The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives that includes representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certificants, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades. Each member of the board was chosen because of his or her experience and involvement in the solar energy industry. NABCEP’s mission–to support, and work with, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholders–is intended to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners.
NABCEP’s goal is to develop voluntary national certification programs that will:
- Promote renewable energy;
- Provide value to practitioners;
- Promote worker safety and skill; and
- Promote consumer confidence
NABCEP is committed to providing a certification program of quality and integrity for the professionals and consumer/public it is designed to serve. Professionals who choose to become certified demonstrate their competence in the field and their commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice.
The NABCEP currently offer three certifications:
- Entry Level Certification
- Solar Thermal Installer Certification
- PV Installer Certification
The Board is developing a small wind system installer certification.
Entry Level Certification
The NABCEP Entry Level Certificate Program is designed for those individuals wanting to get into the solar field; it is a way for them to show they have achieved basic knowledge comprehension and application of key terms and concepts of photovoltaic (solar electric) system operations.
The certificate demonstrates that the student has passed an industry-designed exam based on learning objectives developed by subject matter experts. Schools and Training Programs will offer a course during a semester or other defined time period and then administer a NABCEP-issued exam. A candidate for the Certificate will have to complete this course and pass the test. While the Certificate of Knowledge by itself will not qualify an individual to install photovoltaic (PV) systems, it does recognize understanding of the basic terms and operational aspects of a PV system. Courses accompanying the NABCEP Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge exam cannot claim that they have been approved by NABCEP or that they prepare students as PV installers.
The PV Entry Level COK exam can be offered by any university, college, community college, or vocational-technical institute accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education ; or offered by any Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee or U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program; or offered by a training program accredited by the Institute for Sustainable Power or similar accrediting body.
There is a two-step process for a student to achieve the Certificate. A candidate first has to successfully complete a course (or courses) offered by an educational provider who is registered with NABCEP. The candidate then has to pass the NABCEP-issued exam. Candidates will be given up to two (2) hours to sit for the examination. The exam is not open book and will consist of sixty (60) multiple choice questions. The exam fee is $75.
THE CERTIFICATE DOES NOT CONFER THE TITLE OF NABCEP CERTIFIED INSTALLER™. Candidates who satisfy all NABCEP eligibility requirements may represent that they have been granted the PV Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge issued by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
PV Installer Certification
The NABCEP PV installer certification is a voluntary certification that provides a set of national standards by which PV installers with skills and experience can distinguish themselves from their competition. Certification provides a measure of protection to the public by giving them a credential for judging the competency of practitioners. It is not intended to prevent qualified Individuals from installing PV systems nor to replace state licensure requirements.
The target candidate for NABCEP certification is the person responsible for the system installation (e.g., contractor, foreman, supervisor, or journeyman).
Basic Requirements
To be eligible for NABCEP solar PV installer certification, candidates must first meet these basic requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Meet prerequisites of related experience and/or education.
- Complete an Application Form documenting requirements (you may wish to complete the online application).
- Sign a code of ethics.
- Pay applicable fees ($100 application fee; $300 exam fee).
- Pass a written exam .
Prerequisites or Education Requirements
The NABCEP Board and PV Technical Committee identified five different entry tracks for solar PV installer certification.
To qualify to sit for the NABCEP PV Installer Certification examination, the candidate must demonstrate that he/she meets at least one of the following minimum entry requirement tracks:
a) Experience installing PV systems occurring at some point in the two (2) years prior to submitting an application for the exam in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program ; OR
b) an existing licensed contractor in good standing in solar or electrical construction-related areas with experience installing PV systems occurring at some point in the two (2) years prior to submitting an application for the exam in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program; OR
c) Four (4) years of electrical construction-related experience working for a licensed contractor, including experience installing PV systems occurring at some point in the two (2) years prior to submitting an application for the exam in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program; OR
d) Three (3) years experience in a U.S. Dept. of Labor-approved electrical construction trade apprentice program, including experience installing PV systems occurring at some point in the two (2) years prior to submitting an application for the exam in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program; OR
e) Two (2)-year electrical construction-related, or electrical engineering technology, or renewable energy technology/technician degree from an educational institution or four (4)-year construction-related or engineering degree from an educational institution, including experience installing PV systems occurring at some point in the two (2) years prior to submitting an application for the exam.
Definition of Experience
For purposes of this process, experience installing PV systems requires being in a responsible role in decision-making on the job. This includes the foreman, supervisor, site manager responsible for the quality of the installation, or experienced person performing the trade without supervision. There may be several workers that do not carry responsible charge on the jobsite who are aspiring to this role. In these cases, the supervisor may be called upon to make a judgment as to the role of the worker in the process of documenting their experience.
Definition: experience = the installation of two PV systems occurring at some point in the two years prior to submitting an application for the exam. The individual must be in a responsible role on the job installing PV systems, in the role of foreman, supervisor, site manager, or experienced worker performing PV installation work without direct supervision. This time period must include installation of at least two PV systems totaling 1kW. At least one installation must be a system with an inverter and subject to a complete electrical permitting and inspection process by a permitting authority — OR — in the absence of such, an appropriate underwriter authorized to provide an inspection certificate. In regions where neither of these inspection options exists, the Application Review Committee will judge experience based on supplied documentation.
Solar Thermal Installer Certification
The target candidate for NABCEP certification is the person responsible for the system installation (e.g., contractor, foreman, supervisor, or journeyman).
Requirements
To be eligible for NABCEP solar thermal installer certification, candidates must first meet these basic requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Meet prerequisites of related experience and/or education.
- Complete an application form documenting requirements.
- Sign a code of ethics.
- Pay applicable fees ($100 application fee; $300 exam fee).
- Pass a written exam.
Prerequisites/Education
There are several ways that you may qualify to sit for the NABCEP Solar Thermal Installer Certification examination. NABCEP recognizes that professionals in the field of renewable and sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies receive their training and work experiences in a variety of ways. Therefore each requirement to qualify for the exam stipulates specific training and/or experience. The NABCEP Application Review Committee will review each application to determine compliance with eligibility criteria. Compliance with the requirements of one of the Qualifying Categories must be documented.
Qualifying Categories for the Solar Thermal Installer Certification Examination
To qualify to sit for the NABCEP Solar Thermal Installer Certification examination, the candidate must demonstrate that he/she meets at least ONE of the following minimum entry requirement tracks:
1-a.) Four (4) years of experience installing Solar Hot Water Systems; OR
1-b.) Two (2) years of experience installing Solar Pool Heating Systems in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program ; OR
Note: It is necessary to choose only ONE of the two requirements listed in category “1″ above, if this is your chosen category.
2.) Two (2) years of experience installing Solar Thermal Systems in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program; OR
3.) Be an existing licensed contractor in good standing in solar or construction-related areas with one (1) year of experience installing Solar Thermal Systems; OR
4.) Four (4) years of HVAC, mechanical, pipe-fitting or plumbing-related experience working for a licensed contractor, including one (1) year of experience installing Solar Thermal systems; OR
5.) Three (3) years experience in a government/trade union-approved construction trade apprentice program, including one (1) year of experience installing Solar Thermal Systems; OR
6.) Two (2) year construction related, or engineering technology, or renewable energy technology /technician degree from an accredited educational institution plus one (1) year of experience installing Solar Thermal Systems; OR
7.) Four (4) year engineering degree from an accredited educational institution, including (1) year experience installing Solar Thermal Systems; OR
8.) NABCEP© Solar PV Installer Certification AND 16 hours of Board-recognized training (see section 3.2.4), AND include installation of at least two solar hot water systems. These two systems require permitting and inspection process by a permitting authority – OR – in the absence of such, an appropriate underwriter authorized to provide an inspection certificate. In regions where neither of these inspection options exist, the Application Review Committee will judge experience based on supplied documentation.
Definition of Experience
One year of experience must include service, repair and/or installation of solar thermal systems. This year of service MUST include:
- A responsible role on the job installing solar hot water systems, in the role of foreman, supervisor, site manager, or experienced worker performing solar hot water installation work without direct supervision. This must include installation of at least two solar hot water systems. These two systems require permitting and inspection process by a permitting authority; OR
- In the absence of such, an appropriate underwriter authorized to provide an inspection certificate. In regions where neither of these inspection options exist, the Application Review Committee will judge experience based on supplied documentation.
For more information, please visit the NABCEP website at: http://www.nabcep.org/about-us
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