Retraining ReportJob training public funding can pay for

Find training

Solar and wind technician training in Virginia

6 solar and wind programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these solar and wind programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Solar photovoltaic installers assemble, set up and maintain rooftop and other systems that turn sunlight into energy. They typically need a high school diploma, some take courses at a technical school or community college, and most learn on the job for up to a year.1

In Virginia, 1 of the 6 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 5 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 6 programs here are solar installer course (2 programs), renewable energy certificate (2 programs), renewable energy (associate degree, 1 program) and wind turbine technician training (1 program).

See the 6 programs

How much does solar and wind technician training cost in Virginia?

$4,542 to $7,985 is what most solar and wind programs in Virginia cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 6 programs with a price. All of them: $3,914 to $28,457

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
30 to 48 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Virginia may also offer solar and wind technician training. How these figures are made

Is there free solar and wind technician training in Virginia?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 6 solar and wind programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

Filters
What you need to enroll
Kind of program
School
How it's taught
How to show the list

6 programs

  • Renewable energy (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Energy Technology Associate of Applied Science

    Mountain Empire Community College

    Big Stone Gap

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone GapRenewable energy (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$8,955
    School website, Energy Technology Associate of Applied Science at Mountain Empire Community College
    More details about Energy Technology Associate of Applied Science at Mountain Empire Community College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    52 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,661
    Students counted
    75
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,955
    School website, Energy Technology Associate of Applied Science at Mountain Empire Community College

  • Solar installer courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Solar Ready

    Tidewater Community College

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Tidewater Community College, NorfolkSolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$36,700
    Price if you pay yourself$5,000

    3 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Solar Ready at Tidewater Community College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    33%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,174
    Length
    5 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    28
    Earned a year, estimated
    $36,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    3

  • Renewable energy certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Alternative Energy

    New River Community College

    Dublin

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    New River Community College, DublinRenewable energy certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,914
    More details about Alternative Energy at New River Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    29 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,000
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,914

  • Renewable energy certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Career Studies Certificate

    Southwest VA Community College

    Cedar Bluff

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southwest VA Community College, Cedar BluffRenewable energy certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,389
    Program website, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Career Studies Certificate at Southwest VA Community College
    More details about Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Career Studies Certificate at Southwest VA Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 28 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,550
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,389
    Program website, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Career Studies Certificate at Southwest VA Community College

  • Solar installer courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Solar Energy Technology (Certificate)

    Virginia Highlands Community College

    Abingdon

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Virginia Highlands Community College, AbingdonSolar installer course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,075
    School website, Solar Energy Technology (Certificate) at Virginia Highlands Community College
    More details about Solar Energy Technology (Certificate) at Virginia Highlands Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    48 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,000
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,075
    School website, Solar Energy Technology (Certificate) at Virginia Highlands Community College

  • Wind turbine technician trainingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Wind Turbine Technician

    Centura College/Chesapeake, Norfolk, Peninsula

    Virginia Beach

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Centura College/Chesapeake, Norfolk, Peninsula, Virginia BeachWind turbine technician training · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$28,457
    More details about Wind Turbine Technician at Centura College/Chesapeake, Norfolk, Peninsula
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    48 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $28,457

How to pay for solar and wind technician training in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for solar and wind technician training in Virginia

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for solar and wind technician training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for solar and wind technician training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Solar and wind technician training in Virginia Beach, Blacksburg, Bluefield and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Virginia

How solar and wind technician training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Virginia

Where the Virginia solar and wind program numbers come from

Which Virginia solar and wind programs are on this list?

These are the solar and wind programs Virginia approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia solar and wind programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about solar and wind technician training in Virginia

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Solar Photovoltaic Installers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List