- Career Support
- Clean Tech Accelerator
Powering the Skilled Trades
The Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator™ (GCTA) is a national training program focused on skilling and placing underrepresented job seekers into entry-level, high-demand energy careers through rapid competency and cohort learning. GCTA delivers instructor-led hands-on technical training – helping participants earn industry-recognized certifications, build job-ready skills, and launch meaningful careers in the growing clean tech sector.
Building Pathways to Skilled Trades and Clean Tech Careers
Demand for skilled tradespeople is surging — driven by a wave of retirements, growing power demand, and the ongoing energy transition. As the largest workforce development organization in the U.S., Goodwill Industries International is helping scale the workforce through national training models like the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator™ (GCTA), launched in 2024 with support from GM and Accenture.
By 2030:
7,000 Trained
30 Sites
4 Training Pathways
Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator™ Training Pathways
The GCTA currently offers three industry-aligned training pathways – Solar Installation, HVAC/Heat Pump Installation, and Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment Technician (EVSE). These four- to five- week, instructor-led trainings blend hands-on, lab-based technical training with classroom instruction to prepare participants for entry-level careers in the clean energy sector.
Across all pathways, participants earn the same core set of skills and certifications. These include customer service skills, problem solving skills, employment readiness, construction basics, workplace safety training, and the industry-recognized certifications OSHA-10, and CPR/First Aid. Graduates leave the program job-ready in weeks.
Solar Installation
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This four-week course covers electrical energy fundamentals, safety standards, the basics of residential solar and storage installation, steps to commission a solar and storage system, common maintenance tasks, solar site evaluation and customer service excellence.
Graduates receive the following industry-recognized certifications:
- OSHA-10
- First Aid/CPR
- GRID Alternatives’ Certification for Solar Installation
- IronRidge’s Solar Installer Certification
Currently available in:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Denver, CO
- Columbus, OH
- Houston, TX
- St Paul, NM
HVAC/Heat Pump Installation
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This five-week course covers HVAC fundamentals, building science, heat pump installation and maintenance, troubleshooting, customer service, energy modeling, and Manual J calculations.
Graduates receive the following industry-recognized certifications:
- OSHA-10
- First Aid/CPR
- EPA 608 Universal Certification
- Everblue HVAC/Heat Pump Installation
Currently available in:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Atlanta, GA
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
- Houston, TX
- Miami, FL
- San Jose, CA
EVSE Technician
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This four-week course covers electrical energy basics, electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment mechanics, commissioning and maintenance (preventative and corrective), energy systems and grid operations, EV batteries, proper and safe EV charging, electrical codes and safety standards, commissioning, and common maintenance tasks.
Graduates receive the following industry-recognized certifications:
- OSHA-10
- First Aid/CPR
- SmarterHelp.’s EVSE O&M Certification
- Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace Certification/National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E
Currently available in:
- Atlanta, GA
- Denver, CO
- Houston, TX
- Santa Ana, CA
Training Schedule
For general questions, contact GCTA@goodwill.org
- EVSE TechnicianAurora, CO07/06/26- 07/31/26Apply by May 29, 2026
- HVAC/ Heat Pump InstallationSan Jose, CA07/06/26- 08/07/26
- Solar InstallationColumbus, OH07/06/26- 07/31/26Apply by Jun 29, 2026
- HVAC/ Heat Pump InstallationHouston, TX07/13/26- 08/14/26Apply by Jul 3, 2026
- Solar InstallationHouston, TX07/13/26- 08/07/26Apply by Jul 3, 2026
- EVSE TechnicianSanta Ana, CA08/03/26- 08/28/26Apply by Jul 28, 2026
GCTA National Strategic Partners
GCTA Impact Partners
GCTA Training Partners
$5M Boost for Goodwill’s Clean Tech Workforce Initiative
Goodwill® proudly participates in the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. This effort leverages the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator™ model to equip job seekers and career advancers with the employability and technical skills needed for good jobs in renewable energy and transportation sectors. A $5,000,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor will support Goodwill and its subgrantees with program implementation through 2029. Goodwills provide an added 15 percent through in-kind contributions worth $750,000.
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