Louisa County Public School (LCPS), in partnership with ChargerHelp! and Accenture, is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking after-school course designed for both high school students and adult learners to help them build valuable skills in the rapidly growing field of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

As automakers increasingly commit to all electric fleets, charging infrastructure will be an essential enabler in the pivot from fossil fuel powered transportation. As charging infrastructure expands exponentially, so too will the job opportunities to install and maintain EV charging stations. Through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Virginia alone will be receiving $106M in federal stimulus funds to rollout charging infrastructure over the next few years. Echoing the Argonne National Lab’s prediction of 1.1M jobs in this sector by 2031, LCPS’ Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) course aims to equip learners with vital skills for entry into this burgeoning industry. Students who complete the course will be prepared to pursue multiple career paths, including electrical work-based learning experiences, EV charger certificate or vocational programs, or entry-level EV charger technician and operator positions.

The EVSE course curriculum is comprehensive, covering topics from electricity principles and critical safety protocols to fundamental EV charger operations and troubleshooting and basic EV charger repair. Also embedded within the technical training are competencies crucial for future academic and workplace success – like critical thinking and problem-solving, initiative and self-direction, and information literacy. EV chargers today are more connected and software-enabled than ever before, so significant portions of the course are dedicated to understanding how software interacts with hardware. Students will explore how information technology merges with operational technology, leading to specialized skills in networking and communications, cybersecurity, and wireless technologies and protocols. The blend of classroom and lab-based instruction is designed to replicate real-world charging station scenarios, providing students with exposure to and experience with industry tools and procedures. Further, the skills acquired in this course are highly transferable to other sectors, opening doors to various career pathways and sustainable career prospects. This versatility ensures students are well-prepared not just for roles within the EVSE or EV industry, but for a broad range of in-demand professions.

This new course also joins LCPS’ catalogue of innovative, green economy-preparing courses, including an Energy and Power course with hands-on activities related to installing solar panels.

This course was developed in partnership with ChargerHelp!, a national EV charging operations, repair, and maintenance service provider, and was powered and funded by Accenture, a leading global professional services company specializing in information technology services and consulting.

The course will run during after school hours Monday to Thursday starting in February of 2024 with the goal of creating momentum towards course standardization at the Virginia state-level for broader career and technical education program adoption and impact.

Details: 

• Dates: M-T, Feb. 20 through March 28
• Time: 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
• Class location: LCHS

For more information, interested individuals can contact LCPS’ Career and Technical Education Director, Bo Bundrick (bundrijim@lcps.k12.va.us).