Solar PV Installer

Field & Trades

Installs the rooftop and ground-mount solar panel systems behind the fastest-growing segment of the construction trades.

What is a Solar PV Installer?

A Solar PV Installer mounts and wires photovoltaic panel systems on roofs, ground mounts, and carports, connecting them into a building's electrical system. The role sits somewhere between roofing and electrical work: installers handle the physical racking and panel mounting themselves, but the electrical interconnection, especially anything past the panel's DC output, often has to be done or signed off by a licensed electrician depending on the state and the scope of work. Licensing for the trade itself is inconsistent nationwide, which is part of what makes it confusing to newcomers: some states have a dedicated solar contractor license, most simply fold solar work under existing electrical or general contractor licensing, and a national certification (NABCEP) has become the de facto credential installers use to prove their skills regardless of which state they're in.

What they do

• Install racking and mounting systems for rooftop or ground-mount solar arrays
• Mount and wire photovoltaic panels per the system design
• Connect PV systems to a building's electrical panel and the utility grid, working alongside or under a licensed electrician depending on state rules
• Test and commission completed systems to confirm they perform as designed
• Read solar system design drawings and site surveys to plan panel layout
• Perform maintenance and troubleshooting on existing solar installations

A typical day

• 6:30 AMReview the day's install plan and confirm panel and racking materials are staged
• 7:00 AMInstall racking and mounting hardware on a residential or commercial roof
• 10:30 AMMount and wire solar panels onto the completed racking
• 1:00 PMCoordinate with an electrician on the interconnection to the building's main electrical panel
• 3:00 PMTest and commission a completed system, checking output against the design specs

Skills

Software

Education

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent, then on-the-job training or a trade school solar program; licensing varies significantly by state. A minority of states, plus Puerto Rico, have a dedicated solar contractor license, most other states instead require installers to work under a licensed electrical or general contractor, and a smaller number have no state-level licensing requirement at all

Preferred:

NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) PV Installation Professional certification, a voluntary national credential that several states (including Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) require for a project to qualify for state solar incentive programs, that Utah requires as a prerequisite for its state solar contractor license, and that Rhode Island accepts as one of several qualifying credentials for its Renewable Energy Professional license

Not necessary:

A four-year college degree; this is a hands-on, certification-driven trade

Career progression

1. 1.Solar Installer (entry-level)
2. 2.Lead Installer or Crew Lead
3. 3.Solar Electrician (with electrical licensure) or Site Supervisor
4. 4.Solar Contractor or Renewable Energy Project Manager

Who hires for this role