Energy Consultants

High School

In high school, take a general college preparatory curriculum that includes classes in business, mathematics, history, science, computer science, social studies, and computer science. Take English and speech classes to hone your oral and written communication skills. Learning a foreign language will come in handy if you plan to work for a firm that provides consulting services to international clients.

Postsecondary Education

You will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to become an energy consultant. Many, but not all, energy consultants have educational backgrounds in engineering, economics, business, finance, law, or environmental science. Some employers—especially major consulting firms—prefer to hire consultants with a graduate degree, or at least a bachelor’s degree plus several years of appropriate work experience.

Some colleges, including the University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Notre Dame, and the College of William & Mary, offer degrees and concentrations in consulting.

After they are hired, energy consultants participate in on-the-job training. These programs may include instruction on firm policies and procedures, management practices and principles, and computer systems and software.

Certification

Georgetown University, University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Dallas, and other colleges and universities offer consulting certificate programs. Contact these schools to learn more.

Other Education or Training

Many professional associations provide continuing-education opportunities to consultants. For example, the Institute of Management Consultants USA offers the QuickStart Training for those just starting a new consulting practice or re-focusing an existing one. Educational opportunities are also available in face-to-face seminars and online webinars, at its International Consult-Con conference, and through other media. Many other national and state consulting associations provide continuing-education opportunities.