NABCEP Announces Availability of Solar Heating Entry Level Exam

September 8, 2011 (Clifton Park, NY) – The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is pleased to announce the official launch of its Solar Heating Entry Level Program. Building on the unprecedented success of the NABCEP Entry Level Photovoltaic Program, NABCEP has developed a similar program for the solar heating industry. Like other NABCEP Entry Level Programs this one is based on a set of industry developed and approved Learning Objectives. These Learning Objectives provide educators with guidance of what subject matter should be covered for a student to be successful in the knowledge assessment NABCEP offers in the form of an Entry Level Exam. Those who pass the exam are awarded Passing Score Achievement Documents.

Don Warfield, Chairperson of NABCEP states, “The PV Entry Level Exam Program has proven to be a great way for individuals to embark on careers in the solar electric industry; over 9,000 candidates have passed this exam, and many have gone on to work in PV industry related jobs. Over a quarter of those who have now become certified PV Installers started out in a PV Entry Level Program. We anticipate similar results from the Solar Heating Entry Level Program.”

Like the PV Entry Level Program, the exam will be offered in both paper and pencil and computer-based testing (CBT) format though NABCEP’s network of registered Exam Providers and Prometric testing centers. To qualify to take the exam, candidates will need to complete a training program at one of the NABCEP Registered Solar Heating Entry Level Exam Providers. A complete list of Registered PV and Solar Heating Entry Level Providers can be found at NABCEP’s website. Successful candidates for the Solar Heating Exam will receive a passing score achievement that states that they “…have demonstrated a basic knowledge of the fundamental principals of Solar Heating application, design, installation, operation and troubleshooting.”

Ezra Auerbach, NABCEP’s Executive Director states, “Thanks to the committed and hard work of a number of volunteers, we now can offer those wanting to enter the Solar Heating industry a knowledge assessment program that is meaningful and the first step towards installer certification. As always it is very important to note that a passing score achievement on an Entry Level Exam is NOT a certification, and successful candidates are in no way achieving NABCEP Certification.”

NABCEP invites all educators who are interested in training individuals for this exam to contact their office at 1-800-650-0021 for more information on becoming a registered provider. The first administrations of the exam in paper and pencil format will begin on October 1, 2011 with computer-based testing at Prometric Testing Centers to follow early in 2012.