NABCEP PV Installer Specialist™ (PVIS) Certification Requirements
The NABCEP PV Installer Specialist certification is a voluntary certification that provides a set of national standards by which PV Installer Specialists 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 or to replace state licensure requirements.
This certification program provides a pathway for experts at installing PV systems to earn a NABCEP Professional Certification. As with all NABCEP credentials, safety standards and plans are of critical importance. PV Installer Specialists are expected to be highly competent with all aspects of PV installation including DC and AC PV system conductors and grounding and bonding systems.
Certification applicants should read the NABCEP Certification Handbook before starting an application.
Requirements
To become certified and maintain certification, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Meet prerequisites of related experience and/or education as outlined below
- Complete an application form documenting all requirements
- Sign and agree to uphold the NABCEP Code of Ethics
- Pay Application and Examination Fees to NABCEP
- Pass a written examination
- Once certified, complete continuing education and experience requirements, submit a recertification application, and pay a recertification fee, within the three (3) year recertification timeframe
Qualifying for the Examination
NABCEP recognizes that professionals in the field of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies receive their training and work experiences in a variety of ways. NABCEP Staff will review each application to determine compliance with eligibility criteria.
To qualify to sit for the NABCEP PV Installer Specialist (PVIS) Certification Examination, every Applicant, regardless of background, education or experience, will need to document:
- Completion of a minimum of 10 hours of OSHA Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry training (or provincial equivalent); AND
- Completion of 24 cumulative hours of training as defined in below; AND
- Completion of designs for installations that equal at least 6 Project Credits.
Installation History
Applicants need at least 6 Project Credits of completed installations in which they held a decision-making role within the last two (2) calendar years prior to Applicant’s application submission date.
Projects Credits are as follows:
System size of 1 – 999kW = 2 Project Credits
System size of 1MW and up = 3 Project Credits
Applicants will need to provide permits and final approved inspections for each installation. Please note: In jurisdictions where permits and inspection reports are not issued, the Applicant may submit an inspection report that was written by an independent qualified electrician recognized by the AHJ, an independent certified electrical inspector or a NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector (PVSI). Inspections may not be completed by the Applicant, Installation Contractor or customer.
To document an Applicant’s decision-making role (DMR) during installation, the Applicant must submit a physically signed letter on company letterhead from their supervisor/manager. The letter must include the addresses of the job locations listed in the Applicant’s application and clearly explain the role(s) and the decision-making authority the Applicant held for the system installation.
Training
OSHA 10 Training
All Applicants must show proof of completion of a minimum of 10 hours of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry, or provincial equivalent. To find an OSHA class, visit: www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/courses.html.
PV Installation Training
PV Installation training must meet the following criteria to be accepted in an application:
- All training was completed in the five (5) calendar years prior to the submission of the application.
- All training must have a formal training format, with a teacher-learner structure. This implies a connection between a learner and a learning source. This can include web-based training in which the student is separated from faculty and other students but where the learner receives feedback and the student’s progress is monitored. All hour requirements are based on “contact hours” between the teacher and the learner.
- A minimum of twenty-four (24) prescribed hours of advanced training is required. Each candidate must have:
- 18 hours of advanced PV installation principles and practices as outlined in the NABCEP PV Installer Specialist Job Task Analysis (PVIS JTA). Course(s) must have been taken with an accredited institution.
- 6 hours of the National Electric Code (NEC)
- CLICK HERE TO FIND A CLASS
Advanced courses are contrasted to “basic, “fundamental” or “introductory” PV installation and design principles and practices as outlined in the NABCEP PV Associate Job Task Analysis (PVA JTA).
PV Installer Specialist Job Task Analysis (JTA)
The foundation document for all of the NABCEP Certification Exams is a detailed description of the job and subject matter involved. This is referred to as a “Task Analysis” or “Job Task Analysis (JTA).”
The NABCEP Photovoltaic Specialists JTA defines a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities typically required of PV Professional that specialize in design, installation, or commissioning & maintenance. This comprehensive Job Task Analysis (JTA) contains a detailed listing of the necessary skills and abilities for PV Specialists who perform decision making roles concerning the design, installation and commissioning & maintenance of Photovoltaic (PV) systems. The JTA guides the development of the PV Specialists exams by which candidates for certification can demonstrate that they possess the skills and knowledge that their peers and experts have deemed necessary to do the job well.
PV Installer Specialist Recertification Requirements
Certificants are required to log into their account to complete and submit a recertification application electronically for review. Certificants will need to log in at my.nabcep.org and enter their username and password. Once logged in, there will be a gray box on the right-hand side of the screen that says “Recertification”. Certificants will need to click on the link in the gray box corresponding to their certification and begin the recertification application. Please do not click under “Existing Application.”
Consistent with the terms of this policy, NABCEP Certified PV Installer Specialists must satisfy the following requirements to recertify:
18 hours of continuing education broken down into three sections:
6 hours specific to NEC Codes
6 hours specific to the PVIS JTA
6 hours PV Technical or Non-Technical of which 2 hours must be Building and/or Fire Codes
A list of NABCEP registered courses may be found in the Continuing Education section on the website. The list contains information on which CE credits (Course Type) the course may be applied to.
Certificants must document their decision-making role for completed installations equaling 3 project credits over the course of their three-year certification period.
Projects Credits are as follows:
System size of 1 – 999kW = 2 Project Credits
System size of 1MW and up = 3 Project Credits
For each installation, certificants must upload a permit, final approved inspection, and verification of a decision-making role.