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Getting in

How to become a solar installer in Ontario

Two ways in: the electrician route (309A, then specialize in PV — you own the high-value connection work) or the installer route (racking and module crews, Working at Heights, no licence needed — partnered with a licensed contractor for the wiring). Most solar businesses pair both.

Solar PV Installation at a glance

Licence to do the work
Electrical work requires 309A + ECRA/ESA contractor; racking does not
Path in
Electrician route, or racking/installer route alongside a licensed partner
Regulated by
ESA (permits, connections) + utility (net metering)
Insurance baseline
$2M+ CGL — roof penetrations + Working at Heights
Union route
IBEW on utility-scale work

The path, step by step

  1. 1

    Pick your lane: electrician or installer

    The 309A path takes years but owns the electrical scope and the LEC business. The racking/installer path starts in weeks — mounting systems, modules, and roof work under Working at Heights.

    Full guide: 309A Electrician
  2. 2

    Learn PV systems

    Modules, inverters (string vs micro), batteries, and rapid-shutdown rules — manufacturer training and CSA-equipment familiarity are the technical floor.

  3. 3

    Master interconnection paperwork

    Net-metering applications, ESA connection authorizations, and utility coordination are half the product. The shop that handles paperwork painlessly wins referrals.

  4. 4

    Build the two-trade crew

    A licensed electrical side plus a racking crew (often roofing-experienced) is the standard structure for a residential solar business.

The real picture

Solar has a gold-rush reputation and a paperwork reality — and the questions cut through the hype: do you need to be an electrician (the racking-vs-wiring split), how the net-metering and interconnection bureaucracy is genuinely half the job, whether the rebate-driven demand is stable, and how a solo installer competes with the national players.

What you'll actually make

From day one to the top of the trade. Ontario figures, approximate and worth verifying against current rates.

  1. Installer / racking crew

    $20–30/hr

    Mounting and modules — no licence, but Working at Heights is mandatory.

  2. Licensed electrician on solar

    309A rates + specialty

  3. Solar sales / system designer

    Commission (high)

    The in-home sales side is where top earners sit.

  4. Solar business owner

    Business income

    System sales — design, install, interconnect.

Which lane is right for you

The two roles in every solar job

Racking / install crew

Mounting systems, modules, and roof work — no electrical licence required, fast entry, but real roof and height exposure.

Best for: People who want in fast, often from a roofing background.

Electrical (LEC)

Panels, inverters, and the utility connection — licensed electrical work, and the high-value scope. The business needs a Master Electrician/LEC.

Best for: Electricians who own the valuable end.

Which solar market

Residential

High-volume rooftop systems, net-metering-driven, sold in homes.

Best for: People who want repeatable volume.

Commercial / utility

Bigger systems, demand-charge economics, EPC and utility coordination.

Best for: Established firms scaling up.

Getting in

Two doors: the racking/install crew (in within weeks, often from roofing) or the electrician route (309A, then specialize in PV — owning the high-value connection work). Most solar businesses combine a Master Electrician/LEC with racking crews and a sales team. Working at Heights is mandatory for anyone on a roof, and CSA-equipment and interconnection knowledge are the technical floor.

Where it leads (and the way out)

Grow the install business, move into the high-paid sales/design side, add battery storage and EV (the next demand wave), or scale into commercial/utility EPC. Storage in particular is reshaping the business — solar-plus-storage is becoming the default offering, and the installers who add it early ride the next curve.

Where the real conversations are

The communities, official bodies, and wage data tradespeople actually use.

Go to the source

The official pages that govern this trade. Bookmark these, they are the final word on requirements and fees.

Thinking bigger? Start a solar installation business

The step-by-step from qualified tradesperson to business owner.

Solar PV Installation questions, answered

Licences, costs, timelines. Answered straight.