Do solar installation technicians need a license in Minnesota?

No statewide license is required for solar installation technicians in Minnesota. Most employers expect industry certifications such as NABCEP PV Associate Certification, and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification.

What apprenticeships are available for solar installation technicians in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Apprenticeship Minnesota, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Solar Installation Technician in Minnesota (2026)

Q: What is the job outlook for solar installation technicians in Minnesota?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 42.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034. State employment data for Minnesota is not separately published for this occupation.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

U.S. employment of solar installation technicians is projected to change 42.1% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections). No statewide license is required; most solar installation technicians train through a certificate program and earn an industry certification before employers will hire them.

Key Facts

Projected growth: 42.1% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Solar Installation Technician Schools in Minnesota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Flint Hills Technical College	75.5	$6,400	$52,442	68%	Yes*	499 mi
2	Southwest Wisconsin Technical College	65.2	$4,904 in-state / $7,147 out-of-state	$50,757	66%	Yes*	215 mi
3	Northeast Wisconsin Technical College	62.5	$4,960 in-state / $7,233 out-of-state	$54,887	51%	Yes*	267 mi
4	Riverland Community College	59.3	$6,298	$49,768	52%	Yes*	118 mi
5	Sauk Valley Community College	59.1	$5,340 in-state / $12,900 out-of-state	$54,209	49%	Yes*	311 mi
6	Cloud County Community College	59.0	$3,540 in-state / $4,500 out-of-state	$45,359	55%	Yes*	454 mi
7	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	110 mi
8	Western Technical College	56.2	$4,820 in-state / $7,078 out-of-state	$53,114	34%	Yes*	151 mi
9	Triton College	54.9	$5,070 in-state / $15,330 out-of-state	$52,701	29%	Yes*	367 mi
10	Century College	52.6	$6,214	$54,401	31%	Yes*	31 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Minnesota offers career opportunities for solar installation technicians. This page covers how to become a Solar Installation Technician in Minnesota, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path

Quick Answers About How to Become a Solar Installation Technician in Minnesota

How to become a Solar Installation Technician in Minnesota? Minnesota does not require a state license for solar installation technicians, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as NABCEP PV Associate Certification and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification. Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths into the solar installation technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Minnesota? No state license is required, but certifications such as NABCEP PV Associate Certification and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification are expected by most employers.

How to Become a Solar Installation Technician in Minnesota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Minnesota training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Minnesota that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Earn an industry certification. While Minnesota does not require a statewide license, earn NABCEP PV Associate Certification to meet employer expectations and improve hiring prospects.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Solar Installation Technician Certification Options in Minnesota

Minnesota does not require a state license to work as a solar installation technician. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for solar installation technicians include:

NABCEP PV Associate Certification
OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification

For more information, visit the NABCEP - Board of Certified Energy Practitioners ¹. Contact training programs in Minnesota for details on certification preparation courses.

Solar Installation Technician Apprenticeship Information in Minnesota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Minnesota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Apprenticeship Minnesota ².

Contact Information:

Office: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Apprenticeship Unit
Address: 443 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4303
Phone: (651) 284-5090
Email: [email protected]

Solar Installation Technician Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for solar installation technicians in Minnesota? Nationally, solar installation technician employment is projected to grow 42.1% from 2024 to 2034 ³.

What training programs are available in Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Minnesota. You can also contact the Apprenticeship Minnesota for apprenticeship opportunities.

In Minnesota

Best Trade Schools in Minnesota (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

NABCEP - Board of Certified Energy Practitioners: https://www.nabcep.org/ ↩︎
Apprenticeship Minnesota: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/apprenticeshipsponsor/ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)