Solar & Battery Course FAQs
How courses are run
Each course is online pre-work first, then hands-on practical days in person. The grid-connected solar (PV) course and the battery course are separate, nationally recognised courses. Most people do them in different months rather than back to back.
The standard model is five in-person days per course. Finish all your online pre-work and exams before you start and the in-class part drops to three days. Turn up without the pre-work done and you'll be moved to a later intake, so get on it early.
Around 30 to 50 hours per course, made up of roughly eight units and quizzes. The battery course has a little less than solar (about one unit fewer). It's self-paced, so you can fit it around work.
Cost, discounts and payment
It depends on the course: the solar and battery installer courses sit around $2,000 to $2,600 each, the certified designer pathway is higher (around $3,400), and the online sales and consultant courses are lower (around $995). Confirm the current price for the exact course you want on the course page.
We run promotions throughout the year. Keep an eye on our socials when we announce sales and discounts.
Yes. There are deposit and part-payment options, for example a deposit to lock in your spot with the balance charged closer to the course. Businesses can prepay and draw down on course credits, and pay by purchase order or invoice.
Your statement of attainment is issued once the course is paid in full and your trainer has marked all your units.
Dates, locations and changing your booking
Intakes run monthly across our locations (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne). Popular dates fill up and some funded spots can be a few months out, so book early to get the month you want.
Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Regional dates come up depending on demand. Pick the location and date that suit you when you enrol.
Yes, with notice. Give us 7 to 14 days depending on the course and we'll move you to another intake. Tell us as early as you can.
Do I need to be a licensed electrician?
For design and sales, yes. For install, no. To install grid-connected solar or battery systems you have to be a registered electrician, because you're working on higher-voltage equipment. Non-electricians can take the design and sales pathways.
Yes. The designer pathway covers system design and the calculations without the live install work. It suits designers, consultants and career changers who won't be on the tools.
Prerequisites and prior training
Yes. You need your grid-connected PV (solar) accreditation before you start battery, because battery work builds on it. If your PV ticket is current, you can go straight into battery.
The units changed in 2022, so older tickets (a 2016 PV accreditation, for example) usually need re-training to meet current requirements. More recent accreditations may still be current. Send us your details and we'll check before you book.
RPL is possible, but it's usually more involved and slower than sitting the course, because you have to gather and submit evidence for each unit. For most people the course is the quicker path. Talk to us about your situation.
Funding
Eligible applicants may access construction industry (CSQ) funding, which covers a large part of the fee. On recent enquiries that left out-of-pocket costs of roughly $825 to $1,450 per course, depending on whether it's solar or battery. Funding is limited, reviewed periodically and first-come first-served, so check your eligibility early. Confirm the current percentages and amounts with us.
It depends on your residency or citizenship and your work situation, and you may need a letter from your employer. Citizens, permanent residents and some others (NZ citizens, for example) can qualify. Send your details and we'll confirm what you're eligible for.
Which course do I need?
It comes down to your role:
- Installer (licensed electrician): grid-connected PV (solar) and battery install courses.
- Designer or consultant: the certified designer or certified consultant course, covering site surveys and system design.
- Sales or showroom staff: the Solar and Battery Sales Professional course, which is short and fully online.
Add-ons like the Conduct Site Survey unit (on-grid and off-grid versions) can be added on top.
A separate accredited pathway for off-grid solar and battery systems, with its own online pre-work and practical days. There's an off-grid site survey competency you can add, and a designer-only option if you're not installing.
Enrolling and getting started
For accredited courses: your USI (Unique Student Identifier), your electrical licence details, and a secondary ID such as Medicare. Non-electrical pathways don't need a licence. Once you're in, you'll get a login by email to start the online pre-work.
You can create or find your USI on the government USI site. If you can't track down your VET transcript, you can upload a placeholder so your enrolment isn't held up, and student support will follow up with you.
Check the email from us (or our learning platform) for your login, and look for the login option on the application page. If your materials still aren't showing, contact student support and we'll get your access sorted, usually same day or next morning.
After the course
You finish with a nationally recognised statement of attainment. You use that to apply to Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) for your accreditation. SAA has its own short identity and quiz step to complete the process. Your certificate is released once your fees are paid in full.
New to the industry
If you're new and not on the tools, the certified consultant course online is a solid starting point. It covers foundational PV and battery knowledge plus on-grid site surveys. From there you can decide whether to move into design or, if you become a licensed electrician, into install. For an idea of roles and pay, have a look at job listings on Seek.
Skill have questions?
Book a call-back with our team to answer any questions you still may have. It’s a no-obligation chat to help you choose the next step.