Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Installation and Maintenance — Entry Level (Helper)

Course Description

EEV0205 — Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Installation and Maintenance Helper — is the first Occupational Completion Point (OCP: A) in Florida's Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Installation and Maintenance program pathway under the Engineering Technologies > Electronics Vocational taxonomy. This competency-based, applied learning course develops foundational skills in the field of solar energy and energy storage, providing students with knowledge of design, maintenance, and installation of photovoltaic systems used in both residential and commercial environments. Students learn basic electricity concepts in DC and AC electrical circuits, voltage, and electrical codes, and practice hands-on basic residential wiring. Solar installation site assessments and design skills are developed through hand sketches, use of information technology, and Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software. Online modules familiarize students with solar basics, electric fundamentals, energy terminology, safety, and procedures before progressing to lab and field work.

This course is offered at Florida technical colleges including Fort Myers Technical College and Okaloosa Technical College. Upon completion, students are positioned to pursue the NABCEP PV Associate credential and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Solar Contractor pathway.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of EEV0205, students will be able to:

Identify PV Systems and Components: Identify solar photovoltaic systems and their major components, including modules, inverters, charge controllers, and mounting hardware.
Conduct a Site Assessment: Perform a solar installation site assessment, evaluating roof structure, shading, orientation, and tilt to determine system suitability.
Read and Interpret Blueprints: Read and interpret basic construction and electrical blueprints, schematics, and system diagrams relevant to PV installations.
Apply Health, Safety, and Environmental Practices: Demonstrate the importance of health, safety, and environmental management systems, including OSHA requirements, fall protection, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and arc flash awareness.
Apply Basic Electrical Principles: Apply fundamental DC and AC electrical concepts — including Ohm's Law, voltage, current, power, and circuit configurations — to photovoltaic system contexts.
Adapt a PV System Design: Adapt a basic solar photovoltaic design to a given site, including system sizing calculations using peak sun hours and load analysis.
Install PV Systems and Wiring: Install solar collectors, PV systems, and associated electrical wiring according to applicable codes and design specifications.
Layout and Coordinate a Job: Layout and coordinate a PV installation job, including sequencing tasks, staging materials, and communicating with team members.
Demonstrate Regulatory Compliance: Identify and apply federal and state regulatory performance requirements relevant to green-energy companies and solar contractors, including Florida DBPR requirements.

Optional / Enrichment Outcomes

The following outcomes may be addressed depending on instructor emphasis and available lab resources:

Use CAD / Design Software: Develop site assessment and design drawings using Computer Aided Drafting software or industry tools such as Aurora Solar or Helioscope.
Compare Grid-Tied vs. Off-Grid Systems: Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of grid-interactive (utility-tied), stand-alone (off-grid), and hybrid PV system configurations.
Analyze System Economics: Estimate basic system cost, payback period, return on investment, and available incentives including federal Investment Tax Credits (ITC).
Apply NEC Article 690: Identify key requirements of National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 690 (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) and related articles (705, 706, 710) as applied to PV design and installation.
Introduction to Battery Storage: Describe the role of energy storage systems, including battery technologies (lead-acid, lithium-ion), in off-grid and hybrid PV applications.
Explore Career Pathways and Certifications: Research career opportunities in the solar industry and understand pathways to credentialing including NABCEP PV Associate and ETA certifications.

Major Topics

Required Topics

The following content areas are covered in all standard offerings of EEV0205:

Solar Energy Fundamentals — History of photovoltaics, the PV effect, solar radiation, insolation, and peak sun hours; advantages and disadvantages of solar energy as a resource.
PV System Components — PV cells, modules, and arrays; inverters (string, micro, and power optimizers); charge controllers; overcurrent protection devices; disconnects; mounting systems; and monitoring equipment.
DC and AC Electrical Theory — Ohm's Law, series and parallel circuits, voltage, current, resistance, and power calculations applicable to PV systems; introduction to AC power concepts.
PV System Types — Grid-tied (utility-interactive), stand-alone (off-grid), and hybrid system architectures; basic operational differences and applications.
Site Assessment Fundamentals — Roof and ground-mount evaluation, shading analysis, compass orientation, tilt angle, structural considerations, and site sketch preparation.
Basic System Sizing — Load analysis, peak sun hour data, module selection, array sizing, and wire sizing fundamentals.
Blueprint Reading — Interpreting electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, and basic construction drawings relevant to PV system installation.
Safety Practices — OSHA regulations for construction, fall protection, personal protective equipment (PPE), electrical safety, arc flash awareness, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
Installation Techniques — Proper handling and installation of PV modules, racking and mounting systems, conduit and wiring methods, and connections to electrical panels.
Code Awareness and Permitting — Overview of the National Electrical Code (NEC) as it applies to PV systems; Florida-specific permitting requirements and the DBPR solar contractor licensing framework.

Optional / Supplemental Topics

The following topics may be covered based on available time, equipment, and instructor discretion:

NEC Article 690 Deep Dive — Detailed review of NEC Article 690 (Solar Photovoltaic Systems), Article 705 (Interconnected Power Production Sources), and Article 706 (Energy Storage Systems).
Battery Storage Systems — Types of batteries, depth of discharge, charge cycles, battery sizing calculations, and integration with PV systems.
PV System Economics — System cost estimation, net metering, utility interconnection agreements, federal ITC, and Florida-specific solar incentives.
CAD and Design Software — Introduction to digital design tools used in the PV industry for system layout, shading simulation, and permit drawing production.
Advanced Shading Analysis — Use of solar pathfinders or digital tools to quantify shading losses and optimize array placement.
Commissioning and Troubleshooting — System startup procedures, performance verification, common faults, I-V curve analysis, and basic troubleshooting methodology.
Environmental and Social Impact — Energy payback time (EPBT), lifecycle analysis, carbon reduction, and the role of solar in Florida's energy mix.

Resources & Tools

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) — Photovoltaic System Design Course Manual (GP-31): A key reference used for Florida DBPR Solar Contractor examination preparation, covering stand-alone and utility-interactive system design and sizing.
National Electrical Code (NEC) — NFPA 70: The primary reference for PV system electrical design, installation code compliance, and the NABCEP certification exams; Article 690 is the core PV-specific article.
NABCEP PV Associate Study Materials: Prep resources aligned with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associate examination, including the NABCEP PV Associate Learning Objectives.
Online Foundational Modules: Industry-aligned e-learning modules covering solar basics, electric fundamentals, energy terminology, parts, safety, and procedures (used as course orientation at Fort Myers Technical College and similar programs).
CAD / Design Software: Computer Aided Drafting software and/or industry-standard PV design platforms (e.g., Aurora Solar, Helioscope) for site layout and system design exercises.
Hand Tools and Lab Equipment: Multimeters, clamp meters, solar irradiance meters, PV training panels and racking systems, wiring practice boards, and PPE for hands-on lab activities.
FSEC Standards: FSEC Standard 201-10 (PV Module Performance Certification), FSEC Standard 202-10 (PV Equipment Certification), and FSEC Standard 203-17 (PV System Design Review and Approval Procedures).

Career Pathways

Graduates of EEV0205 are prepared for entry-level employment in the solar industry. Continuing through EEV0206 (OCP: B, 450 hours) completes the full Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Installation and Maintenance Technician program. Career opportunities include:

Solar PV Installation Helper / Laborer — Assisting journeyman installers with module handling, mounting, wiring, and site preparation on residential and commercial projects.
Solar Site Assessment Technician — Conducting preliminary site evaluations for residential and small commercial solar proposals.
Solar Sales Support / Design Assistant — Supporting PV system designers and sales professionals with site data, basic drawings, and system specifications.
Renewable Energy Technician Apprentice — Entry point for apprenticeship programs with solar contractors, electrical contractors, or utilities expanding into distributed generation.

Students completing this program can expect starting wages of $20 or more per hour, with advancement tied to experience and certifications. Continuing education leading to NABCEP PV Associate and ultimately NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) certification significantly increases earning potential and career mobility across Florida and nationally.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

EEV0205 is aligned with and supports preparation for the following industry credentials:

NABCEP PV Associate (PVA): The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners PV Associate credential is the recognized entry-level certification for the solar PV industry. The program's curriculum covers the NABCEP PV Associate Learning Objectives, including PV fundamentals, system components, site assessment, safety, and basic design. Completing this course along with the NABCEP-approved training pathway makes students eligible to sit for the PVA exam.
Florida DBPR Solar Contractor Examination: The FSEC Photovoltaic System Design Course Manual (GP-31), referenced in this course, is an approved reference book for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Solar Contractor licensing examination.
ETA International — Photovoltaic Installer Certification: The program is aligned with Electronics Technician Association (ETA) standards for PV installer credentialing.
OSHA 10 — Construction Industry: Safety content in this course supports eligibility for and reinforces OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry outreach training, which is required for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) certification pathway.

Note on Stacking: EEV0205 (OCP A, 150 hours) is a stackable credential within the Florida CTE Energy pathway. Completion of EEV0206 (OCP B, 450 hours) builds directly on this course to achieve the full Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Installation and Maintenance Technician occupational completion point.