The Board of NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) unanimously voted to amend the eligibility requirements for its PV Installer Certification exam. The amendment provides an alternative to on-the-job-experience to otherwise qualified electricians who wish to sit for the NABCEP PV Installer Exam.

“Last fall, the Board recognized that many qualified electricians with sufficient high level training in PV systems were not eligible to sit for the exam because they did not meet the NABCEP installation requirements,” said Ezra Auerbach, NABCEP Executive Director. “The Board directed staff to work with an ad-hoc board committee to draft a proposal which would address this. I’m pleased to say that the Alternative Installation Experience Pathway that we are introducing today is the result of the committee’s work.”

“Bringing on this alternative pathway will enable a large block of otherwise qualified craftsmen to qualify for certification and increase the supply of certified workers in markets which place high value on certification,” said Chair Don Warfield.

This new pathway allows teams of up to four qualified electricians (journeymen) work together on a PV installation under the supervision of a proctor. Each team member will get installation credit for these installs which is unique in the NABCEP Eligibility Requirements. In all other cases, only a single individual can get credit for any given installation. The program documents describe an eligible candidate as:

“Candidate has completed a recognized electrical apprenticeship program and is recognized as a journeyman electrician, or the Candidate is recognized as a qualified electrician as determined by a local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ); and the Candidate has also completed a minimum of 40 hours of Board Recognized PV specific training* and has successfully completed OSHA training in: fall protection, 25 ft. ladder safety, safety harness, hoisting and rigging.”

“This new pathway in no way lowers our eligibility standards,” said Auerbach. “The only people who qualify for this installation experience pathway must be journeymen electricians (or be recognized as a qualified electrician by their AHJ), and they must have a minimum of 40 hours of PV specific training that includes the hands-on installation of two distinctly different PV systems, plus the two system installs that are part of this Alternative Experience Pathway. This means that candidates qualifying to sit for this exam will have participated in a minimum of four PV installs.”

Christopher La Forge, Advanced PV Instructor with the Mid West Renewable Energy Association (MREA) said, “At MREA, we find that qualified electricians are building their skill sets quickly and fully meeting the goals outlined in NABCEP’s task analysis. The new pathway will allow us to provide the opportunity for more of our most qualified students to meet the experience requirements to sit for the PV certification exam. ”

Full details of the Alternative Installation Experience Pathway, as well as experience Provider and Proctor standards will be available shortly on NABCEP’s website; www.nabcep.org. Applications to become a provider or proctor will be released on-line at our web site in the early fall and will be accepted and processed by staff promptly.

About NABCEP: 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.

About MREA: The Midwest Renewable Energy Association promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration.

MREA is a national leader in providing high quality education and training programs for consumers, businesses, and renewable energy system installers. For more than 18 years we have offered workshops, seminars, and conferences that demonstrate that renewable energy is practical, reliable, and ready for mainstream use.