Everlight Solar Sets New Bar for Workforce with National Certification

MADISON, Wis. – May 05, 2026 – Everlight Solar, the Midwest's fastest-growing solar company, announced it has been certified to offer training programs from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). The move marks a significant strategic investment in workforce professionalization, aiming to address a critical skilled labor shortage that challenges the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.

By integrating NCCER's nationally recognized curriculum into its internal 'Everlight University,' the company is positioning itself not only as a market leader in solar and home exterior services but also as a key player in developing the next generation of skilled tradespeople. This initiative provides employees with a direct path to valuable credentials, enhancing safety, quality, and career mobility within the industry.

Raising the Standard for Solar Installation

The partnership with NCCER represents a deliberate effort to elevate the standards of the solar installation trade. NCCER, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation, is a trusted national authority in creating standardized training and credentialing programs for the construction industry. Its curricula are designed to promote safety, productivity, and long-term career development, providing a benchmark for excellence that is recognized nationwide.

For consumers, the presence of NCCER-certified technicians offers a new level of assurance. As the solar industry grows, the quality and expertise of installers can vary widely. Certification ensures that technicians possess a verified understanding of electrical systems, structural integrity, and local building codes, significantly reducing the risk of installation errors or safety hazards. This commitment to a higher standard builds customer confidence and enhances the credibility of the industry as a whole.

While specialized certifications from bodies like the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) have long been considered the gold standard for solar professionals, foundational training like that from NCCER plays a crucial, complementary role. It establishes a broad, robust skill set rooted in general construction principles, which is vital for a trade that involves roofing, structural work, and complex electrical integration. By adopting these standards, Everlight Solar ensures its workforce has a comprehensive and safety-oriented foundation upon which specialized solar expertise can be built.

Powering Careers to Combat a Workforce Crisis

Beyond setting a new quality benchmark, Everlight Solar's initiative directly confronts the most pressing challenge facing the clean energy transition: a severe shortage of skilled labor. Recent industry reports indicate that nearly 90% of solar companies struggle to find qualified applicants, citing a lack of experience, technical skills, and specific training as the primary barriers. This workforce gap threatens to slow the pace of solar adoption at a time when demand is surging.

Everlight's strategy tackles this crisis head-on by creating a robust internal talent pipeline. The company's 'Everlight University' is now structured to deliver the NCCER curriculum, but it goes a step further by enriching the standardized material with practical, real-world applications. This blended learning model provides a more holistic educational experience.

"Everlight University stringently follows the curriculum of NCCER and Pearson, but also incorporates supplemental learning such as weekly code questions, field trips, hands-on projects, and real-life examples from professors' experience in the trades," stated Brodie Idler, Team Lead Electrician at the company. "This builds better relationships with students and progresses their learning far beyond the minimum requirements of the curriculum."

Crucially, the company offers this comprehensive education to its employees entirely free of charge. This removes a significant financial barrier that often prevents individuals from pursuing or advancing in the skilled trades. In a competitive labor market, offering paid, credentialed training is a powerful tool for both recruitment and retention. It signals a deep investment in employee growth, fostering loyalty and providing clear pathways for career advancement, which are key factors in reducing turnover and attracting top-tier talent.

Fueling Regional Economic Growth

The impact of Everlight Solar's training initiative extends beyond its own corporate walls, promising to fuel economic development across its eight-state territory, which includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. The Midwest, in particular, has emerged as a hotspot for solar energy growth, creating thousands of jobs that often pay more than comparable positions in other construction sectors.

However, this regional boom is contingent upon the availability of a skilled workforce. By training and certifying local workers, Everlight Solar helps build a sustainable talent pool that can support the industry's continued expansion. This aligns with national workforce development goals, including efforts by the U.S. Department of Labor to establish registered apprenticeship programs for clean energy jobs.

A locally trained and certified workforce ensures that the economic benefits of solar development—including job creation and tax revenue—remain within the communities being served. This investment in human capital strengthens the regional economy and contributes to the long-term viability of the renewable energy sector. As the demand for solar continues to climb, companies that cultivate their own skilled labor will be best positioned to meet the challenge.

This strategic fusion of business growth and workforce development demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to corporate responsibility. By investing in nationally recognized training, Everlight Solar is not only ensuring the quality and safety of its own projects but also actively contributing to the creation of a professional, skilled, and resilient workforce ready to build America's clean energy future.