In September, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), announced the introduction of a newer and much more highly interactive Solar Career Map (SCM) tool. IREC is the national administrator of the Solar Instructor Training Network (SITN).


IREC convened a national working group of solar experts to help develop information for the SCM, which explores the expanding universe of solar-energy occupations, with the details of each job, charting possible progress throughout a career in this field, and identifying the best training opportunities available to provide advancement in the field.


“President Obama has called for the training of 75,000 solar workers by 2020,” said Sarah White, Ph.D., chair of the National Working Group on Solar Career Pathways, and the lead in terms of developing the SCM. “This map helps point us in the right direction to do so. It demonstrates that a robust domestic solar industry will rely on a tremendous variety of workers with a breathtaking range of skills.”


“The solar industry has evolved tremendously in recent years, and change is only speeding up,” said Joe Sarubbi, IREC’s project manager for the SITN. “The quality of this mapping tool has been one constant in driving attention to the need for quality training at every level. Today’s Solar Career Map is an exciting, updated, interactive tool.”


The SCM is designed for all people working in the solar industry—­manufacturing, system design, project development, and installation and operations. Specifically of interest to electrical contractors is the installation and operations segment, which includes detailed information on 13 specific solar-related careers, including solar installation contractor, solar project manager, electrician with solar expertise, solar photovoltaic (PV) technician (commercial/utility), solar service technician (residential), and solar PV installer.


A key feature of the updated SCM is a series of videos in which solar instructors and other professionals describe the individual jobs in detail, as well as the necessary education, skills and credentials that are required for each job.


To access information on the SCM, go to www.irecsolarcareermap.org.