As Pre-Apprenticeship Plus builds momentum, SEI adds a strategic partnership with IREC to deepen apprenticeship education for incoming and current students.

PAONIA, CO — Solar Energy International (SEI) is growing its Pre-Apprenticeship Plus program, which prepares students for successful entry into Registered Apprenticeship pathways in the solar and clean energy industry, through a new strategic partnership with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). The partnership gives prospective and current Pre-Apprenticeship Plus students free access to IREC’s orientation course on Registered Apprenticeship careers, adding to the program’s growing network of industry partnerships as it expands its reach.

SEI is one of IREC’s longest-running certified solar training providers, having held IREC certification under its accreditation program for over a decade. Building on that relationship, SEI worked with IREC to adopt Apprenticeship Ready: Exploring Registered Apprenticeship Career Pathways as a companion resource for students entering, or already enrolled in, Pre-Apprenticeship Plus.

About Pre-Apprenticeship Plus
Pre-Apprenticeship Plus is SEI’s pathway program for students and career changers looking to break into the clean energy workforce through Registered Apprenticeship, a federally recognized, earn-while-you-learn model that pairs paid on-the-job training with technical instruction. Since launching, the program has gained momentum, and SEI continues to build strategic partnerships that strengthen the training and resources available to students as they move from Pre-Apprenticeship Plus into a Registered Apprenticeship placement.

Clean energy and energy efficiency are among the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy, with jobs already in place across all 50 states in solar and wind energy, building performance and weatherization, HVAC systems, electrical trades, grid modernization, energy storage, and emerging fields like electric vehicle infrastructure. These jobs are growing at rates that far outpace the overall U.S. workforce, and employers nationwide are actively looking for skilled workers to fill them.

A Free Apprenticeship Orientation Course for SEI Pre-Apprenticeship Plus Students
To help students understand what Registered Apprenticeship involves, before and while they train, SEI is offering every Pre-Apprenticeship Plus student free access to IREC’s self-paced course. The course moves learners through four stages. First, they identify clean energy careers that match their interests and skills. Next, they explore how Registered Apprenticeship compares to other training pathways. Then they learn what makes an apprenticeship officially “registered.” Finally, they build a personalized plan to find, apply to, and succeed in the right program. Throughout, learners hear directly from apprentices and program sponsors who have walked the same path.

Normally a $49 course, Apprenticeship Ready is available at no cost to SEI students using SEI’s code at checkout. Learners who complete the course earn an IREC Apprenticeship Ready digital badge—which demonstrates to apprenticeship programs and employers that they understand the apprenticeship model and are ready to pursue these opportunities.

Prospective and current SEI Pre-Apprenticeship Plus students can register for the course for free by following these steps: 

1. Click here to visit the course landing page. 
2. Click on the “Apprenticeship Ready: Exploring Career Pathways” course module, then click the green Register button, and select Complete Registration Now. 
3. Enter the code SEI-PAPP26 in the Discount Code field, and click Apply Discount. 
4. Follow the prompts to create a new user account. For registration questions, contact support@irecusa.org. 

Learn more about SEI’s Pre-Apprenticeship Plus Pathway here.