SHS Apprenticeship Application for Enrollment

Now Hiring: Solar & Electrical Apprentice (2-Year Registered Program)

• Company: Sugar Hollow Solar
• Location: Asheville, NC & surrounding job sites
• Program Duration: 2 Years (4,000 Total On-the-Job Learning Hours)
• Partnering Institution: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (AB Tech)
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt | Full-Time

ABOUT THE PROGRAM & PURPOSE

Are you looking to build an extraordinary, high-paying career in the rapidly growing clean energy economy without prior trade experience?

The Sugar Hollow Solar 2-Year Registered Apprenticeship Program is a structured, alternative pathway designed to bridge the gap between solar deployment and high-level electrical engineering. Rather than separating rooftop solar installation from grid-tied electrical work, our program integrates them sequentially:

• Year 1 Target: Solar Craftsperson (Job Code: O-SC) – Master rooftop dynamics, safety systems, and photovoltaic array layout.
• Year 2 Target: Electrical Craftsperson (Job Code: O-EC) – Advance into conduit bending, complex circuitry, subpanel integration, and battery system commissioning.

Upon completion, you will possess 4,000 hours of verifiable field hours and technical instruction, positioning you on a clear, accelerated pathway to obtain your North Carolina Electrical License within four years!

PROGRAM GOALS & WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

• Accelerated Licensing Pathway: Fulfills core field hours and classroom requirements to set you up for state electrical licensure.
• Dual-Field Competency: Graduate with elite skills in both solar PV installation and advanced grid-tied AC/DC electrical infrastructure.
• Safety & Field Autonomy: Develop rigorous standards of fall protection, live circuit safety, and live-site troubleshooting.   Transparent Wage Escalator: Earn guaranteed, progressive wage increases as you complete OJL milestones and coursework.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for enrollment, candidates must meet the following baseline requirements:

• Age: At least 18 years of age (due to hazardous rooftop and electrical work environments).
• Education: High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (GED).
• Driver’s License: Valid driver’s license required for travel to changing deployment sites.
• Physical Capability: Ability to safely navigate sloped rooftops, handle heavy equipment setups, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Prior Experience/Military Credit: Prior trade experience or military technical training can be evaluated for credit during the probationary window with verifiable transcripts or a DD-214.
• Probationary Window: Selected candidates serve a standard 1,000-hour probationary period.   
  

RELATED TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION (RTI) & AB TECH PARTNERSHIP

• Total Classroom / Lab Hours: 288 Minimum Contact Hours (144 hours per year).  
• Delivery: Hybrid combination of classroom, lab, and online modules.  
• Academic Partner: Courses are hosted in partnership with AB Tech. (Note: Apprentices are responsible for enrolling in required electrical courses at AB Tech; SHS offers schedule accommodations for class times).  
• Core Curriculum Includes: OSHA 10 & 30, PV System Design, Basic Electrical Theory & Multimeters, National Electrical Code (NEC) Intro, Advanced Conduit Bending and System Diagnostics.   

LONG-TERM CAREER PATHWAY: NC ELECTRICAL LICENSURE

Your journey doesn't stop at graduation! Completing this 2-year program awards you 4,000 foundational hours towards North Carolina’s 8,000-hour requirement for a Limited (L) or Residential Electrical License.  

Graduates in good standing seamlessly bridge into Phase I & Phase II of the SHS Electrical License Program, which includes:   Paid Study Allocation: 12 weeks of paid study time (up to 4 hrs/week).   Study Resources: Paid JCR Productions online test prep subscription & fully tabbed NEC Codebook.   Financial Support: 100% coverage of initial application/testing fees and license fees.   License Retention Bonus: 100% payroll reimbursement for annual license renewals for full-time employees. 

HOW TO APPLY
Ready to jumpstart your career in clean energy and electrical trades?

Submit your Sugar Hollow Solar Apprenticeship Application along with your resume (and transcripts/DD-214 if requesting prior trade credit) directly to our hiring team!