MCCAE.org Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions, we have answers! Below you’ll find the answers to common Solar Photovoltaics and Solar Training questions.  If you can’t find the information you are looking for, please contact us and we will be happy to research your question and get back to you with an answer.

1. Entry-level Solar PV training will prepare me for what job titles?

- Students who complete our entry-level Solar PV training gain a comprehensive understanding of the basics of Solar PV system design and installation. Foremost among these basics the safety procedures and safety factors encountered in the field. We then focus on the various types of Solar PV hardware and equipment used, installation methods, system variations, system design and sizing criteria including space requirements, solar panel capabilities and sizes, Solar panel positioning and orientation requirements for maximum efficiencies, and “balance of system” hardware including wiring, fusing, grounding and safety switches.Possessing this knowledge will prepare you to enter most any entry-level job in the industry where you can receive additional supervised on-the-job (OJT) training. This includes assisting licensed electricians, and site evaluation designers, journeymen installers, or even performing administrative and sales roles to assist with “permits” and for ensuring you are selling the customer a system that will fit their needs.

2. Why is taking a Solar PV class that offers a certification important for me for entering the solar industry?

- Since Solar PV is still a young industry, there are relatively few solar installers, site foremen, sales persons, electricians and project managers working within the field. Due to this need, when you call a solar company looking for a job, the first question they will likely ask you is “Do you have experience in Solar PV?” If the answer to this question is “no”, you probably won’t even get a chance at an interview. But if you have completed entry-level training and earned either the ETA Entry Level Installer Certification, or the NABCEP Entry-Level Certificate of Knowledge, the prospective employer will know you possess in-depth understanding of Solar PV technology, Solar systems and Solar system component parts, as well as a deep understanding of Solar PV installation procedures and considerations. They will know this because both of these, respectively, are nationally acknowledged Solar Certification and Certificate programs. Possessing either of these will open doors for you that will provide opportunities for employment in the Solar PV field.

3. Assuming I have no prior Solar PV training or experience, what should my first step be to enter any of the renewable energy fields such as Solar PV, Wind, Geo Thermal?

- The first step for any person looking to enter the Solar PV field is to earn an ETA Entry-level Installer Certification or a NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge. Possessing either of these demonstrates that you have taken the initiative to complete specialized training in a given Renewable Energy field, and you did so BEFORE you even started work in that field. Prospective employers value this initiative which makes you more employable, and gives them the sense that you will be productive starting from day one. In fact, it makes perfect sense that a company is much more likely to hire a trained person with an entry-level certification or certificate of knowledge, even without field experience, before they hire a person with no training, certification or certificate. The ETA Entry-Level Installer Certification and the NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge are both nationally recognized proof of possessing specialized Solar PV knowledge.

4. What can you tell me about the growth in demand for Solar PV Installations

- In a recently published Newsweek Web Exclusive article, dated August 25, 2009, Matthew Phillips stated the following:“Despite the bad economy, or maybe because of it, the rooftop solar industry is booming as Americans become increasingly intrigued by the idea of turning their roofs into mini power plants and cutting their electric bills.”In 2008, thirty-three thousand, five hundred rooftop solar systems were installed in the United States; a 63% increase over the amount of capacity installed in 2007. In California, the solar capital of the country, the increase was 95%.

Additionally, a Pike Research article published in late September, 2009, indicated that even in our slow economy there was substantial growth in the number of Solar PV rooftop installations, and that this growth is expected to continue to grow at a faster rate as the economy improves. The article states:

“Distributed Solar PV growth has been spearheaded in recent years by markets such as Germany, Japan, Spain and the United States. [Distributed Solar Energy Generation] forecasts that the U.S. will become the largest market for small solar energy installations by 2011, surpassing Germany.“

Today, Federal and State legislation is in the works to establish Renewable Energy programs that will cover the next 15+ years into the future.

No pun intended, but the future of Solar PV is, indeed, very “bright”!

5. How secure will my future be in a Solar PV or other renewable energy job

- As so many of us well know, there are no guarantees of job security in any professional career. However, one thing we do already know, Solar PV and other renewable energy industries will continue to grow for a minimum of 20 years or more. Many federal and state “Green Energy” programs, grants, and federal income tax incentives are being implemented today with designs for lasting at least 7 years. Every state in the nation has already passed legislation defining mandatory minimum thresholds for generating renewable energy power by specific dates, and special financing is being offered to homeowners in many states that will match California’s AB811 passed in 2008 to assist homeowners with financing for installing Solar PV systems. In addition, many municipalities across the nation have already begun the process of implementing Solar PV financing programs for their city residents. Included are San Diego, Palm Desert, Berkeley, Solana Beach, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the list is quickly growing. None of this is a guarantee, but it’s close.

6. Will your Solar PV training teach me basic electricity, or can I learn Solar PV Installation basics even if I don’t know basic electricity?

- We won’t teach you all of basic electricity, but we will teach you the basic electricity concepts you need to know that relate to Solar PV Installation. You will leave our class understanding the knowledge and skills needed to properly install a Solar PV system, including proper design and layout of the system and the electrical calculations required to size a system for voltage, current and power requirements. So you don’t need to be an electrician or know basic electricity to successfully complete our course. We review the safety considerations and safety requirements for working with Solar PV systems, including safe grounding and wiring requirements. However, this is an Entry-Level course, and you MUST NOT attempt to install and wire a Solar PV system by yourself just from the knowledge and skills gained from this course. You will require supervision from a licensed and experienced electrician or licensed Solar installer that will provide you with valuable supervised experience as you grow in the industry.

7.  I am not a licensed electrician, and I don’t have a contractor’s license or engineer’s license. Will I be able to install my own Solar PV system after I complete your Solar PV Installer course?

- Absolutely Not! No entry-level Solar PV course from any provider removes or replaces any state licensing requirements, or provide you with sufficient training to install a Solar PV system without qualified supervision from a licensed electrician. Therefore, you cannot install a Solar PV system by yourself, after completing this course, unless you are a qualified licensed electrician/contractor. Entry-Level training and Entry-Level “Certificate” or “Certification” prepares you to begin working in the Solar PV industry under direct experienced and licensed supervision.

8.  I am interested more in the marketing and sales side of the Solar PV industry. Will your training help me in the areas of sales, consulting or other business professional role in the “Green Energy” industries?

- Most definitely Yes! When you complete this course and earn an ETA Installer Certification or NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge, you will understand what it takes to design and install a Solar PV System. Therefore, you will have a much better understanding of what to address in a Solar sales transaction. Most importantly, you will know how to satisfy a customer’s needs while also saving them unnecessary installation costs. When you complete our training you will know Solar PV. You will gain knowledge that will help you “Sell” the system at a much higher percentage than anyone who has not completed this specialized training and, therefore, does not understand the considerations for efficiency, design and installation. When you know and believe in your product, you will be much better in selling that product.

9. Will I receive hands-on training in your one-week Solar PV class?

- YES! As a philosophy, we believe that a person should be able to demonstrate the basic knowledge and skills they learned in our class, where the opportunity to demonstrate these skills is in our hands-on lab. In fact, it is an ETA requirement for earning their Entry-Level Installer Certification that you demonstrate to the instructor your understanding of the basics of installing a Solar PV System including electrical and ladder climbing safety concepts, locating and mounting hardware components and wiring of the system components. Completion of the hands-on session of the course is a requirement for the ETA Entry-Level Installer Certification.

10. Will I learn about the products of only one supplier or manufacturer in your training?

- No, we are not vendor specific. In our training you will learn about all types of Solar modules from various manufactures and suppliers. We play no favoritism to one product over another. You will learn about different types of systems, modules, inverters, racking systems, tools and equipment used in the residential Solar PV environment.

11. Do I need to wear special clothing or shoes to class, and do I need to bring anything additional for the training?

- For the first four days of classroom learning no, you will not need special clothing; casual or business casual is typical for most students. We recommend comfortable clothing that will allow you to be comfortable in a classroom for 8 hours, and also do bring a basic calculator.For the hands-on lab we ask you to wear closed-end toe shoes such as sneakers, (boots are not required). Do not wear open toed sandals or other “flip-flop” type shoes to the hands-on lab, and do not wear steel toe shoes or boots to the lab.

12. What does Photovoltaic (PV) mean?
- Photovoltaic means pertaining to the direct conversion of light into electricity.

13. What is a photovoltaic cell?

-A PV cell is the smallest semiconductor element contained within a PV module (or panel) to perform the immediate conversion of light into electrical energy. The PV Cell is also called a Solar Cell.

14. How do you define PV device or Module?

- This is a Solar Panel; the large rectangular panels you see mounted on rooftops or in ground arrays. These are the solid-state electrical semiconductor device that converts light into direct current electricity. Several modules wired together and placed on a roof or in a ground mounted system is called an “ARRAY”.

15. What is an inverter and what is it used for?

- The inverter is a device required in a Solar PV system for converting the direct current electricity from the Solar panel arrays into alternating current (A.C.) used inside the homes and businesses.

16. What does the term BOS mean in Solar PV?

- BOS stands for ‘Balance of System’. This term refers to the rest of the component parts of a Solar PV system separate from the solar modules. The remaining portion of the PV system; inverter, disconnects, wiring, conduit, etc. are not part of the panel array, so they are referred to as the ‘Balance of System’.