Now Hiring: Solar & Electrical Apprentice (2-Year Registered Program)
- Company: Sugar Hollow Solar
- Location: Asheville, NC & surrounding job sites
- Program Duration: 2 Years (4,000 Total On-the-Job Learning Hours)
- Partnering Institution: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (AB Tech)
- FLSA Status: Non-Exempt | Full-Time
ABOUT THE PROGRAM & PURPOSE
Are you looking to build an extraordinary, high-paying career in the rapidly growing clean energy economy without prior trade experience?
The Sugar Hollow Solar 2-Year Registered Apprenticeship Program is a structured, alternative pathway designed to bridge the gap between solar deployment and high-level electrical engineering. Rather than separating rooftop solar installation from grid-tied electrical work, our program integrates them sequentially:
- Year 1 Target: Solar Craftsperson (Job Code: O-SC) – Master rooftop dynamics, safety systems, and photovoltaic array layout.
- Year 2 Target: Electrical Craftsperson (Job Code: O-EC) – Advance into conduit bending, complex circuitry, subpanel integration, and battery system commissioning.
Upon completion, you will possess 4,000 hours of verifiable field hours and technical instruction, positioning you on a clear, accelerated pathway to obtain your North Carolina Electrical License within four years!
PROGRAM GOALS & WHAT YOU WILL GAIN
- Accelerated Licensing Pathway: Fulfills core field hours and classroom requirements to set you up for state electrical licensure.
- Dual-Field Competency: Graduate with elite skills in both solar PV installation and advanced grid-tied AC/DC electrical infrastructure.
- Safety & Field Autonomy: Develop rigorous standards of fall protection, live circuit safety, and live-site troubleshooting. Transparent Wage Escalator: Earn guaranteed, progressive wage increases as you complete OJL milestones and coursework.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To be eligible for enrollment, candidates must meet the following baseline requirements:
- Age: At least 18 years of age (due to hazardous rooftop and electrical work environments).
- Education: High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (GED).
- Driver’s License: Valid driver’s license required for travel to changing deployment sites.
- Physical Capability: Ability to safely navigate sloped rooftops, handle heavy equipment setups, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
- Prior Experience/Military Credit: Prior trade experience or military technical training can be evaluated for credit during the probationary window with verifiable transcripts or a DD-214.
- Probationary Window: Selected candidates serve a standard 1,000-hour probationary period.
RELATED TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION (RTI) & AB TECH PARTNERSHIP
- Total Classroom / Lab Hours: 288 Minimum Contact Hours (144 hours per year).
- Delivery: Hybrid combination of classroom, lab, and online modules.
- Academic Partner: Courses are hosted in partnership with AB Tech. (Note: Apprentices are responsible for enrolling in required electrical courses at AB Tech; SHS offers schedule accommodations for class times).
- Core Curriculum Includes: OSHA 10 & 30, PV System Design, Basic Electrical Theory & Multimeters, National Electrical Code (NEC) Intro, Advanced Conduit Bending and System Diagnostics.
LONG-TERM CAREER PATHWAY: NC ELECTRICAL LICENSURE
Your journey doesn't stop at graduation! Completing this 2-year program awards you 4,000 foundational hours towards North Carolina’s 8,000-hour requirement for a Limited (L) or Residential Electrical License.
Graduates in good standing seamlessly bridge into Phase I & Phase II of the SHS Electrical License Program, which includes: Paid Study Allocation: 12 weeks of paid study time (up to 4 hrs/week). Study Resources: Paid JCR Productions online test prep subscription & fully tabbed NEC Codebook. Financial Support: 100% coverage of initial application/testing fees and license fees. License Retention Bonus: 100% payroll reimbursement for annual license renewals for full-time employees.
HOW TO APPLY
Ready to jumpstart your career in clean energy and electrical trades?
Submit your Sugar Hollow Solar Apprenticeship Application along with your resume (and transcripts/DD-214 if requesting prior trade credit) directly to our hiring team!