Solar paths are getting a makeover! Here’s everything you need to know about the new paths!
Beginning 3/31/2025 the Solar Catalog will be adding 8 new expertly-curated Learning Paths. Ranging from core fundamental courses, advanced topics, and safety scenarios, these new Learning Paths will give admins the ability to assign pathways based on individual learners’ needs and positions, creating career paths to help your team become more well-rounded in the field.
These new Learning Path structures offer technicians a more intuitive, digestible experience for career growth and hands-on training. New paths were created to strategically align with current industry standards. Shorter, bite-sized paths offer ongoing encouragement to continue the learner’s journey and better timeline management of due dates.
Will our existing Solar Learning Paths be changing?
Yes! All of our existing Solar paths will be replaced by the new paths on 5/1/2025.
What are Learning Paths?
Learning Paths are expertly curated roadmaps to help learners develop fundamental skills in an order that builds on previous knowledge and practice. You can choose to assign Learning Paths within the Solar course catalog. Once they have been assigned, they are then added to the learners’ main dashboard under the “My Learning Paths” section.
What are the benefits of these changes for Admins?
- Assign Learning Paths easily, according to skill needs or position
- Easily review and manage your teams’ progression through their Learning Path
- Offer green techs foundational Learning to ramp quickly into their role
- Offer experienced techs advanced content to continue their personal growth and development
- Develop visible in-house expertise to mentor fellow team members
- Reduce third party calls by targeting Learning Paths to site and company needs
What are the benefits of these changes for Learners?
- Provide clear, transparent direction for increasing skills and readying for promotion
- Improve troubleshooting capabilities while gaining confidence needed to make a positive impact, quickly
- Round out foundational knowledge with property-specific skill needs
- Retain the critical knowledge to do their job safely by gaining access to a formalized Safety for Solar Learning Path
How long does it take to complete each of these new Learning Paths?
A breakdown of each Learning Path length can be found at the very bottom of this article.
I am/my techs are enrolled in a path that is getting sunsetted. How long do I have to migrate to a new learning path?
Original Solar Paths will sunset 30 days after their replacements are released. This migration allows you to make any necessary changes to your learning plans.
What should I do once the original Learning Paths are sunset?
Once the replacement paths are added to the Interplay Platform, you are strongly encouraged to migrate to the new pathways within 30 days. We will monitor progress and engagement in these paths leading up to the 30-day change date.
Will I still be able to access certificates for completed Learning Paths that are getting sunset?
Yes, all will have access to certificates for completed Learning Paths in their dashboard.
Will learners still get credit for completing the courses in the Learning Paths?
Yes, any courses already completed will be marked as complete no matter the path they appear in.
Will the courses in the sunset paths be retired as well?
No. The courses will remain accessible in their respective catalogs. In some cases, many courses carry over to their new path as well.
Will enrollment and completion of Learning Paths still show up in reporting?
No, hidden paths/courses will no longer appear in admin reports after the change, so we recommend pulling the necessary reports before the change to reflect the latest enrollment/completion. These courses will still appear as complete on the Interplay platform for the learner.
What will happen to learners that are enrolled/active in a Learning Path when it gets "sunset"?
Learners will no longer be able to access their Learning Path when it gets sunset.
Will there be any sort of "in product" recommendations for new Learning Paths based on old path performance?
Yes! Once the new paths are live on the platform, old paths will point to the new relevant paths, encouraging learners and admins to continue learning on the updated version of the path.
What will the ‘in-product’ communication be?
Our “in product” communications include timed reminders for admins and users with explanations of what is changing (with links to additional resources), and a message to migrate to the relevant new path before 5/1/2025.
Will I still be able to assign the original Learning Paths during the 30-day migration period?
Admins will technically be able to assign them, but it is highly advised that you assign the replacement pathway so learner progress is not cut off on 5/1/2025.
New Paths:
- Core: Utility Solar Path (9-12 hours)
- This foundational path will provide aspiring Solar professionals with the basics needed for understanding large-scale solar powered operations. Courses cover introductory content as well as installation related to foundations, piles, racking, and panels.
- Core: Safety for Solar (17-25 hours)
- This new safety path is curated specifically for Solar and will train on the critical knowledge required to operate safely in the electrical and solar fields.
- Core: Solar Power Part 1 (6-7 hours)
- This foundational path (part 1 of 2) will provide the edge needed to get your Solar career started. Courses will cover foundations of photovoltaic power systems, inverter technology, and module design.
- Core: Solar Power Part 2 (12-16 hours)
- This foundational path (part 2 of 2) takes your solar career a step further, challenging you to apply your skills in installation practices related to solar power. You will also continue in learning the fundamentals of electrical installation related to EMT boxes and conduits.
- Advanced: Solar Power (7-8 hours)
- This advanced learning path will challenge you to apply your skills in real-life solar contexts related to solar system troubleshooting, and mechanical and electrical commissioning.
- Core: Electrical for Solar Part 1 (11-18 hours)
- This core learning path (part 1 of 2) covers all the requisite knowledge relating to the fundamentals of electrical concepts, tools, and measurements.
- Core: Electrical for Solar Part 2 (9-16 hours)
- This core learning path (part 2 of 2) takes the fundamentals of electrical concepts, tools, and measurements a bit further into how they are used in a solar context. You’ll learn to read schematics and drawings, basics of electrical retrofitting, and how power is distributed in various systems.
- Advanced: Electrical for Solar (8-13 hours)
- This advanced learning path will challenge your troubleshooting skills of basic circuits. You’ll dive into wiring, building circuits, and will be introduced to commercial transformers.