| e_content"> | | | | more students change their focus to this growing |
| Solar school classes are being offered in the growing | | | | occupational field. Whether it is architect, engineering, |
| solar technology field. As the increase for alternative | | | | installing or system research and design, there is |
| fuel sources is being pushed through government | | | | expected to be an insufficient number of alternative |
| programs, solar school curriculum prepare students to | | | | energy training programs as well as trained and |
| become certified in different areas of the field. The | | | | certified personnel. |
| North American Board of Certified Energy | | | | Existing building and construction companies have |
| Practitioners (NABCEP) is the certification body, which | | | | started to send personnel to solar school in an effort |
| offers exams in becoming Photovoltaic System | | | | to stay ahead of the game and gain the |
| Installer or Entry Level Knowledge certified. | | | | green building initiatives that are being |
| Solar school offers Associate of Applied Science | | | | undertaken across the United States and overseas. |
| Renewable Energy Specialization programs along with | | | | The governments do not want to wait for the next |
| Solar Thermal Power and Solar Photovoltaic courses. | | | | oil crisis to start initiatives in finding alternatives for |
| Some solar school classes may reside within other | | | | energy. |
| areas of universities, colleges and trade schools. | | | | Those that direct their efforts towards american |
| Undergraduate courses are offered in solar energy | | | | solar energy and getting the education, knowledge, |
| systems and design, while some solar energy | | | | certifications and hands-on experience in the |
| programs may reside in Mechanical engineering | | | | beginning efforts will be the most rewarded later on. |
| courses. Whatever the area of solar technology, with | | | | By getting in solar school and staying with the |
| it is anticipated that there will not be enough trained | | | | ever-developing technology, job applicants will be |
| and certified personnel to fill job opportunities. | | | | highly sought after and highly indispensable. |
| While the economy has taken many job markets and | | | | Green collar jobs are expected to replace |
| wrecked havoc, the solar technology and emerging | | | | many of the lost blue collar jobs, and |
| green collar jobs and alternative energy | | | | government budgeting is very aggressive towards |
| training is growing faster than the economy. It is | | | | this reality. |
| expected that between 16 and 37 million workers will | | | | There are many sources to find more information |
| be in the alternative fuel jobs within the next two | | | | regarding alternative energy training, solar school |
| decades. This is part of the government’s | | | | classes, and many communities are offering smaller |
| programs in public schools where solar energy is | | | | workshops to offer natural building tips using |
| already being taught to school age children. | | | | renewable and sustainable energy sources. Existing |
| Unfortunately, the adult population is fairly | | | | construction is finding more clients demanding solar |
| unknowledgeable of this growing field. | | | | systems as tax credits, utility rebates and energy |
| Solar school funding includes scholarships, some of | | | | cost savings make them too good to pass up. Those |
| them 100%, yet this money has not been fully | | | | that are trained and certified in designing, engineering, |
| tapped and solar school classes are not completely | | | | installing and wiring them will have the upper |
| full. Solar technology is expected to have 5 million | | | | advantage on these types of jobs. |
| jobs by 2012, but many of them will go unfilled unless | | | | |