NABCEP Certification Deadline Nears as States and Utilities Announce New Requirements

The Application Deadline for NABCEP’s Fall 2015 Certification Exams is August 7, 2015

Clifton Park, NY (June 22, 2015) – The State of Rhode Island is the most recent to have joined the growing number of government and utility programs that are recognizing the consumer protection value that NABCEP Certification provides. They join programs ranging from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Austin Energy, Connecticut Green Bank, and Duke Energy, to the states of Utah, Maine, and Louisiana, which use NABCEP Certification as a pathway to access financial incentives and/or obtain a license to install systems.

Solar energy finance and insurance providers are also recognizing NABCEP. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s recently published Solar Access to Public Capital (SAPC) Best Practices in PV System Installation, a document intended to increase investor confidence in solar assets, includes NABCEP Certification among recommended contractor qualifications. In addition, insurance companies like Prosight Speciality Insurance are offering rating credits to contractors that have NABCEP Certified professionals on staff.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) administers certifications for solar installation and technical sales professionals. There are a myriad of benefits that come with being NABCEP Certified. For the solar professional, it promotes consumer confidence and differentiates the certificate holder from competitors. Certification validates job experience and training, and allows for professional advancement and mobility. Many additional benefits, such as discounts on conferences, are available to certificants through exclusive deals from some of the industry’s top product and services providers.

NABCEP administers the Certification Exams twice per year at test sites across the US and Canada. In order to be eligible for the fall exam, held on October 24, 2015, candidates must submit applications by August 7. Each of NABCEP’s Certifications – PV Installation Professional, PV Technical Sales Professional, and Solar Heating Installer – has a variety of qualifying pathways with different education and experience requirements. All required education and experience must be completed by the application deadline. The best way to identify if additional training or experience is needed is to start an application at my.nabcep.org. The October 24, 2015 Certification Exam will be the first to be based off the 2014 NEC®.