Cerritos College’s Technology Division, the Advanced Transportation Renewable Energy (ATRE) sector and True South Renewables, Inc., have launched a novel training program to certify military veterans and other qualified applicants to meet the growing need for electrical field service technicians (EFST).

The five-month college certification program will teach students how to maintain and repair solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and equipment needing general maintenance. Many top solar companies, including True South Renewables — the largest independent solar operations and maintenance provider in the US — have jobs waiting for graduates of the program. 

“This is an important initiative to provide military personnel who were electricians in the service with training to receive certification in a high-paying, growing civilian field,” said Rue Phillips, CEO of True South Renewables. “In addition, these graduates are needed. Few outside the solar power industry are aware of the volume of operations and maintenance work required to ensure the optimum performance of large solar fields and photovoltaic systems on commercial and residential rooftops.”

Cerritos College and ATRE, a California Community Colleges workforce program, worked closely with True South Renewables to develop the extensive curriculum for this unique program. Typical job titles for graduates include:

• Solar OM Technician
• Electronics Repair Technician
• Solar PV Technician
• Electric Vehicle Service Equipment Technician
• Solar monitoring equipment Technician
• Test Equipment Technician

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be certified within three modules: Solar Inverter Maintenance and Repair, Electrical Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) Maintenance and Repair, and Solar and EVSE Related Instrumentation and IT Products. Program graduates will also receive a certificate of achievement in New Product Development from the Chancellor’s office of California Community Colleges. 

Qualified candidates interested in applying for the EFST program should contact Jannet Malig of the ATRE at jmalig@cerritos.edu.