Energy: Sparking a Brighter Future
How can I power my career in Energy?
Do you exhibit sharp critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
Are you an analytical and strategic thinker who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done?
Are you an excellent communicator and a team player?
If so, a career in energy may be perfect for you. Careers related to energy are roles that involve using natural and renewable resources to conserve, replace, or produce energy to complete tasks such as finding energy deficiencies. Specialties include petroleum engineering and renewable energy technician.
Your Pathway to Success
Read on for our comprehensive guide to Energy education and training in Montana. Whether you're seeking rapid training programs, certificates, or advanced degrees, you'll find diverse educational pathways to help you align your studies with your career goals.
Check out our STEM Career Pathways page to explore in-demand energy jobs in Montana and take the first step toward a successful career in Energy.
Rapid Training, Certificates, and One- and Two-Year Programs
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Program Length: 1 semester (15 weeks)
Description: The one-semester Pre-Apprentice Line certificate program at Highlands College prepares you for groundman and apprentice positions within the line trade. You will learn how to assist with the installation, construction, maintenance, and repair of electrical power line systems.
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Program Length: 1 year
Description: Missoula College’s one-year Green Building certificate program teaches students the principles of green building, energy efficiency and green rating systems. The curriculum includes plenty of hands-on experience as well as constructive instruction. The skills and knowledge gained through the completion of this certificate program will play a role in maintaining health and safety for all our environments.
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Process Plant Technology Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Program Length: 2 years
Description: City College’s Process Plant Technology degree uses various scientific disciplines to teach students how to take raw materials and turn them into something usable and productive. The Associate of Applied Science degree in Process Plant Technology focuses on the technical, mechanical, and safety systems utilized in oil, chemical, water, and power processing plants. This prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers in a variety of petroleum, petrochemical, and inorganic chemical processing industries.
Minors and Four-Year Programs
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Program Length: 3 years
Description: The Building Energy Systems minor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Montana State equips students with interdisciplinary skills in building information modeling, applied thermodynamics, alternative energy, and more.
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Petroleum Engineering Minor or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Program Length:
Minor = 3 years;
B.S. = 4 years
Description: If you’re interested in meeting the challenges of supplying the world with energy, consider earning your bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Montana Technological University. The Montana Tech Petroleum Engineering department guarantees relevant industry exposure and meaningful contact with faculty. Students grow through participation in student organizations like our Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter, and opportunities to work with faculty on undergraduate research. At Montana Tech, petroleum engineering students learn drilling engineering, production engineering, and reservoir engineering, as well as receive hands-on lab and field experience in our unparalleled location in the Northern Rockies.
Post-Graduate Programs
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Petroleum Engineering Master of Science (MS)
Program Length: 2 years
Description: Montana Tech Petroleum Engineering Master of Science candidates must become proficient in the advanced levels of reservoir, drilling, or production engineering. Drilling involves all aspects of wellbore drilling, casing design and cementing, and well completion. Reservoir engineering deals with all aspects of modeling the reservoir, studying fluid movement, and maximizing oil and gas recovery. Production is primarily the work of removing crude oil, gas, and water from the reservoir to the surface and separating and treating each fluid.
Skill Development and Certifications
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The first step to getting accepted into an apprenticeship program with NorthWestern Energy is to apply for an open entry-level craft position such as a groundmen, production worker, laborer, or other positions within the company. Once you are working as a full-time, part-time, or seasonal employee, you may apply for an apprenticeship through openings announced via our standard job posting process. Apprenticeship programs, which combine class work with paid, on-the-job training, provide pathways to well-paying careers.
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Satic USA is a green tech engineering and manufacturing firm in Missoula that makes high-end electronics that help alternative energy systems function more efficiently. Satic Solar Technicians are tasked with duties such as reviewing power bills, designing solar systems with Satic’s cutting-edge design tools, visiting with solar customers, ordering components, preparing net metering agreements, driving to installation sites for site surveys, installing components, and following up with solar customers for ongoing monitoring. For individuals without technical training, the NABCEP PVA program offers in-house training provided by a licensed professional engineer or NABCEP-certified installer. In addition, Satic may cover paid study time, testing, and examination costs for installers to earn their NABCEP certification. Interested applicants can apply by reaching out to Satic CEO B.D. Erickson II via email at bd@saticusa.com or by calling (406)-830-3226.
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Sustainable Software Engineering is an emerging discipline at the intersection of climate science, software, hardware, electricity markets, and data center design. Microsoft Learn’s Principles of Sustainable Software Engineering are a core set of competencies needed to define, build, and run sustainable software applications.
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The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the most widely recognized certification organization for professionals in the field of renewable energy. The NABCEP Associate Program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation, and operation of Photovoltaic, Solar Heating or Small Wind energy systems. As the market grows for Photovoltaic, Solar Heating, and Small Wind technologies, individuals with a NABCEP Associate Credential enhance their employment opportunities with distinguished resumes.
NABCEP Board Certifications ensure you have the knowledge and skills to meet the demands of renewable energy projects and employers across the world. Developed by subject matter experts for industry professionals, our U.S.-based certifications are built on rigorous standards and ongoing research to meet the real-world needs of customers, businesses, utility companies, and governmental organizations. With a NABCEP Board Certification attached to your name, you can work in the renewable energy industry anywhere around the globe. -
Coursera offers over 200 online Energy courses from top universities and companies to help you start or advance your career skills in Energy. Courses range from beginner to advanced and include topics such as solar energy system design, renewable energy, creating sustainable cities, and more.
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The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is the largest member organization of oil and gas professionals worldwide. SPE provides unparalleled insights, shared expertise, life-long learning, and community strength to fuel the success of our members and the future of the industry.
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The University of Providence’s Argo Connect and dual credit programs are crucial in helping to increase the educational options and opportunities for currently enrolled high school juniors and seniors. Not only do these programs provide students with a unique opportunity to earn credit at the secondary and postsecondary levels simultaneously – they provide students with an early glimpse of college life; including course load, deadlines, structure, and more. Students in Dual Enrollment can take up to three 3-credit courses at no cost.
Additional Career Resources
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Check out our energy career pathways page to explore in-demand energy jobs in Montana.
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To identify in-demand roles in Montana, our team at the Montana High Tech Business Alliance pored over workforce data from the U.S. Department of Labor, research studies, and online job listings to create a list of tech jobs projected to grow fast in the next few years. See our list of 31 hot Montana jobs projected for 2023.
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Explore further career opportunities in the energy industry through the Center for Energy Workforce Development’s “Get Into Energy” website.
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We invite you to take advantage of Microsoft's Skills for Jobs initiative, which offers free access to LinkedIn Learning courses covering a wide range of topics, including AI and soft skills. Enhance your digital skills and empower your team and community with valuable knowledge that aligns with the evolving needs of today's economy.
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Discover summer internships and local mentorship opportunities in Billings through the Campus Billings program hosted by Big Sky Economic Development.
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CompTIA’s Career Explorer is a comprehensive resource designed to inform, inspire, and guide individuals toward their next career step in the tech industry and beyond. Explore the entire portfolio of Career Explorer resources at no cost, watch video profiles featuring diverse professionals sharing their non-traditional paths into tech careers, and gain insights into earnings potential, job outlook, employer hiring trends, remote work opportunities, and much more across the U.S. and 250 metro areas.
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Reach Higher Montana’s Work-Based Learning Collaborative website features resources for employers to grow their talent pipeline through work-based learning, materials to help educators connect their classroom learning to careers, and links to resources that will help Montana students explore their career interests through on-the-job training.
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The WBLC Data Dashboard aims to make data on work-based learning in Montana accessible to help improve workforce support, work-based learning, and educational opportunities so that young people are better prepared for employment success and employers gain skilled workers. Updates are made annually.
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Produced by the Montana Work-Based Learning Collaborative, the WBL Toolkit for Employers provides employers with resources, tools, and guidance to successfully develop high-quality work-based learning experiences for student workers.
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Read “5 Tips to Set Yourself Up for Success in a Tech Career” to learn tips for launching a career in tech from hiring managers at Blackfoot Communications, Submittable, GL Solutions, onX, Skyfish, Cognizant, NorthWestern Energy, Pathlabs, Snapchat, and Instacart.
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In “5 Tips from Hiring Managers - How to Land a Montana Tech Job or Internship” local hiring managers from Boeing Helena, Hyundai Motor Group, and Zoot Enterprises share advice to help students stand out when applying for a Montana tech job or internship.
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See what tips you can use to give you an advantage in pursuing Tech Jobs or Internships in Montana.
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Check out MHTBA’s Great Places for Tech article series to learn more about high-tech opportunities in Montana.
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Take a look at our Jobs board that we use to post many tech jobs that are in Montana from entry level to Senior level positions.
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If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our Jobs Board, see this O*NET Career Database for additional information.
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Interested in more careers outside of Montana or outside the High Tech Industry? Find additional occupational information on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website
Do you have a helpful resource you’d like to suggest we add to this guide? Do you have information you are searching for, or other feedback? The Montana High Tech Business Alliance would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at communications[at]mthightech.org.