Best institutions to study Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair solar energy systems.
5 U.S. institutions graduated 41 Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 47.0703, a specialization of Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.07), and leads most directly to the Solar Photovoltaic Installers occupation (BLS SOC 47-2231).
About Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair solar energy systems. Includes instruction in installing, maintaining and testing various types of equipment.
See also: 15.1703 - Solar Energy Technology/Technician.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician program prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills necessary for assembling, installing, operating, maintaining, and repairing solar energy systems. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in renewable energy and sustainability, focusing on solar technologies.
Students will gain core skills in critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics, alongside knowledge in building and construction, engineering, and safety protocols. Coursework includes hands-on training in installing photovoltaic systems and understanding electrical installations.
Credentials awarded
What Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year40 graduates / yr · 4 institutions98%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
Graduates over time
Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 41 |
CIP 47.0703 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 5 institutions for Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 48% | — |
| 2 | Centura College - Norfolk Norfolk, VAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 73% | $28,550 |
| 3 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 24% | — |
| 4 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WIPublicAssociate's | 1 | 51% | — |
| 5 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 34% | — |
Offered in 3 states
Where Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 2 | 32 | Mountain Empire Community College23 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 7 | El Paso Community College7 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 2 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2231, Solar Photovoltaic Installers, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Solar Photovoltaic Installers, with a job outlook projected to grow by 42.1%, resulting in approximately 4,100 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $51,860, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 47.0703
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Solar Photovoltaic Installersprimary SOC 47-2231 | $53,140 | +42.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC 49-1011 | $79,860 | +3.1% About as fast as average | ~52,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other SOC 49-9099 | $49,230 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~21,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Install photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
- Check electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
- Identify electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
- Identify installation locations with proper orientation, area, solar access, or structural integrity for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- Assemble solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
- Apply weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
Tools and technology used
Other Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.07).
- Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/CIP 47.0701
Technician partial data63 graduates / yr8 institutions - Wind Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/CIP 47.0704
Technician partial data61 graduates / yr3 institutions - Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/CIP 47.0799
Technicians limited data26 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Hydroelectric Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/
Technician47.0705 - Geothermal Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/
Technician47.0706
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year or an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 5 colleges offering this program across the United States.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and mathematics.
What is the job outlook for solar energy technicians?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 42.1%.
What is the CIP code for Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician?+
Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician is CIP 47.0703 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.07). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to assemble, install, operate, maintain, and repair solar energy systems. Includes instruction in installing, maintaining and testing various types of equipment.
How many institutions offer Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician programs?+
5 U.S. institutions reported Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 41 credentials in the year. That is 21.5% of all Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Solar Photovoltaic Installers occupation, which Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $53,140 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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