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Career Details

47-2152.04 - Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians


Install or repair solar energy systems designed to collect, store, and circulate solar-heated water for residential, commercial or industrial use.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
425,000
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
474,100
Estimate
Change in Employment
+49,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+11.5%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.
  • Perform routine maintenance or repairs to restore solar thermal systems to baseline operating conditions.
  • Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.
  • Assess collector sites to ensure structural integrity of potential mounting surfaces or the best orientation and tilt for solar collectors.
  • Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.
  • Determine locations for installing solar subsystem components, including piping, water heaters, valves, and ancillary equipment.
  • Fill water tanks and check tanks, pipes, and fittings for leaks.
  • Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.
  • Install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.
  • Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.
  • Install flat-plat, evacuated glass, or concentrating solar collectors on mounting devices, using brackets or struts.
  • Install heat exchangers and heat exchanger fluids according to installation manuals and schematics.
  • Install monitoring system components, such as flow meters, temperature gauges, and pressure gauges, according to system design and manufacturer specifications.
  • Install plumbing, such as dip tubes, port fittings, drain tank valves, pressure temperature relief valves, or tanks, according to manufacturer specifications and building codes.
  • Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.
  • Install solar thermal system controllers and sensors.
  • Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.
  • Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.
  • Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.
  • Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.
Supplemental
  • Apply ultraviolet radiation protection to prevent degradation of plumbing.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 95%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Building and Construction
  • 93%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 89%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 English Language
  • 81%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 80%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Education and Training
  • 79%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Design
  • 78%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 76%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 72%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Production and Processing
  • 70%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Administration and Management
  • 68%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Mathematics
  • 60%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Clerical
  • 58%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 57%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Law and Government
  • 55%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Physics
  • 54%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Transportation
  • 53%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 53%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Foreign Language
  • 52%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Large pipe wrenches
  • Medium pipe wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Straight screwdrivers
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Vise grip pliers
 Dispensing tools
  • Caulking equipment
 Pumps
  • Charging pumps
  • Transfer pumps
 Forming tools
  • Claw hammers
 Power tools
  • Cordless drills
  • Impact drills
  • Jig saws
  • Reciprocating saws
  • Right-angle drills
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Crimping lugs
  • Hacksaws
  • Pair of dykes
  • Tin snips
  • Utility knives
  • Wire cutters
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Drill bit sets
  • Hole cutters
  • Pipe taps
 Ladders and scaffolding
  • Extension ladders
  • Fiberglass extension ladders
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Global positioning system GPS receivers
 Safety apparel
  • Protective gloves
 Sealing tools
  • Putty knives
 Computer data input devices
  • Solar analysis systems
 Soldering machines
  • Soldering equipment
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Steel measuring tapes
  • Stud locators
  • Torpedo levels
 Earth moving machinery
  • Trenchers
  • Utility work machines
 Metal cutting tools
  • Tubing cutters
 Cameras
  • Video probe systems
 Hoses
  • Water hoses
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • 1CadCam Unigraphics
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Computer-aided drafting or design softwareHOT
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKSHOT
  • PTC Pro/ENGINEER WildfireHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
  • Work scheduling software
 Business function specific software
  • Cost estimating software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Project management software
 Development software
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Tidewater Community College