Kickstarting Solar Careers
MREA partners with Association House to help train and prepare students for a career in renewable energy.
May 6, 2026
A successful renewable energy transition depends on more than technology — it requires a skilled, well-trained workforce of solar professionals to bring it to life. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is committed to meeting this need by partnering with organizations to make solar education accessible, practical, and career-focused — especially for underserved communities seeking pathways into the clean energy industry.
That’s why MREA was proud to collaborate with Association House of Chicago this past fall and winter to deliver customized solar training for their program participants.
About Association House
Association House’s mission is to advance each person’s full participation in the life of their families, communities, and society. They serve a vibrant, multicultural community by using a trauma-informed, culturally responsive model to promote health and wellness and create opportunities for educational and economic advancement.
To help achieve their goal, MREA worked with Association House to provide customized training to students who have already completed their NCCER Basic Construction Training program.
“As the CEJA Westside Hub, Association House is working to bridge students into renewable energy certification trainings that lead to industry-recognized credentials, such as the NABCEP Solar PV Installer Certification. This effort expands access to high-quality renewable energy training opportunities for residents of Chicago’s Humboldt Park community.“
– Filiberto Rios, Senior Director, Community Health and Workforce Development Programs
Customized Training to Meet Association House’s Needs
In October and December 2025, MREA delivered two 52-hour, hands-on training programs that spanned seven days, providing the team with the solar knowledge needed to excel in their mission. The curriculum included the foundational courses for the PV Associates program including Working with Electricity (G 108), Basic Photovoltaics (PV 101), PV Site Assessment (PV 201), PV System Design (PV 202), PV Design and Installation Lab (PV 304), and PV Exam Prep (PV 220), in order to meet the trainees’ needs and goals.
“One of the highlights of the class was getting hands-on with thermal camera demonstrations. Seeing temperature differentials in real time helps bridge the gap between abstract concepts and practical application. Tools like thermal imaging aren’t just flashy tech—they’re powerful teaching aids that help future solar professionals think diagnostically and critically about system performance, heat loss, and real-world troubleshooting.“
– Emmitt Muckles, MREA Instructor
“The Association House group works hard to support their students. It was a wonderful opportunity to be a part of their training offering.“
– Alex Jarvis, MREA Instructor
Core Course Knowledge Built for Association House
This customized training focused on our core course training program to prepare them for their NABCEP PV Associates exam to create a clear pathway to renewable energy jobs — training that’s available to all customers hoping for your end goals to be met by the MREA.
“Let’s be clear up front: this wasn’t a passive, sit-back-and-watch-slides kind of class. This was learning with friction, questions, cold weather, real conversations, and real curiosity. And that’s exactly why it worked. The students came from different backgrounds, but they shared a common goal: stepping into (or leveling up within) the solar PV industry. Throughout the week, they asked thoughtful, sometimes challenging questions about how PV systems actually work, what the NABCEP exam is really testing, and, critically, what real opportunities exist in the Chicagoland and greater Midwest solar market. Those questions sparked some of the best discussions of the week, because they connected theory to reality.“
– Emmitt Muckles, MREA Instructor
“Association House of Chicago believes that training the next generation of energy stewards is critical to advancing efficiency and addressing tomorrow’s energy challenges. We are grateful for our partnership with MREA, whose Solar PV Installation Training equips our Clean Energy students with practical, solar energy installation skills they can carry into their future roles.“
– Filiberto Rios, Senior Director, Community Health and Workforce Development Programs
Looking ahead, the MREA is excited to continue our partnership with Association House and deliver accredited solar training to help kickstart solar careers.
MREA Custom Group Training
MREA’s Customized Group Training delivers affordable, high-quality solar and renewable energy education tailored to your organization’s needs. Whether onboarding new hires, providing continuing education, or preparing municipal inspectors, we equip professionals with the skills and credentials to succeed in a rapidly evolving energy industry.
Training is available online, in-person at our Wisconsin facilities, on-site, or in hybrid formats, including hands-on labs. We also offer Illumination Solar’s Mobile Solar Training Labs, bringing practical, hands-on learning directly to you.
Interested in Customized Group Training? Fill out our interest form, explore our resources, and schedule a meeting with our Training Director to discuss your needs.