Apprenticeships in the Solar Industry

Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) prepare workers for jobs while meeting the needs of businesses for a highly skilled workforce.  

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship’s website, key components of Registered Apprenticeship Programs include the following: 

• Industry Led - Programs are industry-vetted and approved to ensure alignment with industry standards and that apprentices are trained for highly skilled, high-demand occupations.
• Paid Job -  Apprenticeships are jobs! Apprentices earn progressive wage as their skills and productivity increase.
• Structured On-the-Job Learning/Mentorship - Programs provide structured on-the-job training to prepare for a successful career, which includes instruction from an experienced mentor.
• Supplemental Education - Apprentices are provided supplemental classroom education based on the employers unique training needs to ensure quality and success.
• Diversity - Programs are designed to reflect the communities in which they operate through strong non-discrimination, anti-harassment, and recruitment practices to ensure access, equity, and inclusion.
• Quality & Safety - Apprentices are afforded worker protections while receiving rigorous training to equip them with the skills they need to succeed and the proper training and supervision they need to be safe.
• Credentials - Apprentices earn a portable, nationally-recognized credential within their industry.
   

The chart below describes the various types of registered apprenticeship programs that an employer could lead or participate in

• Identify the “apprenticeable” occupation(s) for which you have hiring needs in the geographic area of your project(s). You may use the U.S. Department of Labor's Approved Occupations Tool to find apprenticeable occupations or reach out to your state apprenticeship representative. Also see section below on “Apprenticeable Occupations”. 
• Determine the appropriate “Sponsor.” An apprenticeship sponsor is an entity that registers and administers a program, which may be an educational institution, trade association, employer consortium, labor union, or a single employer.
• Develop a Work Process Schedule & Training Plan. The Work Process Schedule defines the number of On-the-Job-Learning hours for each of the apprenticeship’s major task categories. The training plan defines the related instruction. (The sponsor is primarily responsible for this item.)
• Develop Program Requirements and Policies, including eligibility requirements, credit for prior experience & education, program format & duration, wage progression schedule, apprentice-to-journey worker ratio, complaint procedures, non-discrimination policies, and diversity goals. (The sponsor is primarily responsible for this item.)
• Register the Program with a State Apprenticeship Agency or U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Office in the state(s) in which you have project(s). Also, register the program with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans can access their GI Bill benefits. (The sponsor is primarily responsible for registration.)
   

Below are several examples of apprenticeable occupations that may be relevant for solar and storage projects under the IRA’s registered apprenticeship requirements. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list.

*Note: Companies are encouraged to seek outside labor legal counsel.

Below are examples of sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs that may be relevant to solar and storage projects. Companies may reach out to these sponsors’ local offices or chapters to learn about specific apprenticeship programs in the area(s) of their project(s). Companies may also utilize the apprenticeship.gov Partner Finder Tool to search for apprenticeship program sponsors by occupation in their project area(s).
 

Note: This is not an endorsement of the organizations listed below. Apprenticeship programs offered vary by location and may change over time. 

IBEW – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

• Electrician (Commercial Electrician)

LIUNA – Laborers’ International Union of North America 

• Construction Craft Laborer 

UBC – United Brotherhood of Carpenters

• Carpenter

IW - International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union (IW) 

• Iron Worker

IUOE - International Union of Operating Engineers International Union of Operating Engineers

• Operating Engineer

IEC – Independent Electrical Contractors

• Electrician (Commercial Electrician)

WECA – Western Electrical Contractors Association

• Electrician (Commercial Electrician)

ABC – Associated Builders and Contractors 

• Electrician (Commercial Electrician)
• Construction Craft Laborer 
• Carpenter

AGC – Associated General Contractors

• Electrician (Commercial Electrician)
• Construction Craft Laborer 
• Operating Engineer/Equipment Operator

Technical Assistance

• For questions about starting or joining an apprenticeship program, you may reach out to your state apprenticeship representative or Office of Apprenticeship Regional Office. For IRA related apprenticeship questions that are not addressed on the Office of Apprenticeship's IRA FAQs page, companies may email: [email protected].
• Adaptive Constructions Solutions, Inc. (ACS), manages a Clean Energy Apprenticeship Hub under a U.S. Department of Labor grant. They provide technical assistance to employers in expanding employer-sponsored RAPs.
• North America's Building Trades Unions' registered apprenticeship programs

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Resources

• Jobs for the Future (JFF) - Program Design Framework for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Registered Apprenticeship
• National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship & Employment – collection of best practices in implementing effective strategies for recruiting and retaining women in the trades.
• Accessible Workplace Training 101 - Webinar recording on the “Why” and “How” of accessibility related accommodations and accessibility etiquette that help make workplaces welcoming for people with disabilities. 
• Designing Inclusive Apprenticeships: A Guide for Recruiting & Training Apprentices with Disabilities