← All career paths
Trades & Construction
How to become a Solar Panel Installer
From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.
- Time to get there
- 3–9 months
- Typical pay
- $44k–$58k
- Starting from
- No experience
Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.
See solar panel installer jobs open nowThe route
Take a PV fundamentals course
How array, inverter and interconnection actually fit together.
Course that covers thisSolar PV: Theory, Calculations and NABCEP Exam PreparationUdemy · around $59.99Get roof and fall-protection safety
Non-negotiable on residential installs.
Course that covers thisOSHA 30-Hour Construction Practice Test 2026Udemy · around $19.99OSHA 10
Install on a crew
Most installers learn the trade in their first season on a truck.
Consider NABCEP
The industry credential; needed to lead crews or design systems.
NABCEP PV Associate
- Browse jobs now
Destination
Solar Panel Installer
Course links are Udemy affiliate links. We earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.