New solar certificate programs aim to bolster skilled trades

By Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada needs more people working in clean-tech trades, and a new solar installation course aims to make it as easy as possible to break into this line of work.

George Brown College just launched new solar energy technician and solar panel installer certificate programs to prepare students for solar installation jobs. The two new courses are online and asynchronous so students can tackle the content at their own pace. 

“The demand for skilled trades is enormous,” Colin Simpson, dean of the Centre for Continuous Learning at George Brown College, said in an interview with Canada’s National Observer. 

Approximately 700,000 skilled-trades workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028 according to the federal government, adding to the deficit that’s already rising with the housing shortage and growth in clean energy.

“The workforce that’s going to be able to replace them, they have to have that ability to get the education if they’re already employed somewhere or underemployed, or if there’s barriers that are preventing them from going to school full time,” Simpson said, adding this is a consistent problem for adult learners.

“The problem with online learning is usually you can’t do the laboratory stuff unless you go on campus,” Simpson said. That’s not the case with the new solar training. These courses use 3D simulation technology — all students have to do is access the software from a laptop or computer. 

Simpson likened it to pilots learning to fly on simulators. 

Simpson estimated the solar programs take most students between roughly 16 to 24 weeks to complete. There are staff available to offer live support seven days a week on both the course material and technical difficulties. Because the courses are fully online, the support is really important, Simpson added. 

Students get lifetime access to all the course materials so they can refresh their knowledge as needed.

Both certificates teach students how to size and install solar panel systems — the solar energy technician course has more content and covers other aspects, like maintenance and system design.

Toronto-based George Brown College first started offering clean-tech training programs about six years ago, starting with its electric vehicle technician program. The electric vehicle program currently has students from 26 countries, and many mechanics and electricians have employers sponsoring them to take the course and reimbursing their tuition, Simpson said.

Last year, the college launched a similar wind turbine technician program.

Simpson said rolling out solar training was the clear next step because the sector is growing so rapidly.

Alberta and Saskatchewan have high solar potential — the south of these provinces are the sunniest regions in Canada — but Quebec and Ontario also have high potential.

“We think that solar is going to be very, very busy for us right now,” Simpson said. “The interest that we’ve been getting has been already really, really strong.”