Solar States has launched a new training program that aims to equip those who have been impacted by the justice system with skills in the solar industry, writes Sophia Schmidt for WHYY. 

The Solar States’ Find Your Ladder program is a 14-week training program that features both classroom and hands-on classes, followed by a 30- to 40-hour-per-week internship.

“They should be ready to go out and just join with any solar company, start installing right away, and be a functional team member for any crew,” said Moises Morales, the company’s lead instructor. 

Participants get an OSHA safety certification and take an entry-level solar certification exam through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. 

“It is an amazing certification to have if you want to be part of the industry,” Morales said. “It definitely gets you a foot in the door in a lot of places.”

The training program focuses on solar system installation in residential homes.

In addition to gaining skills within the growing solar industry, the program also provides participants with the opportunity to have a direct impact on the Earth. 

Read more about the long-lasting impact this new program can have on the lives of the participants and the planet in WHYY.

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