Solar PV training courses, certifications and training centres: 181 programmes in 61 countries (2026)
By The PV Index · Published 4 November 2026 · Last updated 4 November 2026. Counts as of 2026-11-04.
The PV Index lists 181 solar PV training programmes in 61 countries: 17 certifications, 35 training courses, 101 training centres, 15 university programmes and 13 free learning resources. 43 are free and 38 are fully online. The United States has the most (30), followed by the United Kingdom (11), India (10) and Germany (9).
Whether you want to install rooftop systems, design utility plants, sell solar or move into the industry from another field, the right training depends on where you will work. Many countries tie grid connection, export payments or subsidies to an accredited installer, so the certification your market recognises matters more than any single course. This guide groups every course, certification, training centre and degree in the directory by type and country, points out the free and online options, and ends with a checklist for choosing. Each name links to its listing page with the official website, format and price type.
Types of solar PV training
| Type | Listed | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Installer and professional certifications | 17 | credentials or accreditation schemes you sit an exam or assessment for |
| Training courses | 35 | structured courses from training providers, associations, software firms and manufacturers |
| Training centres | 101 | institutes, colleges and centres that run solar training, often hands-on and in person |
| University programmes | 15 | master's degrees, research centres and university short courses |
| Free learning resources | 13 | free online courses, tutorials and webinar series |
Installer certifications by country
These are the schemes in the directory that work as a recognised quality mark for installers or designers in their country. Requirements below are taken from each scheme's listing, written from its official website; always check the current rules with the scheme itself.
- NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) (United States). The usual entry-level credential in North America: a course with a registered training provider, then a proctored exam.
- NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) (United States). The senior board certification for installers in North America. It needs documented installation experience, OSHA safety training and advanced coursework before the exam.
- MCS Contractor Certification (Solar PV) (United Kingdom). The UK quality scheme for small-scale PV installers under the MIS 3002 standard. In practice installers need it when customers want Smart Export Guarantee payments.
- City & Guilds 2399 Solar PV Installation Award (United Kingdom). A 5-day Level 3 award for experienced electricians, recognised by MCS as a route towards installer accreditation.
- Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) (Australia). The national accreditation for PV designers and installers since May 2024, when it took over from the Clean Energy Council. Systems need an SAA-accredited installer to qualify for Small-scale Technology Certificates.
- PV GreenCard Installer Programme (South Africa). South Africa's installer quality standard: 5 to 6 days of training plus a practical assessment at an accredited centre, after which installers appear on the national PV GreenCard database.
- NZQA Solar Micro-credentials (SEANZ-endorsed) (New Zealand). Level 4 micro-credentials in grid-connected PV, batteries and stand-alone systems, required for the EWRB Mains Parallel Generation endorsement.
- SEDA Malaysia GCPV Systems Design Course (Malaysia). An 8-day grid-connected PV design course with a competency exam, recognised for PV designers under Malaysia's solar programmes.
- Skill Council for Green Jobs Solar Qualifications (India). NSQF-aligned qualifications for installers, technicians and plant O&M staff, with government-recognised certificates under Skill India.
Other credentials in the directory: AEE Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified AI Solar Professional (CASP), ETA Photovoltaic Installer Certification, IREC Accreditation (formerly ISPQ), NABCEP PV System Inspector (PVSI), NABCEP PV Technical Sales (PVTS), SEI Solar Professionals Certificate and UL Solutions PV Credentialing. In the United States, IREC Accreditation (formerly ISPQ) accredits training providers and instructors rather than installers.
Online solar courses
38 programmes in the directory are fully online and 57 are hybrid, mixing online theory with classroom or lab days. Fully online options: AKF Learning Hub - Solar Energy Course, Alison Diploma in Solar Energy, Almentor, Arab Renewable Energy Academy (ArabRena), Aurora Solar Academy, Canal Solar Educacional, Censolar - Centro de Estudios de la Energia Solar, Certified AI Solar Professional (CASP), Clean Energy Council CPD Courses, CleanTech Terra Training, Edraak, Elements of Renewable Energy (FutureLearn), Enphase University, Everblue NABCEP Exam Prep, Fahd Academy, George Brown College Solar Energy Technician Program, Global Solar Atlas Tutorials, Green Training USA Solar PV Courses, HeatSpring NABCEP Advanced PV Training, IBS Academy - Renewable Energy Fundamentals, Introduction to Solar Cells (Coursera), ISES Webinar Series, M3aarf Platform, MIT Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (OCW), Monsolar Formacion - Solar PV Courses, NPTEL Solar Photovoltaics Courses, NREL Solar Learning Resources, PVEducation.org, pvlib python Tutorials, SEI en Español, SEI PVOL101: Solar Design & Installation, Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters (DelftX), Solar Energy for Engineers (Coursera), SolarPower Europe Webinars & Reports, Taqa Space, The Complete Solar Energy Course (Udemy), UTN Centro de e-Learning - Solar Energy Courses and Victron Professional Training.
Online study works well for design, theory, software and sales. Installation is a hands-on trade, though: most installer certifications need practical training or assessment in person, so plan for an in-person or hybrid step if you want to install.
Free solar PV courses and resources
43 programmes in the directory are free and 2 are freemium (a free tier plus paid content). Free options you can follow online or in hybrid form: AKF Learning Hub - Solar Energy Course, Alison Diploma in Solar Energy, Aurora Solar Academy, Edraak, Elements of Renewable Energy (FutureLearn), Enphase University, Fronius SolarCampus & E-Academy, Global Solar Atlas Tutorials, Growatt ShineElite Installer Training, Huawei FusionSolar Training & Certification, Introduction to Solar Cells (Coursera), ISES Webinar Series, M3aarf Platform, MIT Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (OCW), NPTEL Solar Photovoltaics Courses, NREL Solar Learning Resources, PVEducation.org, pvlib python Tutorials, RES4Africa Micro-Grid Academy, SENA Solar Photovoltaic Programs, SolarPower Europe Webinars & Reports, Sungrow Academy Installer Training, TESDA Photovoltaic Systems Installation NC II and Victron Professional Training.
Free courses are a good way to learn the basics of how PV cells, modules and systems work before paying for a certification course. For design practice, our solar design software guide lists free and paid tools.
Manufacturer academies
Inverter and storage makers train installers on their own products, often for free, and some installer warranties or partner programmes require it. Academies listed: Fronius SolarCampus & E-Academy, Growatt ShineElite Installer Training, Huawei FusionSolar Training & Certification, SMA Solar Academy, Sungrow Academy Installer Training and Victron Professional Training. To compare the makers themselves, see our solar inverter manufacturers guide and battery storage manufacturers guide.
University programmes
For engineering and research careers, the directory lists 15 university programmes: ASU PSM Solar Energy Engineering & Commercialization, EIT InnoEnergy Master's in Renewable Energy, HBKU MSc in Sustainable Energy, IIT Bombay NCPRE Photovoltaics Education & Short Courses, KAUST MSc/PhD Programs in Energy Science, Khalifa University MSc in Sustainable & Renewable Energy, Loughborough MSc Renewable Energy (CREST), Master in Photovoltaic Solar Energy (IES-UPM), MIT Fundamentals of Photovoltaics (OCW), MSc Solar Energy Engineering (Freiburg/Fraunhofer ISE), NUST USPCAS-E MS in Energy Systems Engineering, Stellenbosch University MEng in Renewable & Sustainable Energy, TU Delft MSc Sustainable Energy Technology, University of Oldenburg PPRE and UNSW Photovoltaics & Solar Energy Degrees (SPREE).
Solar training in the Middle East and Africa and in Arabic
The directory lists 46 programmes based in the Middle East and Africa, in South Africa (6), Egypt (5), Saudi Arabia (4), United Arab Emirates (4), Jordan (3), Kenya (3), Ethiopia (2), Ghana (2), Iraq (2), Morocco (2), Nigeria (2), Tanzania (2), Tunisia (2), Algeria (1), Lebanon (1), Qatar (1), Senegal (1), Turkey (1), Uganda (1) and Zambia (1), plus 3 aimed at the region but run from elsewhere. Programmes tagged as taught in Arabic: AKF Learning Hub - Solar Energy Course, Almentor, Arab Renewable Energy Academy (ArabRena), Certified AI Solar Professional (CASP), CleanTech Terra Training, Edraak, Fahd Academy, IBS Academy - Renewable Energy Fundamentals, M3aarf Platform, RCREEE Capacity Building & Training Programs and Taqa Space. Arabic readers can also browse our Arabic section.
Solar PV training by region and country
Country names link to our country pages, which list every solar company in the directory for that country, useful when you look for a first job after training.
Middle East & Africa (49 programmes)
Asia (33 programmes)
Europe (33 programmes)
North America (32 programmes)
Global (13 programmes)
Oceania (11 programmes)
Latin America (10 programmes)
How to choose a solar PV course
- Start from your market's rules. Find out which accreditation your country or utility asks for before grid connection, export payments or subsidies, and pick a course that leads to it.
- Check the prerequisites. Several certifications are for qualified electricians or need documented installation experience; entry-level courses are the step before.
- Look for hands-on time. For installation work, practical training on real roofs, mounting, wiring and testing counts for more than video hours.
- Ask who recognises the certificate. A provider accredited by the scheme or by a body such as IREC carries more weight than a certificate of completion alone.
- Match the course to the job. Installers, designers, sales staff and O&M technicians need different skills; design and simulation courses suit engineers, while installer courses focus on safety and workmanship.
- Keep learning. Product training from inverter and battery makers and continuing professional development keep a certification useful as technology changes.
All 181 training programmes in the directory
Sorted A to Z. The full Courses & Education category also lists solar career profiles and job boards.
How this list was compiled
Each listing is written from the provider's own website and public materials and reviewed by hand; inclusion is free and never paid for. Types, formats, prices and tags come from each listing, and counts on this page are generated from the directory data at every release. Missing a course or training centre? Submit it for review.
Frequently asked questions
How many solar PV training courses and certifications are there?
The PV Index lists 181 solar PV training programmes in 61 countries as of 2026-11-04: 17 certifications, 35 training courses, 101 training centres, 15 university programmes and 13 free learning resources.
What certification do I need to install solar panels?
It depends on the country. Examples from the directory: NABCEP in North America, MCS in the United Kingdom, Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) in Australia, the PV GreenCard in South Africa, NZQA solar micro-credentials in New Zealand and the SEDA GCPV course in Malaysia. Check what your utility or subsidy scheme requires.
Are there free solar PV courses?
Yes. The PV Index lists 43 free programmes, including AKF Learning Hub - Solar Energy Course, Alison Diploma in Solar Energy, Aurora Solar Academy, Edraak, Elements of Renewable Energy (FutureLearn), Enphase University, Fronius SolarCampus & E-Academy and Global Solar Atlas Tutorials.
Can I learn solar installation online?
You can learn the theory, design and software online; 38 programmes in the directory are fully online. Most installer certifications still require hands-on training or a practical assessment in person.
Which solar training is available in Arabic?
Programmes in the directory tagged as taught in Arabic: AKF Learning Hub - Solar Energy Course, Almentor, Arab Renewable Energy Academy (ArabRena), Certified AI Solar Professional (CASP), CleanTech Terra Training, Edraak, Fahd Academy, IBS Academy - Renewable Energy Fundamentals, M3aarf Platform, RCREEE Capacity Building & Training Programs and Taqa Space.
Which countries have the most solar training programmes in the directory?
The United States (30), followed by the United Kingdom (11), India (10) and Germany (9).
How do I get a solar course or training centre listed in The PV Index?
Submit the website through the free form at https://thepvindex.com/submit/. Listing is free. Every submission is reviewed by hand, and only organisations that are active in the solar PV industry and have a working website are added. Inclusion and order are never for sale.
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