The burgeoning electric vehicles industry in the U.S. is creating new opportunities and demand for a skilled and diverse workforce. Even with threats from the incoming Trump administration to remove federal support and tax credits for EVs, states — including many outside traditional auto manufacturing hubs — are already seeing significant investments that will increase jobs and tax revenues.
The EV industry will require workers engaged in scientific research to improve technology, design and development, EV and battery manufacturing, maintenance and repair, and charging infrastructure development. Workers with different education and training backgrounds will be needed to fill jobs across these segments, potentially making the EV industry accessible to a wide group of people. But where and how will these workers receive proper training?
Without federal support, state governments and private businesses — that are already acknowledging the significant economic opportunities EVs will create — are likely to play a pivotal role in helping train the workforce.
How we analyzed EV training programs
Our analysis focuses on post-secondary institutions with more than 500 students in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Tennessee from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator database, and builds on a previous assessment by the National Association of State Energy Officials, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and Duke University.
We identified training programs by researching college and university websites, collecting information on degree and certifications, enrollment prerequisites, skills and knowledge areas, career opportunities and whether programs mention any industry partnerships or connections. We then classified programs under EV industry segments: manufacturing, maintenance/repair and vehicle charging. Under each, we marked programs as “Yes (EV-specific),” if they explicitly mentioned an EV focus or connection, or as “Potential EV” (Not EV-specific) if they did not mention EVs but teach related skills that can be expanded to include EV-specific offerings.
To better understand the landscape for training opportunities, we looked at colleges and universities, and other technical schools in the states where the most private funds for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities have been invested in the U.S.
As of March 2024, data from the Environmental Defense Fund shows private auto manufacturers have committed the highest amount of investments — about $100 billion — in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Tennessee. Additional data from the U.S. Department of Energy, shows a significant amount of private investments have been made in battery raw material extraction and processing in Nevada and Tennessee, while North Carolina, Michigan and Georgia have attracted large investments for battery cell and pack manufacturing. Georgia and Michigan are also leading the way in EV assembly and component manufacturing.
From examining these five states, we found five key trends that explain how EV training programs are shaping up.
1) Public community and technical colleges are at the forefront of EV workforce training
Out of the 196 colleges or universities in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Tennessee that offer EV-specific training or existing programs that can be expanded to offer future EV-specific training (we refer to these as potential EV programs), 172 (88%) are public institutions, out of which 129 (75%) are two-year public institutions like community or technical colleges.
Community colleges are invaluable to the training of skilled technical workers for the growing EV industry and occupy a unique position in the U.S. education system. They offer a range of training programs, including degree programs, certifications in different systems and technologies and apprenticeships, and because of that they are well positioned to respond quickly to training students for jobs in the EV industry. Furthermore, community colleges can contribute to building a diverse and inclusive industry because these schools also serve a significant percentage of low-income, minority and first-generation college students.
These institutions also already prepare students for different career opportunities in the auto industry and many have begun adding EV-related courses to their programs. Wake Tech Community College in North Carolina, for example, is teaching its electrical degree students how to install and repair charging stations and its transportation program students how to diagnose and repair electric vehicles. These courses build on its four existing degree programs related to automotive systems technology, collision repair and refinishing technology, diesel and heavy equipment technology, and electrical systems technology.
2) Most EV-specific training programs focus on vehicle maintenance or repair
Institutions are developing EV-specific training programs to meet industry needs in two distinct ways:
- Through specialized degrees or certificates with classes or curriculum that primarily focus on EVs. In Michigan, Washtenaw Community College’s Transportation Technologies (AAS) program is one example that offers students a specialized concentration in Electric Vehicle Service and Repair. Other examples in Michigan include Lansing Community College’s Advanced Electric Drive/Alternative Fuels certificate program, Kettering University’s Master of Engineering in Electric Vehicles Features and Objectives program and Wayne State University’s Electric-Drive Vehicle Engineering
- Institutions are also adding a specific class on EVs or alternate fuels to existing automative technology programs. The Automotive Technology Associate and Certificate program at Henry Ford College in Michigan offers one example. These programs broadly cover different vehicle systems or technologies, but includes one course on Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Systems, focusing on the operation, service, and safety concerns of electric propulsion systems.
More institutions — mostly community and technical colleges — have developed EV-specific programs related to vehicle maintenance and repair, than those on vehicle manufacturing and charging segments. In addition to providing a background in basic automotive mechanics, these institutions offer training that includes knowledge of high-voltage systems, battery technology, electric motors, and diagnostics and repairs specific to EVs.
Our research also finds that different institutions including four-year colleges or universities offer programs that can be expanded to include EV-specific training—which we refer to as potential EV programs in this article. Some examples of these programs include mechanical engineering, welding, automotive systems/technologies, electrical or electrical systems engineering, among others. While these programs already provide the knowledge base and occupational training suitable for various industries including the legacy auto industry, they offer more opportunities to introduce EV-specific curriculums as EV adoption increases.
3) Enrolment requirements and time commitments vary significantly
While many certificate programs do not specify enrolment prerequisites, a high school diploma or equivalent like the completion of a GED is a common prerequisite for associate degree programs in community and technical colleges or four-year institutions. Students may also need to take additional placement tests, like in the case of the associate degree program in Electrical Systems Technology at Tri-County Community College in North Carolina.
Programs in four-year institutions can also ask for more specific requirements depending on how specialized or advanced the program is. The Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering program at University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Hybrid Electric Drive Vehicle Engineering program at Michigan Technological University are a couple of examples that require prior bachelor’s level experience in science, technology, engineering or math fields.
Most programs, which range from two-year degree programs to certifications, are a combination of in-person classroom and lab-based training. The Advanced Electric Drive/Alternative Fuels certificate program and other programs related to automotive technologies at Lansing Community College, describe 70% of the curriculum as lab-based lectures and coursework. In contrast, there are online certificate programs that offer more flexibility for students. The Electric Vehicles Fundamentals (EVF) certificate offered by Montgomery Community College in North Carolina for instance, does not mention any academic prerequisites and is a self-paced virtual program that students can take to prepare for entry-level positions in EV manufacturing and assembly. Mayland Community College in North Carolina and DeVry University in Georgia also offer online programs
The duration of training programs also varies by program. Overall, certificate programs require shorter time commitments compared to other degree-based programs. Certificate programs can range from a few weeks to two years. Programs like Wake Tech Community College’s the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Field Technician certificate program and Truckee Meadows Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing FastTrack program are a couple of examples that span five to seven weeks, while the Gogebic Community College’s Automotive Technology Certificate Program spans two years. Even shorter certification programs are available, like the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program , which is a 20-hour course that students can complete online to earn its certification.
4) Programs prepare students for three common certifications
Beyond degree programs, students can also pursue different certifications to earn expertise in specific systems or technologies needed to work in the EV industry. Among the programs we researched and reviewed, these are three commonly recognized industry credentials:
- The Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification is a well-recognized industry standard for automotive technicians, earned through on-the-job training and passing exams. In 2023, ASE created two new certifications, xEV Electrical Safety Awareness Certification and xEV Technician Electrical Safety Certification, to certify repair shops and their employees based on their involvement with EVs.
- The American Welding Society (AWS) offers several professional certifications for welders and inspectors that are relevant for the EV industry. AWS’ certification program for Robotic Arc Welding, for instance, certifies that welding professionals have the capability to operate various robotic welding machines that are common in modern manufacturing plants, including EV plants.
- The National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) provides credentials for various industry trades, such as machining and tooling. NIMS focuses on certifying advanced manufacturing skills required to operate and maintain emerging manufacturing tools, machinery, or computer- and network-based systems that are gaining importance in battery and EV manufacturing facilities.
5) Industry and policy trends help shape EV training programs
U.S. states, including the five that are the focus of this article, are adopting policies and incentives to attract more EV private investments and working with their state agencies to develop a skilled talent pipeline that will be crucial to meet these emerging industry needs.
North Carolina for instance, is working toward a goal of 1.25 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030. To help the state achieve this goal, agencies like the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) are utilizing funding from the North Carolina Volkswagen Settlement Grant Program, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, to expand the deployment of EV chargers. Private initiatives like Duke Energy’s “Make-Ready” program are also driving up deployment of EV chargers.
Preparing to meet the workforce needs of the rapidly developing EV charging industry is one factor why institutions like Wake Tech have created training opportunities like the EVSE Field Technician Certification program, partnering with industry stakeholders like the Siemens Foundation. Nine other community and technical colleges in the state are also receiving NCDOT funding to install EV chargers and develop clean vehicle training courses covering the installation and maintenance of chargers and vehicle manufacturing and repair.
In Nevada, a state which has not been heavily associated with auto manufacturing, EV training opportunities are also emerging as a result of investments and more state government support. With $10 billion in private investments for battery manufacturing announced, state agencies like the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) are working closely with other state entities to create a skilled workforce for local businesses and facilities. GOED’s Workforce Innovations for the New Nevada program has allocated more than $17 million to develop training opportunities at Nevada institutions, including the College of Southern Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College, Great Basin College and Western Nevada College, in targeted skill areas, like battery manufacturing, needed by companies in the state.
Michigan provides another example of state agencies playing an active role to develop training opportunities. The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan for instance, was established in 2023 with the support of a $130 million investment from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The EVC aims to incorporate EV-focused lessons for different Bachelor’s and Master’s programs across its engineering departments and certificate courses on autonomous and electric vehicles and battery manufacturing.
As different states continue to work towards their EV adoption or EV industry goals, they will have to carefully assess appropriate timeframes to develop training opportunities and the talent pipeline for the EV industry. Programs for EV maintenance and charging, in particular, are likely to have a higher need in areas where the EV transition is already picking up pace.
Expanding EV training programs for a more diverse workforce
The influx of EV industry investments and EV transition goals are encouraging different states to create and support adequate training opportunities. While this analysis sheds light on different characteristics of existing EV training programs in post-secondary institutions in the five states with the most private investment — Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Tennessee — further research is needed to better understand how more institutions can adapt to the evolving EV industry and how training programs can be accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.
Building a comprehensive inventory of EV training opportunities in and beyond post-secondary institutions, identifying key knowledge areas or curriculum in manufacturing, maintenance and repair, and charging, assessing who these programs are serving, and learning from the experiences of training providers and students themselves are key research areas that will need more attention.
This article was first published by World Resources Institute on Jan. 9, 2025. It is republished here under a Creative Commons licence.
