Green Education and Certification
Green jobs are here and more are coming our way. We need a workforce trained and certified to do some of this specialized work. This is all new stuff for many of us, and most of us - including those who are graduating from college this year - have not considered what it will take to enter some of these jobs that are, and probably will remain for some time, in high demand.
Most of the specialized positions are in renewable energy (RE) and LEED construction and architecture.
We compiled a list of certification and degree programs we thought would be of the most use. Please let us know of any resources we may have missed and we'll add them here.
Certification & Degree Programs
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
A very established resource organization for RE. One of the IREC's main areas of focus
is to provide resources, training and education in renewable energy careers.
The California Wind Energy Collaborative (CWEC)
A great resource from UC Davis that provides education for Wind Energy Technicians.
Wind Energy Education - Science Careers Great information on education and training needed for wind energy professionals.
Boots on the Roof
Solar training, education and certification. A great site for resources and information.
It has a great blog too!
PV Installer Certification - North American
Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
Get certified in PV installation.
U.S. Department of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
This site offers a pretty extensive list of higher education programs in energy across
the country. Also has a list of internships and scholarships.
U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE)
The EERE also has a list of adult and continuing education programs in energy-related
fields, as well as extensive career information by sector and links to great resources
for careers in energy.
U.S. Green Building Council
A list of LEED education programs and courses.
Greenbuild365
A resource site by the U.S. Green Building Council with a list of education LEED programs.
The California Institute of Nanotechnology
Provides training and certification programs in clean tech and nanotechnology and a
Micro-Nano-Fabrication for Photovoltaics Workshop. Future programs will include
certifications in clean energy, PV installation, bioenergy, and more.
Green Tech Academy
Provides training and instruction in clean technologies such as biofuels, clean tech
consulting, green building and sustainability practices to meet the increasing market
and workforce demands for sustainable energy sources and to produce qualified
individuals who possess the skills necessary to fulfill the needs of the clean tech
industry.
Businesses and their employees can also get special green certifications to make a better, more informed workforce, as well as help companies understand sustainability practices:
You can help make this list better! If you know of a valuable training or education program in any green sector, contact us and let us know. We'll review all suggestions and add appropriate resources to our list.
