Which schools offer WIOA-approved solar and wind technician training?

91 schools offer these programs, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Pick a state on the map or compare them belowCompare the states below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

What does a solar or wind technician do, and how do you become one?

Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, set up and maintain rooftop and other systems that turn sunlight into energy. They typically need a high school diploma, some take courses at a technical school or community college, and most learn on the job for up to a year.¹

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Approved programsup to 12 to 34 to 6more than 6

How much does solar and wind technician training cost?

Most solar and wind programs approved for WIOA funding cost $1,995 to $9,450 if you pay yourself. Certificates and short courses mostly cost $1,861 to $8,660 and two-year degrees $8,964 to $12,091. Prices also differ by state: most cost $991 to $2,605 in California and $11,840 to $12,342 in Iowa.

That is the price of the whole program as the school reports it. If you qualify, WIOA funding can pay part or all of it, depending on local limits (who qualifies). The figures cover only programs approved for WIOA funding; other schools and programs may cost more or less.

Compare solar and wind technician training by state: cost, pay and results

Solar and wind technician training by state
State	Programs	Most cost	Earned a year, estimated	Working 6 months later	Finished
California	13	$991 to $2,605	Not enough data	65%	75%
Colorado	30	$1,074 to $4,600	Not enough data	Not enough data	82%
Georgia	2	Not enough data	Left out	Not enough data	Not enough data
Illinois	6	Left out	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Indiana	3	Too few figures to show
Iowa	5	$11,840 to $12,342	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Louisiana	1	Too few figures to show
Maine	1	Too few figures to show
Maryland	2	Too few figures to show
Michigan	3	Too few figures to show
Minnesota	8	$2,823 to $4,553	about $39,400	69%	54%
Mississippi	1	Too few figures to show
Missouri	4	Too few figures to show
Montana	1	Too few figures to show
Nebraska	2	Too few figures to show
Nevada	7	$1,302 to $2,795	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
New Mexico	3	Too few figures to show
New York	3	Too few figures to show
North Carolina	4	Too few figures to show
North Dakota	2	Too few figures to show
Ohio	3	Too few figures to show
Oklahoma	2	Not enough data	Not enough data	Left out	Not enough data
Oregon	1	Too few figures to show
Puerto Rico	1	Not enough data	Not enough data	Left out	Left out
South Carolina	1	Too few figures to show
South Dakota	1	Too few figures to show
Texas	19	$4,605 to $11,200	about $33,400	75%	48%
US Virgin Islands	1	Too few figures to show
Utah	1	Too few figures to show
Virginia	6	$4,542 to $7,985	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Washington	7	Too few figures to show
Wisconsin	6	$2,424 to $9,924	about $45,800	75%	82%

Each figure is the middle program in that state. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools may offer solar and wind technician training too. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).How these figures are made

Solar installer course, wind turbine training or renewable energy degree? What the 150 programs are

By kind, the 150 programs approved for WIOA funding are solar installer course (62 programs), wind turbine technician training (39 programs), renewable energy certificate (25 programs), solar PV design course (13 programs), and 11 more of one other kind.

Across the US, 76 of the 150 programs take students without a high school diploma, 62 ask for a diploma or equivalent, 11 ask for earlier courses first and 1 asks for an associate degree.

Is there free solar and wind technician training in the US?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by state: most solar and wind programs cost $991 to $2,605 in California and $11,840 to $12,342 in Iowa. Each state's page lists every program with its price.

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Other training by state

Approved programs per field across every state. Each opens that field's comparison by state.

Where the solar and wind program numbers by state come from

Which solar and wind programs are counted?

Programs each state approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁶ Schools that never applied for approval are missing.

What the figures for each state mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the facts about solar and wind technician training

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Solar and wind technician training by state