Training Programs

Midwest Renewable Energy Association Training

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) offers industry-leading professional training for solar photovoltaics (PV). MREA courses are accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), and meet the educational requirements for credentialing by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

Whether you want to start a career in the renewable energy field, maintain a credential, or install solar on your home, MREA has a variety of courses to advance your skills. We offer online and in-person learning options to fit your busy schedule.

MREA Members always pay less for training, and gain FREE access to our introductory tutorials.
Learn more about membership and sign-up to be a member here.

New Students

Core Courses
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Returning Students

Advanced Courses
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Course Listings and Registration

All Courses

Below is a list of all courses MREA offers. To see the next available offering of the course, click the button that says Register.

General Courses

Course Name	Prerequisites	Format	CECs	Price
(G 108) Working with Electricity	None	In-Person Lab, Online: Self-Paced-Start Any Time - No Due Dates		$55 – $75	Register
(G 110) Navigating the NEC	None	Online: Self-Paced-Start Any Time - No Due Dates	NABCEP DSPS	$95 – $115	Register

PV Courses

Course Name	Prerequisites	Format	CECs	Price
(PV 101) Basic Photovoltaics	None	In-Person Lecture or Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	MDLI IDPS DSPS	$115 – $135	Register
(PV 201) PV Site Assessment	PV 101	In-Person Lecture or Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	IDPS DSPS	$175 – $195	Register
(PV 202) PV System Design	PV 101, PV 201	In-Person Lecture or Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	MDLI IDPS DSPS	$295 – $315	Register
(PV 220) PV Exam Prep	PV 101, PV 201, and PV 202	In-Person Lecture or Online: Self-Paced-Start Any Time - No Due Dates	IDPS DSPS	$75 – $95	Register
(PV 302) Roof Mount PV System Design & Installation Lab	PV 101, PV 201, and PV 202 or NABCEP credential	In-Person Lab or In-Person Lecture	NABCEP DSPS	$325 – $345	Register
(PV 304) PV Labs & Design Scenarios	PV 101, PV 201, and PV 202 or NABCEP credential	In-Person Lab or In-Person Lecture	NABCEP MDLI IDPS DSPS	$250 – $270	Register
(PV 320) Solar Training Academy	None	In-Person Lab or Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions		$1799 – $1899	Register
(PV 420) Battery-Based PV System Design	PV 101, PV 201, and PV 202 or NABCEP credential	In-Person Lecture or Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	NABCEP	$125 – $145	Register
(PV 425) PV System Operations & Maintenance	PV 101, PV 201, and PV 202 or NABCEP credential	Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	NABCEP MDLI DSPS	$125 – $145	Register
(PV 430) Intro to System Advisor Model (SAM)	PV 101 or NABCEP credential	Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	NABCEP	$135 – $155	Register
(PV 431) Modeling PV-Battery Systems in SAM	PV 430 Intro to System Advisor Model (SAM)	Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	NABCEP	$125 – $145	Register
(PV 435) PV Sales & Finance	PV 101 or NABCEP credential	In-Person Lecture or Online: Scheduled w/Optional Review Sessions	NABCEP	$155 – $175	Register
(PV 604) Inspecting PV Systems	PV 101 or Licensed Electrician	In-Person Lecture	NABCEP MDLI DSPS	$125 – $145	Syllabus
(PV 620) Fire Code Regulations for PV Systems	None	Online: Self-Paced-Start Any Time - No Due Dates	NABCEP DSPS	$55 – $75	Register

Solar Thermal Courses

MREA does not currently offer any courses on this technology.

Wind Courses

Course Name	Prerequisites	Format	Price
(W 101) Introduction to Wind Energy Systems	None	Online: Self-Paced-Start Any Time - No Due Dates	$80 – $100	Register
(W 201) Small Wind Site Assessment	W 101	Online: Self-Paced-Start Any Time - No Due Dates	$100 – $120	Register

Courses By Date

Don’t see the course you are looking for? We are currently working on the 2021 course schedule. Sign up for our Courses Newsletter to keep up with the updates as they happen.

Independent Study Courses

Navigating the NEC (G 110)

Price: $95 - $115 NABCEP

PV Exam Prep (PV 220)

Price: $75 - $95 DSPS

Fire Code Regulations for PV Systems (PV 620)

Price: $55 - $75 NABCEP DSPS

Introduction to Wind Energy Systems (W 101)

Price: $80 - $100

Small Wind Site Assessment (W 201)

Price: $100 - $120

Online Self Paced - Start Any Time with Due Dates

MREA Core Course Package

Price: $717 - $791 MDLI IDPS DSPS

Basic Photovoltaics (PV 101)

Price: $115 - $135 DSPS

PV Site Assessment (PV 201)

Price: $175 - $195 DSPS

PV System Design (PV 202)

Price: $295 - $315 DSPS

September 2021

PV Sales and Finance (PV 435.03) -- Online -- September 20 through October 17

Price: $155 - $175 NABCEP

October 2021

PV System Operations and Maintenance (PV 425.05) -- Online -- October 4 through October 24

Price: $125 - $145 NABCEP DSPS

MnSEIA Energy Storage Fundamentals (PV 451) -- MnSEIA's Gateway to Solar Conference - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis - 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis MN 55403 -- October 18 through October 18

Price: FREE

MnSEIA Fire Code Regulations for PV Systems (PV 620) -- MnSEIA's Gateway to Solar Conference - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis - 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis MN 55403 -- October 18 through October 18

Price: FREE NABCEP

MnSEIA Inspecting PV Systems (PV 604) -- MnSEIA's Gateway to Solar Conference - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis - 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis MN 55403 -- October 19 through October 19

Price: FREE NABCEP

November 2021

PV Sales and Finance (PV 435.04) -- Online -- November 1 through December 5

Price: $155 - $175 NABCEP

Modeling PV-Battery Systems in SAM (PV 431.03) -- Online -- November 8 through November 21

Price: $125 - $145 NABCEP

Battery-Based PV System Design (PV 420.05) -- Online -- November 29 through December 19

Price: $125 - $145 NABCEP

PV System Operations and Maintenance (PV 425.06) -- Online -- November 29 through December 19

Price: $125 - $145 NABCEP DSPS

Course Search and Filter

Select a specific course type, technology, month, or course name you are interested in and then click the Search button to view results. If your filter becomes too specific, try selecting ALL in one or more of the categories to expand the list of results.

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MREA Energy Storage System Tech Center

The MREA team is working hard on building out a new solar plus storage lab that will integrate some of the solar industry’s top energy storage systems. This will be fed from 38 kW of new PV and will be delivered as both virtual and hands-on Solar+Storage (S+S) training.

LEARN MORE

Energy Professional Workshop Series

MREA hosted a recurring virtual Energy Professional Series on a weekly basis from March until July, recordings are now available upon registration. Learn about the solar industry’s latest and greatest products while gaining CECs for NABCEP credentials.

Contract Training

Are you looking to train a group of new hires, or provide continuing education to your experienced staff? We offer Contract Training built to suit your needs. Visit our Contract Training webpage or reach out to our training team for more information courses@midwestrenew.org

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MREA PV Endorsement Program

Are you looking for a resume builder? Use MREA as a reference when applying for jobs in the industry.

Learn More

2021 Training Catalog Coming Soon

Email us if you would like to be on the mailing list courses@midwestrenew.org

For a list of courses available for registration now, please scroll up to the Course Listings and Registration section of this webpage.

You can still flip through the 2020 catalog here.

Testimonial

The courses are easily accessible, and well prepared.
I found it a great way to learn about solar energy and prepare for the NABCEP PV Associate exam.

– Brian Bischoff, MREA Alumni –

Midwest Renewable Energy Association Training

New Students

Returning Students

Student Resources

Course Listings and Registration

All Courses

General Courses

PV Courses

Solar Thermal Courses

Wind Courses

Courses By Date

Independent Study Courses

Online Self Paced - Start Any Time with Due Dates

September 2021

October 2021

November 2021

Course Search and Filter

MREA Energy Storage System Tech Center

Energy Professional Workshop Series

Contract Training

MREA PV Endorsement Program

2021 Training Catalog *Coming Soon*

Testimonial

The courses are easily accessible, and well prepared. I found it a great way to learn about solar energy and prepare for the NABCEP PV Associate exam.

2021 Training Catalog Coming Soon

The courses are easily accessible, and well prepared.
I found it a great way to learn about solar energy and prepare for the NABCEP PV Associate exam.