For Immediate Release
November 17, 2022

Suffolk’s Inaugural Solar Installer Certificate Program Class Sees Bright Future

L to R: Christian Arevalo, Beverly Johnson, Christopher Duran, Andrew Lopez, DeShawn Little, Suffolk County Community College Executive Dean Donna Ciampa, Luke Shank, Instructor Brian Karp (VP at SUNation), Demarcus Frazier, Suffolk County Community College Assistant Director of Sustainability Melanie Morris-Carsch, Jokubas Balciunas , Gabriel Gomez, Nicolas Gomez, Jon -Tyler Glennon, Kwani Opharrow

Suffolk County Community College’s Solar Installer Certificate Program recently graduated an inaugural class of 13 certified installers including a father and son team – Gabriel and Nicholas Gomez.

The 50-hour Solar Installer Certificate Program is hands-on, taught by industry experts, includes a paid externship with a local solar company and the opportunity to earn an OSHA 10 certificate, a Fall Prevention Safety Certificate and a Suffolk County Community College Completion Certificate.

“Career-connected workforce programs are essential to the success of our local economy and will spur a new generation of upwardly mobile Suffolk County residents,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue. “Together with industry partners, we continue to innovate new ways to deliver short-term career-focused education that prepares students to be immediately ready to work,” Bonahue said.

The course of study covered topics such as fall prevention safety, basic construction, and electric and solar technologies.

The students built a mock roof and mounted solar panels utilizing assorted industry racking systems.  

Several students secured jobs in the solar industry immediately after the program’s completion and several others are awaiting interviews.  

The program is accepting applications for its March 2023 class. Visit:

https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/about-suffolk/sustainability/courses.jsp#tab-d16e3-2  for more information and contact Melanie Morris-Carsch, morrism@sunysuffolk.edu, 631-851-6414.