Your Content Goes Here
NABCEP offers entry level knowledge assessment, professional certification, and company accreditation programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America and the world. Raising industry standards and promoting consumer confidence, NABCEP is known as the “gold standard” for PV Certifications. The NABCEP Certification Handbook is a very helpful resource in understanding the Certification process and the NABCEP Certification Career Map is a great visual representation of what careers correlate with each certification.
SEI’s online and in-person training program counts towards the training requirements for taking the NABCEP Associate and Professional certification exams. NABCEP offers two levels of credentials: 1.) PV Associate Credential, which can be taken after training and 2.) Professional Certifications, which requires both training and field experience. To learn more about NABCEP and the requirements and recommendations for sitting for their exams, visit www.nabcep.org.
PV ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL
The NABCEP Associate Program is intended for many people, including those who are: students in solar training programs, workers at an early stage in their renewable energy career, experienced professionals who have just begun offering solar products or services, or those in renewable energy jobs for which there is no professional certification. The NABCEP Associate Exam requires training or experience in order to sit for the exam.
DESCRIPTION
NABCEP Associates are recognized by NABCEP on an online directory and are provided with rights to utilize NABCEP Associate word and trade-marks to recognize their accomplishment to others. Full program policies and procedures are found in the NABCEP Associate Handbook, which all applicants should read thoroughly before applying.
Training Requirements
To be eligible to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam with SEI, students must successfully complete:
Required path:
– PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct) – in-person OR PVOL101 Online
– and PVOL203 Online
Optional:
– PV201L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Grid-Direct) and
– PV301L: Solar Electric Lab (Battery-Based)
The NABCEP PV Associate Exam includes questions on grid-direct and battery-based PV systems.
To learn more about NABCEP, requirements and recommendations for sitting for exams, and study suggestions, visit www.nabcep.org, also refer to the PV Associate Handbook and the NABCEP Certification Handbook.
Check out SEI’s NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep Package Deal!
How to Register
NABCEP Associate Credential exams are available in three formats:
• Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
• Live Remote Proctoring (LRP)
OPTION 1: Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
Computer-Based Testing (CBT) is facilitated at testing sites around the country. For the CBT, NABCEP has contracted with Measure Learning to facilitate your exam. You can use their Test Site Locator or call 1-855-772-8678 to ensure there is a suitable location for you. The fee for the Computer-Based Exam is $150/person, which includes SEI’s administrative fee and is non-refundable. If you are taking the exam outside of the US, you will be asked to pay an additional $75 at time of scheduling the exam with Scantron testing.
OPTION 2: Live Remote Proctoring (LRP)
Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) testing method means that you can now earn your NABCEP Associate credentials on your own computer and without having to leave your home. LOP reduces the costs and safety concerns associated with traveling to testing sites, which makes NABCEP’s exams more accessible and safe, while also decreasing our collective carbon footprint. Please view NABCEP’s website for more information on this testing method and technical requirements. The fee for the Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) is $150/person and is non-refundable.
Verify that you have completed the necessary training to sit for the NABCEP PVA Exam by calling or emailing Student Services at: [email protected] or (970) 527-7657 option 1. You will then be guided by a Student Services Counselor on the next steps to register. Read more about the various exam formats here: NABCEP Exam Formats.
Check out SEI’s NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep Package Deal!
NABCEP CERTIFICATIONS
NABCEP Board Certifications ensure you have the knowledge and skills to meet the demands of renewable energy projects and employers across the world. Developed by subject matter experts for industry professionals, NABCEP’s U.S.-based certifications are built on rigorous standards and ongoing research to meet the real-world needs of customers, businesses, utility companies, and governmental organizations. With a NABCEP Board Certification attached to your name, you can work in the renewable energy industry anywhere around the globe. Certifications include:
➔ PV INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL (PVIP)
➔ PV TECHNICAL SALES PROFESSIONAL (PVTS)
➔ PV INSTALLER SPECIALIST (PVIS)
PV Installation Professional Certification (PVIP)
– Minimum SEI training to satisfy this requirement: PVOL202 (prerequisite course is PVOL101) and Solar Safety Training Package (This package has been approved by NABCEP for OSHA-10 training equivalency for NABCEP Certification purposes*).
– SEI course recommendations: PVOL101, PVOL202 and PVOL203 (PVOL350 – optional) and Solar Safety Training Package*
*This package has been approved by NABCEP for OSHA-10 training equivalency for NABCEP Certification purposes. This training package does not qualify as an OSHA-30 equivalent for NABCEP certification.
PV Technical Sales Professional Certification
– NABCEP Training Hours Requirement: 58 contact training hours, a minimum of which 40 must be advanced level hours and OSHA 10* Click here for exact details from NABCEP regarding training hours and field experience requirements.
– Minimum SEI training to satisfy this requirement: PVOL206 (prerequisite course is PVOL101) and Solar Safety Training Package (This package has been approved by NABCEP for OSHA-10 training equivalency for NABCEP Certification purposes*)
– SEI course recommendations: PVOL101, PVOL202, PVOL203, and PVOL206 and Solar Safety Training Package*
*This package has been approved by NABCEP for OSHA-10 training equivalency for NABCEP Certification purposes. This training package does not qualify as an OSHA-30 equivalent for NABCEP certification.
PV Design Specialist Certification (PVDS)
– NABCEP Training Hours Requirement: 24 hours (18 ADV, 6 code) and OSHA 10* Click here for exact details from NABCEP regarding training hours and field experience requirements.
– SEI course recommendations: PVOL101, PVOL202, and PVOL203 and Solar Safety Training Package*
*This package has been approved by NABCEP for OSHA-10 training equivalency for NABCEP Certification purposes. This training package does not qualify as an OSHA-30 equivalent for NABCEP certification.
PV Installer Specialist Certification (PVIS)
– NABCEP Training Hours Requirement: 24 hours (18 ADV, 6 code) and OSHA 10* Click here for exact details from NABCEP regarding training hours and field experience requirements.
– SEI course recommendations: PVOL101, PVOL202, and PVOL203 and Solar Safety Training Package*
*This package has been approved by NABCEP for OSHA-10 training equivalency for NABCEP Certification purposes. This training package does not qualify as an OSHA-30 equivalent for NABCEP certification.
PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist Certification
– NABCEP Training Hours Requirement: 24 hours (18 ADV, 6 code) and OSHA 30 Click here for exact details from NABCEP regarding training hours and field experience requirements.
– SEI course recommendations: PVOL101, PVOL202, and PVOL203, PVOL350
PV System Inspector Certification (PVSI)
The NABCEP PV System Inspector Certification is a voluntary certification that provides a set of
national standards by which PV System Inspector Professionals with skills and experience can distinguish themselves from competitors. Certification provides a measure of protection to the public
by giving a credential for judging the competency of practitioners. It is not intended to replace state
license requirements.
There are no specific pre-requisites to taking a NABCEP PV System Inspector Exam. The Exams are
intended to test the knowledge of someone who is familiar with PV systems. Knowledge of applicable
codes and ordinances is presumed. Applicants should know how to assess the safety and operation of
a system, be able to verify code compliance via interpretation of design plans and building documents,
conduct on-site inspections, and report results. Please visit this NABCEP web page for more details!
Energy Storage Installation Professional (ESIP)
NABCEP Training Hours Requirement: Completion of 58 hours of advanced energy storage training and a minimum of OSHA 30 Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry (or State or Provincial equivalent). These OSHA hours cannot be obtained through SEI. Click here for exact details from NABCEP regarding training hours and field experience requirements.
Minimum SEI training to satisfy the 58 hours of advanced energy storage training requirement: *PVOL303, *PV301L , CE526, CE529, CE533, CE537 and CE538
* PVOL101 and PVOL203 are the prerequisite courses required to take PVOL303 and PV301L.
RECERTIFICATION
For information from NABCEP regarding Recertification for any of their credentials or certifications, please click here. Many of SEI’s trainings will count towards CE hours for Recertification. SEI also offers training bundles for Recertification hours, including both an 18 hour and 30 hour CE (Continuing Education) training package. Explore our Recertification courses by clicking the link below.