StrataTech Education Group, an organization training people in craft trades, launched a new solar technician course for Amazon’s hourly employees as part of Amazon’s Career Choice program. The 10-week solar technician course is offered at The Refrigeration School (RSI) and teaches photovoltaic science and an introduction to the fundamentals of solar energy, with pre-paid tuition provided by Amazon.
In March 2022, StrataTech was selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, offering Amazon hourly employees access to courses in MIG welding and fundamentals in HVAC and electrical at the RSI and Tulsa Welding School. The solar technician course is the latest addition to the ongoing partnership, and through a combination of lecture, problem-solving and hands-on lab exercises, students will learn the concepts and processes of PV systems, including their design and installation, with an emphasis on wiring and electrical issues.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to continue growing our relationship with Amazon and provide their employees with valuable skills to pursue careers in renewable energy,” said Mary Kelly, president and CEO of StrataTech Education Group. “StrataTech is committed to helping employers upskill their workforce, and we enjoy working with partners like Amazon that understand the importance of equipping their employees with skills to address the nation’s growing infrastructure needs.”
StrataTech and Amazon’s solar pilot program began in September and equips Amazon employees with the skills necessary to pursue roles within the company that focuses on renewable energy. Upon completion of the program, Amazon employees will have the option to continue their education with RSI and enroll in the full program, allowing them to finish their training.
Job opportunities for solar photovoltaic installers are growing at a much faster pace than other jobs at 27%, with 2,500 openings projected each year, according to the Bureau Labor of Statistics.
Amazon’s Career Choice program offers employees training and upskilling opportunities, including pre-paid college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs and foundational skills such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas and GEDs.
“We’re proud to have StrataTech on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,” said Tammy Thieman, global program lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program. “We’re committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere.”
News item from StrataTech Education Group
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ‘downing StrataTech’, yet over the years I have had “training classes” on technology, in particular industrial controls on technologies like VFD, (Variable Frequency Drives), PLCs like GE, Modicon, Texas Instruments, Automation Direct (Koyo). Each one of these “classes” had software and hardware provided as well as some rigorous classroom exercises.
The problem often one runs into is the company is “pushing” their latest/greatest products and YOU may not get hands on experience on the equipment you will be working on. When you get back to the “shop” you find quickly many of the “options” you were schooled on are not available on the equipment you have in service. Now one must spend time figuring out what works with the product one has online and how to implement what was learned in the classroom in your particular control application. There is a LOT of work to be done in the “real World” of industrial controls before a “cut and paste” application can be used.