“This online option will take quite a bit of financial burden off students who would have had to travel to Southern California,” said Catherine Kelso, director of training for Ambassador Energy. “They will view, participate, raise their virtual hands, ask questions, take quizzes…I imagine they will even take potty breaks like everyone else. They will have to be very present, though. The first class we are offering is not easy. Anytime you are training for a NABCEP [North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners] test, you can count on having to pay attention.”

The first online class offered will be Entry Level PV Design & Installation, a five-day solar training course. In this course, students learn how solar PV systems operate, as well as basic system design and safety practices. The course covers basic electrical terminology, PV system components, solar fundamentals, sun path tracking, basic system design, string sizing, site evaluation, shade analysis, system sizing, overcurrent protection, grounding basics, electrical and mechanical design considerations, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards. Also included in the course curriculum is a hands-on solar project, where students install a complete PV system, albeit for some, virtually.