NABCEP Requests Input on PV Installation Professional Credentials

A Survey has been released for input on the update of the PV Installation Professional Certification Program and development of three new Specialty Credentials

Clifton Park, NY (September 13, 2016) –

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is releasing a survey to collect stakeholder input on updates to its existing PV Installation Professional Certification and development of new PV Specialty Credentials in Design, Installation, and Commissioning and Maintenance.

In May of 2016, NABCEP was awarded a $1.1 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative. As one of the DOE Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) awardees, NABCEP has been updating and expanding upon its personnel certification programs to address the changing needs of solar professionals, their employers, and stakeholders.

Earlier this year, a committee of subject matter experts assembled to update the Job Task Analysis for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification. While NABCEP updates examination questions on an ongoing basis, the foundational Job Task Analysis is revised through a comprehensive stakeholder input and industry validation process approximately every five years to ensure that the scope of the certification program remains relevant and in-line with current best practices. Now that the Job Task Analysis has been updated for PV Installation Professional, validation studies are being conducted which involve the survey of industry stakeholders, including practicing PV Installation Professionals. For the best results, survey participants should represent a range of experience and education levels, organizational settings, and geographical regions.

This committee also laid the groundwork for three new certifications for individuals who specialize in PV system design, installation, or commissioning and maintenance. The goal of these new programs is to define personnel standards for these growing sectors of the industry and fill a major gap in solar workforce standards. The certifications will be aligned with typical career paths that people take between entry level training and the many years of experience that are usually necessary to become a Certified PV Installation Professional. NABCEP hopes to launch these credentials in 2017.

This survey is a critical step in identifying and evaluating the knowledge necessary for competent performance as a PV Installation Professional or a specialist in the design, installation, or commissioning and maintenance of PV systems. Your feedback is critical for the development of a valid and fair examination for the PVIP and specialty program.

Please click the link below to participate in this survey. All responses must be collected by October 14, 2016.

https://www.research.net/r/PVIP_JTA

About the SunShot Initiative

The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort that aggressively drives innovation to make solar energy fully cost-competitive with traditional energy sources before the end of the decade. Through SunShot, the Energy Department supports efforts by private companies, universities, and national laboratories to drive down the cost of solar electricity to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour.

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