Events
Technicians Trained in EV Charging Stations Ready for Workforce
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 11, 2024) – A group of skilled technicians is ready to work on the growing number of electric vehicle charging stations across the Triangle, thanks to an innovative new training program at Wake Tech.
The six-week Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Field Technician Certification program is the first of its kind in the country. It trains students in the installation and maintenance of EV charging stations and was offered in partnership with Gov. Roy Cooper's North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE).
Nine students who completed the program received certificates Thursday during a special ceremony at the Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence on the Scott Northern Wake Campus.
"I like to say 'Wake County runs on Wake Tech,'" said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. "As we look into the future, automobiles are going to run on electricity. We need people like the ones in this program to install and repair chargers for EVs. We're proud to be leading the way in instruction for this emerging industry."
The EVSE Field Technician Certification program combines instruction in electrical systems and electric vehicles, including codes, standards and regulations; electrical energy fundamentals; electric vehicles and batteries; charging stations; commissioning; and maintenance. Students learn electrical safety, charging station configuration and specification, communication systems, site inspection, troubleshooting and repair.
Students are required to have prior experience with electrical wiring and, after finishing the course, are prepared to sit for EVSE Technician credentialing through the Society of Automotive Engineers.
In addition to the support of the NCBCE, the program is funded through the Siemens Foundation's EVeryone Charging Forward workforce development initiative. That program was created in response to the rapid growth of the EV charging sector resulting in significant demand for skilled workers across the industry. The goal is to replicate the program across the state, creating pathways for individuals from all backgrounds to well-paying, sustainable technical jobs in this new sector.
"On behalf of Gov. Cooper, thank you to Wake Tech, the Siemens Foundation, NCBCE and, most importantly, the students who have made EVSE Field Technician Certification program a success," said Jessica Englert, Cooper's policy director. "Students receiving their certification today are not only setting themselves up for good-paying jobs for their own families, they're helping North Carolina transition to a clean energy economy that's healthier, safer and cleaner for all families."
Earlier this year, Wake Tech announced that it received a $636,128 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop North Carolina's first electric vehicle courses and an EV certificate within the Automotive Systems Technology degree program. The college had already been incorporating EV instruction, thanks to nearly $1 million in federal Community Project funds the college received last year.
For more information on the EVSE Field Technician program, visit transportation.waketech.edu.
