Online Energy Certificate Programs

Expand your career horizons with an accredited online certificate in energy! Our research team has unearthed scores of virtual learning programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Certificates range from entry-level technician training to high-level studies in energy engineering. Use our guide to find answers to FAQs about earning an online certificate. Or skip ahead to our A to Z listings of accredited programs throughout the USA.

What Online Certificates in Energy Are Available?

Energy is a growing field, so you’ll see online certificates popping up like wildflowers all over the country. They’re available in a dizzying array of topics. They’re open to current undergraduates, graduate students, and aspiring energy professionals. And they’re offered by plenty of regionally accredited schools. You might wish to earn one in order to:

• Receive practical training from a community college
• Use your previous engineering education to pivot to energy fields
• Learn more about business & management challenges within energy industries
• Qualify for field-specific and advisory roles
• Prove to your employer that you’re ready for a promotion in your current energy job
• Test if you’re ready for a BS or MS program

To learn what’s available, use the links in our listings to check the admissions requirements and curricula. You’ll notice that:

• Undergraduate Certificates: Although many online undergraduate certificates in energy are focused on technician training, some will have a broader viewpoint of the field.
• Graduate Certificates in Energy & Energy Systems: Some online graduate certificates in energy & energy systems are only aimed at folks with a BS in an engineering field and others are open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree.
• Graduate Certificates in Renewables & Niche Fields: If you’ve fallen in love with a particular topic, you always have the option to pursue an online graduate certificate in sustainable & renewable energy or a niche energy field.

Many online certificates in energy are offered independently—you don’t have to be interested in earning a degree in order to apply. However, there are some exceptions. For example, the University of Houston’s certificates can only be pursued when you’re studying for the Bauer MBA and MS (or you’re an alumni of those programs). When in doubt, check with the school.

How to Choose an Online Certificate in Energy

Online Undergraduate Certificates in Energy

Online undergraduate certificates in energy are often designed as practical training programs for aspiring technicians. You’ll usually see them being offered by local community colleges and state colleges. With a starter qualification like this, you might be able to apply for entry-level jobs like:

• Energy Utility Technician
• Petroleum Technician
• Clean Energy Technician
• Wind Turbine Technician
• Lineman
• and more…

Coursework will depend on the focus of the certificate. For example, aspiring energy utility technicians might take classes in transformers, circuits, and industrial safety. But petroleum technicians might concentrate on mechanical science, programming logic controllers, drilling technologies, and petroleum recovery methods. Always ask the program coordinator about what kind of on-the-ground practicums and in-person training sessions are required. Many “online” certificates are actually hybrid.

If you’re interested in higher-level academic studies, you could also consider a program like NCSU’s Online Undergraduate Certificate in Renewable Energy Assessment and Development. It looks at bigger picture topics such as renewable energy adoption, energy & the environment, and renewable energy technologies. This is the kind of certificate that could be folded into an BS or used as an additional qualification to beef up your résumé.

Online Graduate Certificates in Energy & Energy Systems

Online graduate certificates in energy & energy systems fall into two broad categories. The first category is high-level technical certificates that are only open to folks with an undergraduate engineering degree. They’re designed to help engineers up their energy game and qualify for senior-level positions (e.g. Energy Systems Engineer). For examples, have a look at the curricula for:

• CU Denver’s Online Graduate Certificate in Modern Energy and Power Systems. Since this is offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering, it’s primarily concerned with engineering topics like electric drive systems, power electronics, and power systems.
• UMD’s Online Certificate in Energy Systems Engineering. Since this is the brainchild of the University of Maryland’s Energy Research Center, there are engineering courses in energy conversion, renewable energy applications, and energy systems management.

The second category is customizable certificates that may appeal to scientifically-minded students with a bachelor’s degree in engineering OR other fields. We’re talking about programs like:

• Texas A&M’s Online Certificate in Energy. This 10-course program is open to candidates with a bachelor’s or professional degree (or the equivalent) and is entirely made up of electives. For instance, you might decide to begin with energy systems engineering and then dig into energy law, accounting, management, or even data science for power systems.
• NYIT’s Online Advanced Certificate in Energy Technology. This 6-course certificate is open to any BS applicant who wants to study topics like wind & solar energy technologies, power plant systems, smart grid systems, alternative energy systems, and the like. Possible job titles for graduates include Sustainable Energy Consultant, Construction Manager, Solar Energy Analyst, and more.

Use the curriculum links in our listings to get a handle on the level of expertise involved. You’ll know pretty quickly if the online certificate is too easy (or too challenging).

Online Graduate Certificates in Sustainable & Renewable Energy

Online graduate certificates in sustainable & renewable energy in our listings follow the same pattern as energy & energy system certificates. The only difference is, they’re hyper-focused on wind, solar & renewable applications. For instance:

• Engineering: Do you have a BS in engineering or a related scientific discipline? Then you might be interested in programs like North Carolina State’s Online Graduate Certificate in Renewable Electric Energy Systems or UMass Lowell’s Online Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy Engineering. This is where you can focus on the science behind power electronics, power systems, solar electric systems, smart grids, nanomaterials, and the like.
• Business & Management: Are you searching for something less technical? Then you could consider a more business-minded program such as UNR’s Online Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy. It’s designed for all kinds of professionals in the energy industry, including those on the management & administration side.
• Energy-Specific: Would you like to concentrate specifically on wind or solar? Universities like Penn State and Texas Tech are happy to oblige. Texas Tech’s Online Graduate Certificate in Wind Energy even allows you to choose a technical track with advanced engineering electives (e.g. power systems engineering, power electronics, etc.) or a managerial track with leadership topics (e.g. finance & economics, policy, risk modeling & assessment, etc.).

Keep in mind that online graduate certificates in energy & energy systems have a lot of coursework in renewables. You may find that a general certificate can be tailored to suit your needs, rather than focusing solely on renewables.

Online Graduate Certificates in Niche Energy Fields

Anyone involved in the business side of energy should also take a few moments to explore online graduate certificates in niche areas such as energy economics, energy policy, and general energy management. In our listings, you’ll find them being offered by plenty of established universities.

These kinds of certificates can get you up-to-speed in a specific skill set (e.g. energy law) or prepare you for leadership & executive positions. For instance, credits from TCU’s Online Certificates in General Energy Management or Sustainable Energy & ESG can be applied to the Energy MBA. The program even contains a course called Energy CEO Forum.

We should also mention that universities with a strong footprint in the energy sector may have specialist online graduate certificates that you won’t find anywhere else. For example—thanks in part to the oil & gas boom in the Dakotas—the University of North Dakota now offers certificates in topics such as Energy Storage Systems and Energy Systems Optimization.

Online Certificate in Energy: What to Look For

Regional Accreditation

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure your online certificate is offered by a school with regional accreditation. This stamp of approval is granted to U.S. colleges and universities by one of six regional accrediting organizations (e.g. HLC). Earning an undergraduate or graduate certificate from a regionally accredited school will make it easy for you to apply for government loans & scholarships and transfer your academic credits to a degree (e.g. AS, BS, or MS). And if you’re pursuing an engineering certificate, consider programs from ABET-accredited schools.

There are a lot of unaccredited providers out there offering low-cost certificates in energy fields, but they’re not worth the paper they’re printed on. You need to be able to prove to an employer that you’ve earned a qualification from a reputable education provider. That’s why all of the online certificate programs in our listings come from regionally accredited schools. Although the vast majority of them are non-profit, we’ve also included accredited for-profit options.

Online Delivery & On-Campus Requirements

If you’re looking into online certificates in energy, you’re probably looking for convenience. So we recommend you do a little bit of digging to find out how the coursework is going to be delivered. Ask the program coordinator:

• Will you be expected to attend virtual classes in real-time (synchronous learning)? Or can you watch prerecorded lectures & tackle assignments whenever you have a window (asynchronous learning)?
• Are there any on-campus requirements? Will you be expected to attend training sessions on any job sites?
• What happens in technical courses? Will you be working with simulations or training software?
• Can you sit in on a current class? Or can you view a course demo to make sure you’re comfortable with virtual learning?

Professional Certification Preparation

Are you thinking of earning an online certificate in order to qualify for a workplace requirement, state licensure (e.g. PE), or energy industry certification (e.g. CEM®)? Talk to the certification or licensing body before you make your decision. You may need a degree. Or you may need a specific certificate from a specific school. For example:

• Penn College’s Clean Energy Center offers training and certificate programs that align with the Job Task Analysis (JTA) for all Home Energy Professional (HEP) job classifications.
• UAF’s training program in sustainable energy is designed to help you earn an occupational endorsement.

Credit Transfers & Articulation Agreements

Even if you only need an online certificate in energy “for now,” it pays to keep your options open. You may enjoy the coursework so much that you want to earn a degree. Or your employer may be willing to subsidize your learning (e.g. BS -> online graduate certificate -> MS). Talk to the program coordinator about the possibilities:

• Does the school have articulation agreements with any colleges & universities offering relevant energy degrees?
• How many alumni have transferred their credits to a degree? Which schools did they attend?
• Which course credits could be transferred into relevant degrees (e.g. BS in Electrical Engineering; MS in Energy Engineering, MBA in Energy, etc.).

Online Certificate in Energy FAQs

Should I Earn an Online Master’s Degree or Graduate Certificate (or Neither)?

It’s tricky to be definite about the answer. Energy is an emerging field of study, so some employers may not give a flying fig about your academic titles. They may be far more interested in your on-the-job training and industry certifications. For instance, a sturdy BS in Electrical Engineering and relevant work experience may easily trump an online graduate certificate or MS in Energy Systems.

Having said that, we like the look of online certificates that allow you to “upskill” your knowledge or introduce you to the ins & outs of the energy business. These are qualifications that tell potential employers that you’re ready to specialize. And that you know energy is a different beast than other industries.

Is an Online Certificate in Energy Worth the Price?

Maybe. An online certificate from our listings could be valuable if you:

• Have a specific job goal in mind (e.g. energy technician training)
• Need it to advance your energy career
• Would like to add something unique to your résumé (e.g. knowledge of energy law or finance)
• Are considering shifting into the energy industry
• Might want to earn a master’s degree but don’t want to commit immediately

How Can I Pay for an Online Certificate in Energy?

Our #1 recommendation is to ask your employer if they can subsidize your education. Many companies will consider financial support if they believe an online certificate will add value to your work. That’s because a) you’re not being overworked in an BS or MS degree; and b) you can usually take online certificate courses one at a time. Certificates aren’t usually eligible for federal student aid, but you could consider a student loan or your own savings. Chat to recent alumni and ask them how they financed their studies.

Top Online Certificates in Energy

Best Online Certificate in Energy Programs

The best online certificate in energy will be the one that matches up with your current career goals. You may find a practical program from a local state college is much more relevant to you than a pricey certificate from a prestigious private school. The only exception to this rule is for online certificates in engineering—for those, you should be looking at programs from ABET-accredited universities.

To get a handle on program quality, investigate the reputation of the department offering the certificate (e.g. College of Engineering, School of Business, etc.). Are they engaged in high-level energy research? Are they working with strong energy industry partners? Are the professors respected & well-liked by online students? Are their degree programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report for Electrical Engineering, Energy & Fuels, and/or the MBA? The more quality markers, the better.

Cheapest Online Certificate in Energy Programs

“Cheap” is a relative term here. In broad terms, an online undergraduate certificate in energy is going to be cheaper than a graduate certificate. A short 4-course certificate is going to be more affordable than a 10-course program. And an online certificate from a community college is going to be less expensive than one from a public research university. But you may find that employer reimbursement or educational breaks (e.g. veteran discounts) can bring your costs right down!

Use the tuition links in our listings to get a handle on your budget. You’ll notice that some public schools have different tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students, while others offer special online rates (e.g. UND).

Fastest Online Certificate in Energy Programs

Each online certificate in our listings will have their own way of organizing the course calendar. Technician training programs may have a fixed sequence of classes. Plans of study for online graduate certificates may be much more loosey-goosey. In general, you can expect to finish an online undergraduate or graduate certificate within a year. But you may be able to speed up that estimate by taking 2-3 courses per semester. Discuss your aims with the program coordinator.