In this 2-part series, we’ve tried to succintly pack in everything a potential student should know when choosing a solar school. It’s an important decision and we want you to be informed–not sold. After all, this is your first step in launching a career in solar. Read on for parts 4 through 6 (click here to read parts 1-3) and feel free to share any comments or experiences!
4. Job Placement – do they have relationships with local companies or will they help you get a solar job?
All the education in the world is meaningless unless you can put it to work and earn some money. Many students often find themselves completing courses only to feel empowered with knowledge but, helpless to find employment. Unfortunately, there are schools out there that will take your money, dump a bunch of information on you, and then send you on your way with a pat on the back. While US Solar Institute cannot guarantee employment, we do everything we can to help guide graduates and get them placed. USSI has developed relationships with employers throughout the United States and Caribbean and our grads go straight to the front of the line. As a matter of fact, a large solar manufacturer in Florida currently has 150 positions to fill and wants graduates of USSI. The end goal of your education is to get a job in solar so make sure the school you attend arms with you with that ability.
5. Classroom Setting – what is the classroom to lab ratio? Is there any hands-on work?
It’s one thing to take an online course, but if you’re going to pay the extra money to be in a classroom setting, you want to get the best bang for your buck. How would you achieve this? Being in a classroom and listening to lecture while watching PowerPoint’s would probably not be the best way to learn about installing a solar system. While it is important to incorporate lecture into any course, when it comes to learning how to work with and install solar, one must actually get their hands dirty. At US Solar Institute, we live by this and by the second day of class, students are outside working on the same systems they have been reading about and discussing in class. Our lab to classroom ratio is about 50:50. So once again, this is another important question to ask when you are trying to decide on a solar training school. It will make all the difference when you’re working out in the field.
6. Relevance to Job Market – is the course’s content relevant to the real solar job market?
Most would assume that the curriculum they are studying is relevant and current, but there is a chance that this may not be the case. The age of the textbook, the instructor’s knowledge, and the actual development and research put into the curriculum are all factors that should be relevant to the current solar job market. Solar is a rapidly evolving field therefore, it is essential that what you are working on in class be just as current and relevant, so what you learn can actually transfer to the solar job market while working in the field. Of course, it is also important that all solar professionals keep their knowledge current by regularly pursuing continuing education.
Overall, choosing a solar school is the first step to launching a career in solar. After investing in your solar education, you want to ensure that there’s a job waiting for you at the end. So, choosing the right school is an important decision that requires your research. The next time you’re shopping around for solar training schools, keep these important tips in mind—they’ll help make your future in solar a little sunnier.