“What Do I Need To Become a Licensed Solar Installer?” A State-by-State Answer!

“What do I need to do to become a licensed solar installer?”

This is the most common question we hear from the experienced professionals who take HeatSpring solar design and installation courses.  There are always a few hoops to jump through, but it’s not always clear what those hoops are.  We have always tried to stay current on this information by communicating with state licensing boards and surveying past students, but it can get overwhelming at times.  We hoped someone would create a one-stop database of state license requirements.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Solar Licensing Database has done exactly that. 

“In the database, licensing requirements for installing photovoltaic and solar thermal systems are documented for each state. These are organized alphabetically. Today, only 14 states have established specific solar license classifications, usually sub-classifications of electrical or plumbing licenses, and often specifically defined to limit the scope of work to direct solar installations and maintenance tasks.   For additional information, resource links to state-specific websites and documents are included. IREC will update the database to keep pace with those changes as they become available.”

Click to view IREC’s Solar Licensing Database

Want more on solar PV design? Enroll in our FREE Residential Solar PV Design 101 Guide