Dept. of Labor approves Registered Apprenticeship guidelines for solar industry

Hang on to your hats: Some good news for the solar industry from the federal government this week. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) have received approval by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for national guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship programs for the solar industry.
National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards provide a template that companies, educational institutions, associations, and labor unions can use to create high-quality apprenticeship programs that comply with federal regulations.
Why RAPs matter
Registered Apprenticeship Programs, or RAPs, are a great way to formalize training for certain occupations and to build a formalized path to a career in that industry — something the solar industry desperately needs, not just to build out a more robust workforce, but for earning the Investment Tax Credit. From our archives:
To get the tax credits, any apprenticeship program used to meet the requirements must be registered. Federal regulations require apprenticeships to be at least one year in length – one year to learn through a foundation of on-the-job experience and related instruction. In total: at least 144 hours per year of instruction and 2,000 hours a year on the job. State regulations are fairly similar but can be more stringent in some cases. RAPs in the construction industry are typically 2-5 years in length, with the majority being at least 4 years long.
But RAPs can only be registered for DOL-approved occupations and solar installer was not a federally recognized occupation — which is why this is huge news.
“Registered Apprenticeships are one of the most effective strategies for clean energy companies to build a highly-trained, skilled, and diverse workforce,” said Richard Lawrence, Senior Director, Workforce and Industry Engagement at IREC. “IREC was pleased to work with the solar industry to develop these guidelines that provide solar companies, and their training and educational partners, with an industry standard that can align with worker training programs.”
Details on DOL approval
IREC and SEIA’s new guidelines are for the DOL-recognized Construction Craft Laborer apprenticeship occupation. Construction Craft Laborer apprentices working on solar projects perform mechanical tasks and assist other skilled tradespeople on a project site, including electricians, carpenters, ironworkers, and operating engineers.
IREC and SEIA — in partnership with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and industry experts — developed the guidelines with funding from both the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Ready Vets Network and the DOL’s Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) Network.
“Apprenticeship programs that follow these guidelines will bolster the 280,000-strong solar and storage industry workforce by increasing access to quality education and training,” said Erika Symmonds, SEIA’s vice president of equity and workforce development. “The solar and storage industry is growing by the day, and our workforce development tools and strategies must grow too. We thank IREC and other partners for their collaboration.”
Registered Apprenticeship helps workers advance their careers and helps solar companies meet the demand for skilled workers. Solar construction projects larger than 1 megawatt that incorporate Registered Apprenticeship in their workforce are eligible for enhanced tax credits.
- Learn more about the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards here.
- Learn how to launch an apprenticeship program by connecting with Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) Network here.