Solar and wind technician training in Minnesota

8 solar and wind programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

5 schools offer these solar and wind programs, and Minnesota has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

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

In Minnesota, all 8 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 8 programs here are solar installer course (5 programs), renewable energy certificate (2 programs) and solar PV design course (1 program).

See the 8 programs

How much does solar and wind technician training cost in Minnesota?

$2,823 to $4,553 is what most solar and wind programs in Minnesota cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 8 programs with a price. All of them: $2,218 to $4,962

In the typical program

Finished the program: 54%
Working 6 months later: 69%
Earned a year, estimated: about $39,400
Length: 30 to 38 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Minnesota may also offer solar and wind technician training. How these figures are made

Is there free solar and wind technician training in Minnesota?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program 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. Most solar and wind programs in Minnesota cost $2,823 to $4,553. Prices on this page run from $2,218 to $4,962.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 8 solar and wind programs in Minnesota approved for WIOA funding

8 programs

Solar PV design courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Solar Assessor
Century College
White Bear Lake
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Century College, White Bear LakeSolar PV design course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$39,400
Price if you pay yourself$2,646
Program website, Solar Assessor at Century College
More details about Solar Assessor at Century College
Finished
54%
Working at 6 months
69%
Earned in a quarter
$9,843
Length
30 weeks, 16 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
66
Earned a year, estimated
$39,400
Price if you pay yourself
$2,646
Program website, Solar Assessor at Century College
Solar installer courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Advanced Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems
Century College
White Bear Lake
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Century College, White Bear LakeSolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$39,400
Price if you pay yourself$4,962
Program website, Advanced Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems at Century College
More details about Advanced Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems at Century College
Finished
54%
Working at 6 months
69%
Earned in a quarter
$9,843
Length
60 weeks, 30 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
66
Earned a year, estimated
$39,400
Price if you pay yourself
$4,962
Program website, Advanced Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems at Century College
Solar installer courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Advanced Solar Thermal Energy Systems
Century College
White Bear Lake
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Century College, White Bear LakeSolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$39,400
Price if you pay yourself$4,962
Program website, Advanced Solar Thermal Energy Systems at Century College
More details about Advanced Solar Thermal Energy Systems at Century College
Finished
54%
Working at 6 months
69%
Earned in a quarter
$9,843
Length
60 weeks, 30 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
66
Earned a year, estimated
$39,400
Price if you pay yourself
$4,962
Program website, Advanced Solar Thermal Energy Systems at Century College
Solar installer courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Solar Photovoltaic Technician
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Jackson
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, JacksonSolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$50,000
Price if you pay yourself$4,417
Program website, Solar Photovoltaic Technician at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
More details about Solar Photovoltaic Technician at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
65%
Earned in a quarter
$12,510
Length
30 weeks, 25 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
21
Earned a year, estimated
$50,000
Price if you pay yourself
$4,417
Program website, Solar Photovoltaic Technician at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Solar installer courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Solar Photovoltaic Technician
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Canby
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, CanbySolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$50,000
Price if you pay yourself$4,417
Program website, Solar Photovoltaic Technician at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
More details about Solar Photovoltaic Technician at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
65%
Earned in a quarter
$12,510
Length
30 weeks, 25 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
21
Earned a year, estimated
$50,000
Price if you pay yourself
$4,417
Program website, Solar Photovoltaic Technician at Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Renewable energy certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Clean Energy Systems Technician
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Cloquet
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, CloquetRenewable energy certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$3,437
Program website, Clean Energy Systems Technician at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
More details about Clean Energy Systems Technician at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
30 weeks, 21 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
11
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$3,437
Program website, Clean Energy Systems Technician at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Renewable energy certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Renewable Energy
Minnesota State University Mankato
Mankato
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Minnesota State University Mankato, MankatoRenewable energy certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$2,218
Program website, Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University Mankato
More details about Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University Mankato
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
30 weeks, 9 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$2,218
Program website, Renewable Energy at Minnesota State University Mankato
Solar installer courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent
Solar Installer
Riverland Community College
Based in Austin, MN
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Riverland Community College, based in Austin, MNSolar installer course · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$2,882
Program website, Solar Installer at Riverland Community College
More details about Solar Installer at Riverland Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
30 weeks, 17 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$2,882
Program website, Solar Installer at Riverland Community College

How to pay for solar and wind technician training in Minnesota

WIOA funding can pay for solar and wind technician training in Minnesota

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for solar and wind technician training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for solar and wind technician training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Solar and wind technician training in Minnesota

programs with a price cost under $3,000: 3 of 8
solar and wind programs here, against the typical state's 3: 8 vs 3

State comparisons use the same figures as the solar and wind technician training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Solar and wind technician training in Minneapolis, Duluth, Mankato and other Minnesota cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns and 1 online.

Other training in Minnesota

How solar and wind technician training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Minnesota

Where the Minnesota solar and wind program numbers come from

Which Minnesota solar and wind programs are on this list?

These are the solar and wind programs Minnesota approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Minnesota offers.

How the prices and results of Minnesota solar and wind programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about solar and wind technician training in Minnesota

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services

Solar and wind technician training in Minnesota

How much does solar and wind technician training cost in Minnesota?

Is there free solar and wind technician training in Minnesota?

All 8 solar and wind programs in Minnesota approved for WIOA funding

Solar Assessor

Advanced Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems

Advanced Solar Thermal Energy Systems

Solar Photovoltaic Technician