The NCCETC Training & Workforce Development team was pleased to welcome a full class of learners for last week’s Fundamentals of Solar PV Design and Installation course (FSPV).

A diverse group of participants ranging from solar business owners to NC State students spent five days with experienced solar professional David del Vecchio diving into solar design and installation best practices, system maintenance and troubleshooting.  

Their week together culminated with a day outside at our solar training yard where the class installed a fully integrated, grid-tied residential photovoltaic system.  

“Take the week and take the class”

NC State student, Ben Patton, said he was “blown away by the level of clarity I have gained in this class.”  

Patton is a senior at State, majoring in electrical engineering with a focus on renewable energy. He said the FSPV course made the connection for him to the real-world application of solar concepts, “the information is presented in a very cohesive way that has solidified my overall knowledge base and given me experience in installation practices I would otherwise only learn on the job. These classes are one of the best ways to learn about this industry.” 

Michael Dunn, the owner of Solar Clean, NC, a solar panel cleaning company based in RTP highlighted the value of the hands-on experience, “the in-person field day on Friday separates this course massively from on-line courses. My favorite part is having the human connection. You can’t ask an on-line course questions.”

His advice to those considering the course: “take the week and take the class. The information is super valuable.”

Certification and Upcoming Training Opportunities

Participants who complete the FSPV course are eligible to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners).  

If you’d like to jumpstart your solar career, FSPV will be offered again in the fall. Dates will be published in this newsletter as soon as they’re set.

If you’re already working in solar and want to take your knowledge to the next level, there’s still time to register for our upcoming advanced courses:

•  ASPV: Advanced Solar Design and Installation, April 7-11
• Operations & Maintenance of PV Systems, May 12-13
• Solar Storage, May 14-16

Share Your Thoughts

Have thoughts about how our training offerings can better meet your needs? Keep an eye on this space for your chance to submit your feedback through our upcoming training survey. If you’d like to get a sneak peek at the survey by serving as a survey tester, reach out to Gena Renfrow at earenfro@ncsu.edu.