Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title:	Solar Energy Technician
Career Cluster:	Manufacturing

CCC	
CIP Number	0615170301	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	12 credit hours	
CTSO	SkillsUSA	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	Please see the CIP to SOC Crosswalk located at the link below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Electronics Engineering Technology AS degree program (1615030301).  
 
A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the manufacturing career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the manufacturing career cluster. 

The program is designed to prepare individuals for employment as solar energy technicians, or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in the electrical, plumbing or roofing industries.  This program prepares individuals to assemble, install, operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair solar thermal or photovoltaic equipment.  Graduates of this program will be prepared to enter advanced training and education in specialized electrical, plumbing, building construction, electronics and related fields.  They may also be employed as trainees in the solar energy industry.  The content includes, but is not limited to, DC circuits, AC circuits, solar thermal, and photovoltaic systems.  Integrated into this content will be communications skills, leadership skills, human relations skills, employability skills, safe and efficient work practices, use of circuit diagrams and schematics, soldering, laboratory practices and technical recording and reporting. 

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory practices. 
02.0	Demonstrate proficiency in direct current (DC) circuits. 
03.0	Demonstrate proficiency in alternating current (AC) circuits. 
04.0	Demonstrate proficiency in solar thermal systems. 
05.0	Demonstrate proficiency in photovoltaic systems. 
06.0	Demonstrate employability skills. 

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	Solar Energy Technician
CIP Number:	0615170301
Program Length:	12 credit hours		

This certificate program is part of the Electronics Engineering Technology AS degree program (1615030301).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory practices.  The student will be able to: 	
01.01	Apply Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards in an electronics laboratory environment when required.	
01.02	Analyze drawings and electronic schematics to make proper electrical and component connections and to also identify obvious faulty connections.	
01.03	Identify and use electrical/electronic hand and power tools (wire stripper, wire needle-nose clipper, solder and desolder station, etc.).	
01.04	Explain the theoretical and practical concepts of soldering including soldering paste and conductive glue.	
01.05	Identify non-functional solder connections.	
01.06	Practice acceptable soldering, de-soldering, rework, and repair techniques.	
01.07	Practice electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures.	
01.08	Describe the construction of printed circuit boards (PCBs).	
01.09	Use circuit simulation programs to solve problems, verify circuit functionality and design circuits.	
01.10	Demonstrate the use of instrumentation and module analytical software.	
01.11	Read and interpret data sheet specifications for electronic components.	
01.12	Identify basic limitations of multi-meters, oscilloscopes, function generators, and power supplies.	
01.13	Use digital multi-meters (DMM), oscilloscopes, function generators, and power supplies to build, analyze and trouble shoot electrical/electronic circuits.	
02.0	Demonstrate proficiency in direct current (DC) circuits.  The student will be able to: 	
02.01	Describe the physical laws that govern electricity and magnetism.	
02.02	Identify sources of electricity.	
02.03	Define voltage, current, resistance, power and energy.	
02.04	Apply Ohm's law and power formulas to electrical/electronic circuits.	
02.05	Read and interpret color codes and symbols to identify electrical components and values.	
02.06	Measure properties of a circuit and electronic components using Digital Multimeters (DMM), LCR meters and oscilloscopes.	
02.07	Calculate and measure the conductance and resistance of conductors and insulators.	
02.08	Solve problems in electronics utilizing metric prefixes.	
02.09	Apply Ohm's law and Kirchoff's voltage and current laws to solve series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits.	
02.10	Construct and verify operation of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits.	
02.11	Analyze and troubleshoot series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits.	
02.12	Apply Ohm's law and Kirchoff's voltage and current laws to bridge circuits.	
02.13	Construct and verify the operation of bridge circuits.	
02.14	Analyze and troubleshoot bridge circuits.	
02.15	Identify and define voltage divider circuits (loaded and unloaded).	
02.16	Construct and verify the operation of voltage divider circuits (loaded and unloaded).	
02.17	Analyze and troubleshoot voltage divider circuits (loaded and unloaded).	
02.18	Apply maximum power transfer theory to determine the conditions under which maximum power transfer occurs in a circuit.	
02.19	Construct and verify the operation of DC circuits that demonstrate the maximum power transfer theory.	
02.20	Describe magnetic properties of circuits and devices.	
02.21	Define resistor-capacitor (R-C) and resistor-inductor (R-L) time constants and classify the output of differentiators and integrators.	
02.22	Setup and operate power supplies for DC circuits.	
03.0	Demonstrate proficiency in alternating current (AC) circuits.  The student will be able to: 	
03.01	Identify properties of an AC signal. 	
03.02	Identify AC sources. 	
03.03	Analyze and measure AC signals utilizing DMM's, oscilloscope, frequency counter and function generator.	
03.04	Define the characteristics of three-phase circuits. 	
03.05	Define the operation of basic motor theory and Induction motor theory.	
03.06	Define basic generator theory and operation. 	
03.07	Setup and operate power supplies for AC circuits. 	
03.08	Utilize Power Analyzers to Analyze and measure power in AC circuits.	
04.0	Demonstrate proficiency in solar thermal systems.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Create sun path charts and site solar irradiance audit. 	
04.02	Explain how a passive solar thermal system works. 	
04.03	Install solar thermal systems. 	
04.04	Determine the best location for collector roof mounting. 	
04.05	Understand the concepts of wind loading, collector, and piping freeze protection. 	
04.06	Size a solar thermal system based on family size and local solar irradiance. 	
04.07	Explain how an active solar thermal system works. 	
04.08	Install AC and DC water pumps, electronic controllers, and temperature sensors. 	
04.09	Describe the latest Florida solar rebates, and federal solar tax credits.	
05.0	Demonstrate proficiency in photovoltaic systems.  The student will be able to: 	
05.01	Determine the available solar resource and conduct site assessments for PV installations. 	
05.02	Determine the performance and operating characteristics of PV systems and components. 	
05.03	Define appropriate code-compliant configurations for PV systems and equipment. 	
05.04	Plan and prepare for PV system installations, including customer relations, developing performance expectations, responsibilities and schedule. 	
05.05	Implement and modify, as required, mechanical designs for PV systems that meet the performance, architectural and structural requirements for given applications. 	
05.06	Implement and modify, as required, electrical designs for PV systems that meet the safety, code-compliance and functional requirements for given applications	
05.07	Conduct acceptance tests and inspections, and commission PV system installations. 	
05.08	Evaluate, troubleshoot, and maintain PV systems.	
05.09	Describe the principles of Wind, Geothermal, Biomass, and tidal wave energy systems.  	
06.0	Demonstrate employability skills.  The student will be able to: 	
06.01	Conduct a job search. 	
06.02	Secure information about a job. 	
06.03	Identify documents that may be required when applying for a job. 	
06.04	Complete a job application form correctly. 	
06.05	Demonstrate competence in job interview techniques. 	
06.06	Demonstrate knowledge of how to make appropriate decisions. 	
06.07	Demonstrate appropriate work/behavioral habits. 	
06.08	Demonstrate acceptable employee personal hygiene and health. 	
06.09	Demonstrate knowledge of the Occupational Safety and Health Standard 29CFR-1910.1200, Hazard Communication.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools, and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students. 

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

SkillsUSA is the co-curricular career and technical student organization for providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills.  Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered.  

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.