Are you looking for a high-tech, high-demand career in renewable energy? As the world shifts toward sustainable power, wind energy continues to grow, creating opportunities for skilled technicians. The Wind Energy & Turbine Technology AAS Degree program at Iowa Lakes equips you with the expertise to install, maintain, and troubleshoot wind turbine systems, preparing you for a future in one of the fastest-growing industries.
This program combines hands-on training with industry-leading technology, ensuring you gain the practical experience and technical knowledge needed to succeed. Whether you’re climbing turbines, analyzing energy output, or performing routine maintenance, you’ll graduate ready to enter the workforce with confidence.
Learn from Industry Experts
Gain real-world experience with hands-on training in turbine mechanics, electrical systems, hydraulics, and safety protocols. Our instructors bring industry experience to the classroom, preparing you for the challenges of wind farm operations.
Build a Strong Technical Foundation
Master essential skills in wind energy production, troubleshooting, and system repair. With a curriculum designed to meet industry standards, you’ll develop expertise in electrical and mechanical systems, data analysis, and preventative maintenance.
Graduate Workforce-Ready
With wind energy playing a key role in the global shift toward renewable power, skilled technicians are in high demand. Whether working on land-based wind farms or offshore projects, you’ll enter a field that offers competitive salaries and strong job security. For detailed labor market data and wage statistics, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Wind Turbine Technicians.
Find Your It!
Harness your future in wind energy at Iowa Lakes!
Experience hands-on training in our state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot Sustainable Energy Resources and Technology Facility.
- Climb and Work at Heights: Gain firsthand experience in turbine maintenance, inspections, and troubleshooting at elevation.
- Electrical & Mechanical System Diagnostics: Learn to assess and repair key components of wind turbine operation.
- Safety Training: Master industry-standard safety procedures, including fall protection and rescue techniques.
- Live Data Monitoring: Analyze performance metrics from a working wind turbine to understand energy production and efficiency.
This exclusive training opportunity ensures that Iowa Lakes graduates enter the field with real-world experience, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for entry-level roles in the wind energy field, with the skills needed to grow into positions like lead technician, site supervisor, operator, or manager.
Program Details
Length
5 terms
Degree
Associate in Applied Science (66 credits)
Campus
Estherville
Training
Internship/Practicum
Your Career Pathway: Additional Degree & Certificate Options
Additional Information
Term 1
ELE 119 – Basic Electricity I
Electrical Theory I is an introduction to basic electrical theory and components that make up electrical circuits. Direct Current and Alternating Current will be introduced and basic laws for voltage, current and power relationships will be presented in lecture and laboratory format. Course content will include, but not be limited to basic circuits, electrical components and their applications. Hands-on reinforcement of theory covered during lecture is practiced in lab.
MAT 743 – Technical Math
Technical Math includes operations with real numbers, use of fractions, ratios, measurement conversion, algebraic equations, functions, geometry, and right angle trigonometry. Applications are designed around situations students may encounter in industrial settings
MAT 120 – College Algebra
Operation of real and complex numbers; factoring; exponents; quadratic equations; inequalities; matrices; rational functions; logarithmic functions; and graphing or functions .
Prerequisites: Appropriate placement score or MAT 110 – Math for Liberal Arts
MAT 127 – College Algebra and Trig
Course combines college algebra and trigonometry. Algebra topics covered include functions and their graphs; solving equations and inequalities; polynomial functions; conic sections; and exponential and logarithmic functions. Trigonometry topics covered are right triangle trigonometry; unit circles; trigonometric functions; graphing; verifying identities; solving trigonometric equations; and applications of trigonometry.
Prerequisites: Appropriate placement score or MAT 110, MAT 140, MAT 120 or MAT 121
SER 116 – Career Seminar
A study of the careers available within the renewable energy sector, with an emphasis on analyzing renewable energy industries as related components of a dynamic system. Students will also learn about drafting cover letters, creating resumes, interviewing, and networking.
WTT 104 – Introduction to Wind Energy
Introduction to Wind Energy students will be exposed to the many facets of the wind industry. This course will cover the history and development of the wind industry, terminology used in the industry, basic tools and techniques, wind turbine components, the future of the wind industry, and other topics that are appropriate.
WTT 116 – Field Training I
Field Training I is designed to provide students with an understanding of the safety techniques used in the wind industry. Topics will include OSHA 10, First Aid/AED, tower climbing, high angle rescue/evacuation, working with tools at height, basic electrical safety, confined spaces, and basic crane safety.
Choose MAT 743, MAT 120, or MAT 127
Term 2
COM 753 – Technical Communications†
This course is designed to prepare students for the oral and written communication situations in the working world. The major areas of study include technical communication principles, oral communications, composing technical documents, and using Standard English. Writing projects require the use of a word processing program; therefore, computer experience is recommended.
EGT 146 – Basic Hydraulics
This course will introduce students to the basic structure and application of hydraulics. Students will also learn how to read hydraulic schematics and troubleshoot basic hydraulic components.
ELE 136 – Basic Electricity II
Electric Theory II consists of instruction that will build upon experience gained in Electric Theory I. Students will be introduced to advanced concepts of electrical theory.
ELE 195 – Motor Control
This course discusses motor controls, components, operation, and service. Students will learn electric relay control of AC and DC motors along with troubleshooting motors in an industrial application.
WTT 136 – Field Training II
Field Training II will introduce a wind turbines construction, maintenance, and operation. Topics will include construction, schematics, components, maintenance, mechanical systems, electrical systems troubleshooting, and operation.
Prerequisites: WTT 116 – Field Training I
Term 3
WTT 934 – Wind Energy and Turbine Technology Internship II
Students will complete job contact experience in their field of choice. A minimum of 288 job contact hours is required by this 4-credit course.
Term 4
ELE 226 – Electric Motors & Generators
Electric motors & generators is an introduction to types of motors and generators that are used today. The characteristics of Direct Current and Alternating Current motors and generators will be discussed and demonstrated through lecture and hands on laboratory sessions.
Prerequisites: ELE 119 – Basic Electricity I
ELE 234 – Electrical Maintenance and Safety
An introduction of the NFPA 70E® Electrical Safety in the Workplace and NFPA 70B® Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance documents. Technicians are required to do preventive maintenance on electrical equipment and to do it safely. These documents will be used to discuss how this is to be accomplished in the workplace.
ELT 309 – Digital Circuits & Systems
This course provides students with knowledge and understanding of digital logic circuit design and operation using integrated circuits. Studies include combinatorial logic circuits, flip-flops, arithmetic circuits, counters and registers, memory devices and logic families.
Prerequisites: ELE 119 – Basic Electricity I
ELT 732 – Introduction to Industrial Instrumentation
Comprehensive introduction to components, circuits, instruments and control techniques used in industrial systems.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: ELE 119 – Basic Electricity I
WTT 216 – Power Generation & Transmission
Power Generation and Transmission will serve as an introduction to the generation of electrical power with a wind turbine generator, moving that power through a local transmission system to a substation where a customer will purchase the generated power. This course will cover all aspects of working with components of a high voltage transmission system.
Term 5
ELE 242 – Programmable Logic Control Systems
Introduce students to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), primarily the Siemens S7-200 processors, the Siemens LOGO smart relay processor and the Bachmann M1 Controllers. The course will provide students with experiences in the following: Numbering systems associated with programming and addressing PLC’s Hardware and software familiarization associated with PLC’s Using programming instruction sets to create and edit ladderlogic programs Troubleshooting techniques using a PLCTroubleshooting techniques using a schematic and drawings
ELT 493 – Industrial Networking and Data Acquisition
Foundational training in local area networking technology, protocols and installation procedures. Introduction to supervisory control and data acquisition for industrial networks.
Prerequisites: ELT 732 – Introduction to Industrial Instrumentation
MGT 101 – Principles of Management†
Principles of Management provides the student with a conceptual framework for understanding the basic theories of management. Emphasis is placed on the internal and external environment, ethics, planning, goal setting, decision making, organizational structure, motivation and group dynamics, and effective control mechanisms for establishing and accomplishing business objectives.
BUS 102 – Intro to Business
The basic fundamentals of business. Basic business and economic concepts and terminology; management, marketing, finance, human resource management, accounting and other business areas.
SER 205 – Solar Energy Concepts
This class will introduce students to various solar energy concepts that a technician should understand while working on or around photovoltaic (PV) installations.
Prerequisite: ELE 119 – Basic Electricity I
Corequisites: ELE 136 – Basic Electricity II & ELE 195 – Motor Control
Choose either MGT 101 or BUS 102
General Education & Program Learning Outcomes
In the Wind Energy & Turbine Technology program at Iowa Lakes, you will learn how to:1
- Interpret wind energy related prints and drawings
- Perform daily tasks in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E guidelines
- Troubleshoot electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems
- Maintain electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems
- Perform evacuations and high angle rescues
- Perform basic operations and maintenance procedures on photovoltaic systems.
- Analyze the operation of core systems within a wind turbine
1The What You’ll Learn section of our website provides a description of Learning Outcomes for students who successfully complete all requirements for obtaining a Wind Energy & Turbine Technology Associate in Applied Science degree from Iowa Lakes Community College.
Special Certifications**: Impact Access High Angle Rescue, Snap-on Multimeter Certification, HyTorc Certification, Torque Certification, OSHA 10, First Aid & AED, NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Certification
Accreditation: Received AWEA Seal of Approval
Hands-On Training with Our On-Campus Wind Turbine
One of the most unique aspects of the Wind Energy & Turbine Technology program at Iowa Lakes is the full-scale, operational wind turbine located on our Estherville campus. This 1.65-megawatt turbine, standing nearly 300 feet tall, provides students with real-world field training in a controlled learning environment.
Hands-On
Training
Career-Ready
Day One
Opportunities, Earnings & Growth
Projected Employment Growth
1.5%
Potential Careers
Wind Turbine Service Technician, Wind Energy Operations Manager, Senior Site Manager, Wind Energy Project Manager, Wind Energy Engineer, Blade Repair Technician, Manufacturing Maintenance Mechanic
Projected Earnings
Iowa Workforce
$63,377
Average Salary
US Bureau of Labor
$65,380
Average Salary
START YOUR LAKER JOURNEY IN 4 STEPS!
Questions? Let's Talk
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Troy Powers Wind Energy Instructor/Coordinator 712-362-6864 | tpowers@iowalakes.edu |