Guidelines are presented for institution administrators considering the initiation of programs to train energy-related technicians at the associate degree level. Two essential preliminary steps are outlined: Acquiring and analyzing all available information about the proposed field including national legislation and surveying the probable need for technicians in the area served by the institution. Study questions for the decision to develop a curriculum are followed by the caution that introducing and refining a new program takes a minimum of five years and also involves determining the need for additional facilities and the availability of qualified instructors. Potential areas for program development are then discussed individually for energy-related technicians in coal mining, beneficiation, and processing; petroleum extraction and refining; nuclear power production; solar energy; conversion of wind, geothermal or tidal energy; and possibly a new type of technician, the energy monitoring or control technician. A list of names and addresses of junior colleges with existing and planned energy-related technology programs is attached for each of four program areas: Coal, petroleum, nuclear, and solar. (BL)