A study was conducted in Kansas to determine the need for vocational education programs in solar energy technology in community colleges. After a literature search revealed a project need for trained solar energy technicians, Seward County Community College surveyed 100 Kansas heating, air conditioning, and plumbing companies to determine future personnel demand in the solar industry. (An assumption was made that the heating, air conditioning, and plumbing category would be the most likely to become involved in the solar industry.) From the responses of the firms that answered the survey, a projection was made for the state's 1,345 plumbing, heating, and cooling contractors; it was deduced that 1,560 solar-trained people would be needed in Kansas in the next ten years. Based on another study conducted by Navarro College, it was concluded that community colleges should address three levels of educational competency in the solar technology field: first, continuing education programs and seminars to upgrade conventionally-trained heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians in solar applications; second, a program to train students in conventional HVAC subjects as well as solar to work primarily as solar installers/mechanics; third, a two-year associate degree program to train solar technicians as diagnosticians, or para-professionals, in the solar field. The document includes task analysis for the design, installation, and maintenance of a solar system; performance objectives for curriculum development; and a list of resources. (KC)