Enrollment
Four steps from interested to employed.
Apprenticeship enrollment runs through the SMaRTech program office. Start by telling us which track you want and where you'd like to work.
Student interest
Tell us what you want to learn and where you live. This is an interest request, not college admission or a guarantee of placement. Programs in development are not yet enrolling.
- 01
Check that you're eligible
You must be 18 or older and authorized to work in the U.S. No prior solar or EV experience is required — most apprentices start with none.
- 02
Request information from the program office
Contact the program office and tell us which track interests you. We'll walk you through cohort dates, class schedule, and what to expect.
- 03
Get matched with an employer
Apprentices are hired by a partner employer who provides paid on-the-job training. We help connect you with employers hiring in your area.
- 04
Start earning and learning
Attend Related Supplemental Instruction with a college training partner while working paid hours in the field, then complete SMaRTech certification.
Apply to the college through CCC Apply
Apprentices must be enrolled at the college providing the related instruction. Use the statewide CCC Apply portal to submit your college application online. Not sure which college to choose or where to start? Contact the college admissions office or ICAN for help — they can walk you through the application and connect you with the SMaRTech program office.
Request enrollment information
Include your name, the track you're interested in (solar or EVSE), and the city where you'd like to work.
Email jcaffery@saddleback.eduThese projects and programs are funded through Regional Strong Workforce grants, California Apprenticeship Initiative grants, CEC Grants, SBWIB or a combination.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need experience with solar or EV chargers?
- No. The program is designed for people entering the field. Instruction starts with fundamentals — safety, inspection, documentation — and builds from there.
- Is this an electrician program?
- No, and that's deliberate. Electrical apprenticeships train journeyman electricians. SMaRTech trains the non-electrical maintenance workforce that solar and EV assets need for cleaning, inspection, documentation, and reporting.
- What does it cost?
- Apprentices are paid employees from day one, and instruction is delivered through public college training partners. Talk to the program office about current fees and available workforce funding.
- How long is the apprenticeship?
- Cohorts combine classroom RSI with paid on-the-job hours over the apprenticeship term, culminating in SMaRTech certification. Exact hours are set by the registered apprenticeship standards for your track.
- Who delivers the classroom instruction?
- North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) is SMaRTech's Local Education Agency (LEA) and delivers the Related Supplemental Instruction. ICAN is the apprenticeship sponsor, and SMaRTech certification is issued at completion.
Employers hiring apprentices should start on the employer partnership page.