Registered Training Provider can help attract new signatory contractors and provide a competitive advantage when pursuing project labor agreements.
To get started, contact Ursula Abrams, Operations Manager, at uabrams@nabcep.org.
For individuals interested in pursuing NABCEP Certification, please see the NABCEP course catalog. All solar credentials are eligible for GI Bill Benefits and many have accelerated Veteran Pathways available.
Webinar Recordings
Check out webinars from the Solar Ready Vets Network, including webinars from IREC, Hiring our Heroes, and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to learn more about solar career opportunities, transferable skills, strategies for recruiting, hiring and retaining military talent, and more.
- Strategies for Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining Military Talent: A Toolkit for Solar Industry Employers | August 6, 2024
- Exploring Careers in the Solar Industry 2024 | March 5, 2024
- Recruiting Military Talent through Solar Ready Vets Training Partnerships | February 20, 2024
- Exploring Careers in the Solar Industry 2023 | October 26, 2023
- Attracting Veteran Leadership with Hiring our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program | June 9, 2022
- Transferring your Skills into a Career in the Solar Industry 2022 | April 13, 2022
- Veteran Recruiting & Retention: Practical Strategies for a Veteran-Inclusive Workplace | November 9, 2021
- Solar Ready Vets: Cultivating the Next Generation of Solar Industry Leaders | May 25, 2021
- Transferring your Skills into a Career in the Solar Industry 2021 | April 13, 2021
GI Bill-Eligible Solar Training Programs
Solar industry training programs range from 40-hour certificates,to four+-year degrees and Apprenticeships. Finding the right training program depends on your interests and goals. For example, for entry-level solar installers, a course covering fundamentals of solar technology, safety, and some hands-on experience is recommended, with certifications and additional training available.
Training Provider Directory
Our National Solar Training Provider Directory lists community college solar training programs—many of which are eligible for GI Bill benefits—as well as SkillBridge opportunities and Registered Apprenticeships. Please reach out to our team to have your program listed.
NABCEP Certification
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a widely recognized certification organization for renewable energy professionals. A NABCEP credential helps employers to identify top talent—it indicates commitment to the profession, and demonstrates understanding of solar fundamentals. Spanning installation, design, technical sales and a range of other solar career pathways, NABCEP certifications help solar employees boost their earning potential and become well qualified for jobs that match their career goals.
GI Bill for Certifications
In 2020, the Solar Ready Vets team secured approvals from the Department of Veterans Affairs for costs associated with all NABCEP PV Credentials to be reimbursable through the GI Bill.
Veterans Pathways to Certification
Recognizing the valuable skills and experience gained through military service, the Solar Ready Vets Network worked with NABCEP to develop streamlined Veterans Pathways.
The most common NABCEP credential, the PV Associate (PVA), prepares individuals for a variety of career options in the solar and solar-plus-storage industries, and is often a first step toward more advanced and specialized board certifications.
Non-veteran candidates qualify to sit for the PVA exam through the standard Education or Experience Pathways. Veterans may submit their Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) code and justify at least six months of military experience relevant to the PVA Job Task Analysis.
Veterans Pathways are available for:
- PV Associate
- PV Installation Professional
- PV Installer Specialist
- PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist
- PV Technical Sales
As of 2022, over 100 veterans had earned a NABCEP certification through the veterans pathways. Learn more about these pathways and how veterans can apply for certification.