Instructor Training
As part of a 5-year, federally funded initiative through the U.S. Department of Energy, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is working with partner organizations in seven Midwestern states to provide training to instructors involved in solar photovoltaic installer training programs.
The partnership, the Midwest Solar Training Network (MSTN), is working together to develop and offer a suite of trainings and resources for instructors and program administrators. For more information on this partnership, visit the partner page.
2012 Training Opportunities - Dates are yet TBD
These are open enrollment courses, however for MSTN Partnering Insitutions there may be stipend funding available. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.
PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute
Course Description: This five-day photovoltaic technology intensive institute is designed for instructors looking to gain experience with utility interactive and battery- based solar electric systems. Participants will advance through lecture, site assessment, hands- on installation, and design work that covers the MREA course content for PV 101, PV 201, PV 205, and PV 301.
Prerequisites: Participants must be affiliated with an active solar training program in the Midwest.
Price: Member: $1,180 Non-Member: $1,200
PV 702 Model PV Training Program Institute
Course Description: This four-day institute is designed for instructors with experience teaching photovoltaics in a lecture and hands-on environment. This course is designed to bring together leaders in PV training from across the Midwest to share best practices and sustainable program models. Participants will share and review curriculum, develop resources for use in their classrooms, work on training lab designs, form strategies to build partnerships, and identify approaches for getting onsite experience for their students.
Prerequisites: PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute or equivalent
Price: Member: $1,180 Non-Member: $1,200
PV 703 PV Curriculum Development
Course Description: This two-day training course is designed for instructors looking to design and build a photovoltaic (PV) curriculum. Participants will review curricula at other institutions throughout the Midwest, discuss best practices for curriculum development, progression of knowledge, and work with other participants to start the development of PV curriculum at their institutions using curriculum resources developed through the Midwest Solar Training Network.
Prerequisite: PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute
Price: Member: $580 Non-Member: $600
PV-ST 705 Solar Site Assessment Instruction
Course Description: This two-day training is designed for photovoltaic and solar thermal instructors interested in offering a site assessment training program at their institution which meets the requirements for the MREA Site Assessment Certificate. Participants will work as a large group to review teaching materials and resources related to site analysis, customer interview, site evaluation, system placement, shading analysis, financial analysis, and site assessment reports. Successful completion of this course, the submission and mentoring of two practice site assessments, and a passing grade on the MREA Site Assessment Exam will qualify instructors as an MREA Site Assessment Certificate Recognized Trainer. This recognition will allow instructors to offer the MREA Site Assessment Certificate as part of their training program.
Prerequisites: PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute or ST 701 Solar Thermal Technology Instructor Institute
Price: Member: $580 Non-Member: $600
PV 710 PV Training Lab Design
Course Description: This one-day course is designed for instructors looking to design and build training labs for use in their photovoltaic training program. Participants will review training lab designs found at institutions throughout the Midwest, discuss best practices for training lab design, construction, and use.
Prerequisites: PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute or equivalent
Price: Member: $280 Non-Member: $300
PV 711 PV Training Lab Design and Installation
Course Description: This three-day hands-on installation workshop is designed for instructors looking to design and build training labs for use in their solar training program. Participants will review training lab designs found at institutions throughout the Midwest, discuss best practices for training lab design, construction, and use, and work with the MREA to install a PV system on a mock training roof for use in a Midwest school’s solar training program.
Prerequisites: PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute or equivalent
Price: Member: $1,180 Non-Member: $1,200
PV 715 Advanced Topics in PV Training
Course Description: These Advanced Topics in PV Training courses are designed for instructors who want to develop advanced PV content that their educational institutions can offer to students. Topics will vary to meet requests and needs.
Prerequisites: PV 701 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute or equivalent
Price: Member: TBD Non-Member: TBD
For more information about this solar market transformation and training initiative, feel free to visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Website.