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Solar and wind technician training in Wisconsin

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

4 schools offer these solar and wind programs, and Wisconsin has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did. One school runs 3 of these 6 programs, so the typical figures lean heavily on its prices and results.

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 Wisconsin, 2 of the 6 programs take students without a high school diploma, 3 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 6 programs here are wind turbine technician training (3 programs), renewable energy (associate degree, 1 program), renewable energy certificate (1 program) and solar installer course (1 program).

See the 6 programs

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

$2,424 to $9,924 is what most solar and wind programs in Wisconsin cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 6 programs with a price. All of them: $2,070 to $11,144

In the typical program

Finished the program
82%
Working 6 months later
75%
Earned a year, estimated
about $45,800
Length
30 to 56 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 Wisconsin may also offer solar and wind technician training. How these figures are made

Is there free solar and wind technician training in Wisconsin?

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

All 6 solar and wind programs in Wisconsin approved for WIOA funding

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6 programs

  • Renewable energy (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Renewable Energy Technician

    Mid-State Technical College

    Wisconsin Rapids

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Mid-State Technical College, Wisconsin RapidsRenewable energy (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$40,900
    Price if you pay yourself$11,144
    Program website, Renewable Energy Technician at Mid-State Technical College
    More details about Renewable Energy Technician at Mid-State Technical College
    Finished
    57%
    Working at 6 months
    83%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,213
    Length
    64 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,367
    Students counted
    36
    Earned a year, estimated
    $40,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,144
    Program website, Renewable Energy Technician at Mid-State Technical College

  • Wind turbine technician trainingIn personEducation and courses

    Wind Energy Technology

    Lakeshore Technical College

    Cleveland

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Lakeshore Technical College, ClevelandWind turbine technician training · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$47,100
    Price if you pay yourself$10,385
    Program website, Wind Energy Technology at Lakeshore Technical College
    More details about Wind Energy Technology at Lakeshore Technical College
    Finished
    55%
    Working at 6 months
    79%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,763
    Length
    60 weeks, 26 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,236
    Students counted
    24
    Earned a year, estimated
    $47,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $10,385
    Program website, Wind Energy Technology at Lakeshore Technical College

  • Wind turbine technician trainingIn personNo diploma needed

    Wind Tower Climber

    Lakeshore Technical College

    Cleveland

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Lakeshore Technical College, ClevelandWind turbine technician training · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$44,500
    Price if you pay yourself$2,070
    Program website, Wind Tower Climber at Lakeshore Technical College
    More details about Wind Tower Climber at Lakeshore Technical College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    81%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,137
    Length
    30 weeks, 5 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    22
    Earned a year, estimated
    $44,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,070
    Program website, Wind Tower Climber at Lakeshore Technical College

  • Renewable energy certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Renewable Energy

    Chippewa Valley Technical College

    Eau Claire

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau ClaireRenewable energy certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$48,000
    Price if you pay yourself$2,800
    Program website, Renewable Energy at Chippewa Valley Technical College
    More details about Renewable Energy at Chippewa Valley Technical College
    Finished
    73%
    Working at 6 months
    69%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,998
    Length
    16 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    14
    Earned a year, estimated
    $48,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,800
    Program website, Renewable Energy at Chippewa Valley Technical College

  • Wind turbine technician trainingIn personNo diploma needed

    Wind Technician

    Lakeshore Technical College

    Cleveland

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Lakeshore Technical College, ClevelandWind turbine technician training · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$59,400
    Price if you pay yourself$8,542
    Program website, Wind Technician at Lakeshore Technical College
    More details about Wind Technician at Lakeshore Technical College
    Finished
    91%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $14,850
    Length
    45 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,113
    Students counted
    11
    Earned a year, estimated
    $59,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,542
    Program website, Wind Technician at Lakeshore Technical College

  • Solar installer courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Solar Installation Technician

    Western Technical College

    La Crosse

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Western Technical College, La CrosseSolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$19,600
    Price if you pay yourself$2,298
    Program website, Solar Installation Technician at Western Technical College
    More details about Solar Installation Technician at Western Technical College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    69%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,890
    Length
    30 weeks, 19 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    10
    Earned a year, estimated
    $19,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,298
    Program website, Solar Installation Technician at Western Technical College

How to pay for solar and wind technician training in Wisconsin

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

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.

Solar and wind technician training in Manitowoc, Wisconsin Rapids, Eau Claire and other Wisconsin cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Wisconsin

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

Where the Wisconsin solar and wind program numbers come from

Which Wisconsin solar and wind programs are on this list?

These are the solar and wind programs Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin offers.

How the prices and results of Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Solar Photovoltaic Installers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List