Job Training Programs

Job trainees must come from a Qualified Job Training Programs: The current Qualified Job Training Programs are listed below in the directory.

*Please note that Equity Eligible Persons are designations only for the Illinois Shines Program. See the Energy Workforce Equity Portal for additional information.

See below for a list of the job training programs currently available. Each program has its own rules and specialties.

Interested in joining a job training program? Check the directory below for more information. Visit the program’s website and contact their staff member listed below to learn more.

Job Training Requirements for Approved Vendors

Approved Vendors must meet job training requirements for their projects. These requirements are called Portfolio Requirements. Both sets of requirements are described below. Approved Vendors should consult the Approved Vendor Manual for more information.

  • Portfolio Requirements: All Approved Vendors must have job trainees perform a certain percentage of the work on their projects. This is measured across an Approved Vendor’s entire portfolio of projects each program year. The required amount of job trainee work hours increases each year for the Approved Vendor’s first three program years.
  • Percentage of Annual Projects Requirements: Annually at least 33% of an Approved Vendor’s projects in each sub-program must include at least one job trainee. For example, if an Approved Vendor has nine residential solar (small) installations in a program year, at least three of their installations must have employed a job trainee.

Directory of Qualified Job Training Programs and Other Qualifying Programs

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    548 Foundation (Other Qualifying Program)

    The 548 Foundation offers a variety of comprehensive clean energy training in Solar and EV installations. Our programs include pre-apprenticeship training and are both theory and practical and include solar bootcamp. These programs are provided in person at our training center in Chicago. Graduates of the programs earn an NCCER, OSHA, Life Skills, CPR certification and can sit for their NABCEP associate level exam. Please contact us for more information.

    Contact Information:

    Kynnee Golder
    kwallace@548foundation.org
    443-829-6967
    https://www.548enterprise.com/foundation

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Building Equity In Solar Training Program by Reactivate

    The Building Equity in Solar Training™ (B.E.S.T.) program by Reactivate is a sixteen-week hands-on solar workforce training program open to all individuals, including those from historically disinvested communities, veterans, returning citizens and high school graduates. The program standardizes the skills and provides certifications needed for a successful career including comprehensive training in solar energy system assessment, design, and installation, general building trades, OSHA 30 certification, powered industrial vehicle certifications (forklift, scissor lift, skidsteer), First Aid/CPR certification, as well as essential skills development in leadership, teamwork, financial literacy, and workplace etiquette. Trainees qualify for, receive preparation, and sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Certification during the program.

    Contact Information
    Kharma Paige
    best@reactivate.com
    708-831-0226

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    HeatSpring - 58 Hour Advanced PV Certification Training Series

    This is a bundle of two courses taught by expert solar PV instructor Sean White. This training can fulfill the 58 hours of advanced training required to sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification exam (as long as you pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam). It is comprised of two courses: Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep, and 40 Hour Advanced Solar PV Installer Training.

    On-Demand/Online offering

    Contact:
    Brittany Heller
    brit@heatspring.com or info@heatspring.com
    800-393-2044 x 2

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Kankakee Community College

    Kankakee Community College (KCC) has an IREC accredited solar training program as a part of its Electrical Engineering Technology department. KCC EET students all take the same core courses and then branch out into four areas of interest, Industrial Electrical, Instrumentation, Industrial Maintenance and Renewables. KCC students can earn either a two-year AAS in Electrical Engineering Technology/Renewable Energy or a one-year certificate in Solar-Photovoltaic Technology. Students who participate in the solar training program take for classes for the specialty, Survey of Renewable Energy and Sustainability, Introduction to Solar – Photovoltaics, Advanced PV Design and Installation and Solar Operations and Maintenance. At the conclusion of the Introduction to Solar – Photovoltaics, students qualify to sit for the NABCEP Associate Level Exam.

    Contact information:

    Clay Sterling
    815-802-8853
    csterling@kcc.edu

     

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Lewis and Clark Community College Solar Training

    Lewis and Clark Community College offers solar training at its Scott Bibb Center in downtown Alton. Students complete two courses in four weeks: SOLR120 – Solar Design and Installation and SOLR121 – Grid Tied Solar Design. The last week of the training program is hands-on. Students install mock arrays on a residential roof model and a commercial roof model. Upon successful completion of the training courses, students register for and take the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. The program is taught as a unit of instruction for the Youthbuild program, but it is open to any student who wishes to take the training. The courses are offered as vocational credit.

     

    Contact:
    Nate Keener
    Director of Sustainability and Grants Management
    nkeener@lc.edu
    618-468-2782

     

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

    Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) offers a 16 week job readiness program to prepare solar installers. Program includes various student support services such as stipends, books, transportation. Student earn numerous credentials including OHSA 10, NCCER, NABCEP.

    Contact information:

    solar@lvejo.org
    773-762-6991

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice and Training Program

    The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council represents over 50,000 working men and women in Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri. Our skilled Carpenters start as a 1st year apprentice, then after four years of school and on-the-job training, graduate to Journey person status. The Apprentice earn-while-they-learn working for a Union Contractor and being paid Apprentice wages. Continuing education in skill advancement classes are available at no cost to sustain their high-level skill sets. Safety, productivity, and quality assurance is our priority in all of our classes creating an educated, qualified Carpenter to pursue career pathway opportunities.

    Contact information:

    Craig Triplett
    ctriplett@mactc.org
    847-640-7373

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Midwest Renewable Energy Association

    MREA courses are accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and meet the educational requirements for credentialing by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Courses can be delivered online or in person and can be customized for groups. MREA courses can fulfill the advanced training requirements for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification exam as well as the following NABCEP certifications: PV Technical Sales Professional, PV Design Specialist, PV Installer Specialist, PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist.

    Contact:

    Greta Ladenthin
    715-900-2462
    gretal@midwestrenew.org

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Millennium Solar Electric Training Academy

    Millennium Solar Electric Training Academy (MSETA) offers a wide range career path. MSETA is a NCCER accredited training program that offers 300 hours of Solar Electric training. Participants start off with introductory to Craft Skills, Osh 30, Introduction to Solar PV, Site Assessment, System Design, System Installation and Inspection, and Maintenance and Troubleshooting. After successfully complete these modules, participants qualify to take the NABCEP Associate Exam.

    Contact:

    Christopher Williams
    708-545-8115
    millenniumsolarelectric@gmail.com

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Safer Foundation (DOE funded)

    Since 1972, Safer Foundation’s mission is to support the efforts of people facing barriers to employment, including those with arrest and conviction records, through a full spectrum of services and advocacy. Aiding these individuals assists them in their efforts to become productive members of the community. Safer Foundation recruits and screens returning citizens for grantee programs and provides soft skills and introduction to solar training.

    Contact:
    Lisa Brackett
    lisa.brackett@saferfoundation.org
    773-533-3093

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  • Other Qualifying Programs

    Sustainable Option for Urban Living's - Green Construction and Energy Workforce

    SOUL'S Green Construction and Energy Workforce offers group and 1-1 coaching, incorporating SEL to develop executive function skills and support workers with both technical and soft skill training.

    Our hybrid instructional format includes online content, virtual simulations, in-person hands-on exercises, and OSHA 10. Participants can gain national industry certifications in Low Slope and/or Pitched Slope Roofing Installer, Certified Roof Inspector, Solar Installer, Solar Sales Professional, HVACR Professional-5, EV Charging Stations, and Heat Pumps.

    We also offer direct enrollment in two U.S. Department of Labor registered Apprenticeship programs: Electric/Solar and Residential Carpentry.

    Contact:

    Cyndi Stewart
    773-250-1770 ext 702
    Cyndi@soul-program.org

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