“How Do I Get the NABCEP Certification?” Step by Step Process for Getting the NABCEP Solar PV Installer Certification

A question we get all the time is “How to do I get the NABCEP Solar PV Installer Certification?”. Instead of answering the question a million times, I wanted to create a definitive guide of all the talking points. Even though NABCEP published the process, it’s complex and unclear to many, and it changed recently, so I wanted to clarify how the process works, and what exactly you need to do to get the NABCEP.

I put the three most common scenarios below, if you fall into one of these scenarios, just skim down to that part.

1. Scenario 1 – You’re a construction professional looking to break into the solar industry with no solar experience
2. Scenario 2 – You’re a construction professional that has a lot of solar PV experience and you just need to jump through some hoops to get the NABCEP.
3. Scenario 3  – You’re a current student and want to make your career in the solar industry.

In this article, I’ll also discuss

• The NABCEP exam deadlines and testing dates for 2013
• Notes about how the exam works
• Exam eligibility and what is now required
• A description of the three most common scenarios of professionals look for the NABCEP and what they need to do to get the exam
• Training and resources that you can use to meet your training requirements.

1. NABCEP 2013 Applications and Testing Deadlines

Spring 2013 Deadlines and Dates and Training that Correspond with Those Dates

• February 1, 2014: Application deadline for all NABCEP Certification Exams
• March 8, 2014: Exam Scheduling deadline for accepted candidates
• April 20, 2014: Exam date for NABCEP Certifications

NABCEP Exam Prep. This will help acquire advanced training hours and practice for the exam.

• August 2, 2014: Application deadline for all NABCEP Certification Exams
• September 6, 2014: Exam Scheduling  deadline for accepted candidates
• October 19, 2014: Exam date for NABCEP Certification.

• You can’t just get the NABCEP Solar PV Installer Certification, you have to apply for it, and then pass a test. Many people fail the test the first time and must take it 2 or 3 times.
• In order to apply for the examination you must have a combination of training AND in the field experience. We’ll discuss this in detail below. The experience and training requirements have recently changed, so it’s important that you understand the difference.
• It seems that this is a catch-22, you need experience to sit for the exam, but companies want employees to have the installer to hire them. This is untrue in many circumstances, companies understand that a lot of professionals are brand new to the industry and that the NABCEP requires in the field experience to sit for the exam. The best way to get around this process is to get the NABCEP Entry Level Solar PV Exam, then apply for the job, then work towards the NABCEP Installer Certification.  Nobody expects you to have it when you start.

Back to the training and in the field experience. In the past, to sit for the exam you needed to complete 2 installations that were at least 2 kW in size or larger and 40 hours of “board certified” training hours. The 40 hours could be a 40 hour NABCEP Solar PV Entry Level Course, it could be OSHA training, and it could be product training. These training requirements have now changed.

3. Exam Eligiblity and What is Now Required?

Exam eligibility has changed in both in field experience and the training that is required.

A. In the field experience

The in field experience has increased to either 5 systems or 3 depending on your previous experience.

For the experience, you must be responsible for the installation and working without direct supervision. This typically means that you are a foreman, supervisor, site manager, or experienced worker.

5 System Requirement

You must complete 5 systems if you do not have prior electrical experience or a trades, and/or mechanical engineering degree. Basically, if you are a self-taught solar installer, you need to have at least 5 installations. You also need 5 systems if you working in the trades, but have less than 4 years of experience.

3 System requirement – You need to install 3 systems if:

• You have 4 years of electrical contracting experience working for a licensed contractor IN ADDITION to 3 solar pv installations
• If you have 3 years of experience working with the US Department of Labor Registered in the electrical trade apprenticeship program
• You hold a 2 or 4 year degree in; a construction related field, electrical engineering, renewable energy technologies, mechanical/structural/civil engineering.

You can read the NABCEP PV Installer Eligibility Requirements to understand what you need to document about the system.

B. Basic and Advanced Training requirements

The new training requirements are what are confusing a lot of people, so let me break it down very easily

• First, you must have taken an OSHA 10 training course. All applicants must prove that they have taken this course.
• 58 hour training hours are required. This is broken down into basic and advanced
• Basic training – Only 18 hours of 58 required can come from basic training.

Here is what will count as 18 hours of basic training

• OSHA 30 Training
• Electrical and Building Code as they relate to solar PV
• NABCEP Continuing Education Courses that are not advanced.
• NABCEP Solar PV Entry Level Training
• Product Training can also count towards the basic training.

Most students will acquire their 18 hours of basic training by either 1) already have an OSHA 30 certification or by 2) pass the NABCEP Entry Level training.

Advanced training – At least, 40 hours of the training must be advanced. This means that, all 58 hours can be advanced.

Here is what will count for the advanced training

• The instructor that is teaching the course is an IREC ISPQ Certified Master Trainer
• The specific training program has been accredited through IREC as Advanced
• The institution offering the advanced course is an accredited education institute recognized by the Federal Department of Education
• The training is provided by the US Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Training Program
• The training institute is approved by a state contracting license board
• The training is registered as vocational/technical training by a state or provincial department of education.
• Very important point!! If you’re taking a training through a private training organization, they must meet this criteria. Private training companies typically gain this certification by working with IREC ISPQ Certified Master Trainers.

4. 3 Common Scenarios of Professionals Pursuing NABCEP Certification

Scenario 1 – You’re a construction professional looking to break into the solar industry with no solar experience

Basic Training

• Do you have your OSHA 10 training? If no, get it
• Do you have your OSHA 30 training? If yes, you’re all set with your basic training requirements. If you don’t have it, you might choose to get your OSHA 30 or the NABCEP Entry Level Exam, based on what you want to do.
• Do you have your NABCEP Solar PV Entry Level Exam? If not, get it. This training is made for people just like you, experience in the construction and/or engineers already know 80% of what you need to know, but you just need to learn the solar specific information.

Advanced Training

• Are you in a time crunch? If yes, get the 40 hours of advanced training in one week. (link). Make sure that the training meets the criteria for advanced training. The easiest way to get check is if the instructor is an IREC ISPQ Certified Master Trainer. 40 hours advanced training can offered 100% online or a combination of online and face to face material.
• If you have plenty of time, you might want to check out a community college program. However, these programs are typically spaced out over a semester.

What to look for in an advanced training? Part of taking the advanced training is for you to hone your skills, the second is to make sure that it addresses the topics that will BE ON THE EXAM. Here’s a good criteria of what you should look for in an advanced training.

• NABCEP Prep
• Battery
• Solar Code
• Commissioning
• Structural

In the Field Experience

• There is no way of getting around this. You need to find a company to hire you and get the job experience. Typically, students will use the NABCEP Entry Level exam first, then get a job, and then take more advanced training.

Scenario 2 – You’re a construction professional that has a lot of solar PV experience and you just need to jump through some hoops to get the NABCEP.

In the field Experience

• Because you’ve already been working in the industry, you have all the experience you need. Make sure that you were the supervisor on the project or you can get your boss to sign off on you being the supervisor.

Basic Training

• Do you have your OSHA 10? If not, you need this
• Do you have your OSHA 30? If yes, you’re all set with your basic training requirements. If not, you can get the OSHA 30 and be all set.
• Have you passed the NABCEP Solar PV Entry Level test? If not, get it. This will count as 18 hours towards your basic training requirements

Advanced Training

• Are you in a time crunch?
• If yes, take a 40 hour advanced training, make sure that the instructor is an IREC ISPQ Certified Master trainer so the training will count towards your 40 hours. This can be done 100% online, or a combination of online and face to face. Again, make sure the 40 hours is advanced and that it will help you pass the exam.
• If not, you can still take a 40 hour training, but you can also look into take a course at a local community college.

Scenario 3  – You’re a current student and want to make your career in the solar industry.

You have plenty of time for planning, so you just need to make sure that you’re on the right path.

In the Field Experience

• There is no way of getting around this. You need to find a company to hire you and get the job experience. Typically, students will use the NABCEP Entry Level exam first, then get a job, and then take more advanced training.
• If you’re getting a degree in renewable energy, construction, mechanical/structural/civil engineer, you will only need to complete 3 installations once you get in the field.

Basic Training

• Do you have your OSHA 10? If not, you need this
• Do you have your OSHA 30? If yes, you’re all set with your basic training requirements. If not, you can get the OSHA 30 and be all set.
• Have you passed the NABCEP Solar PV Entry Level test? If not, get it. Because you’re still a student and will likely be new to the technology, passing the solar PV entry level test will make sure that you build a solid solar PV foundation of knowledge around solar code, design, installation, and battery systems.

Advanced Training

• If you’re currently a student, you have plenty of time to address advanced training.
• Are you in a time crunch? If you happen to be in a time crunch because you want to apply for a summer internship and/or job, take a 40 hour advanced training, make sure that the instructor is an IREC ISPQ Certified Master trainer so the training will count towards your 40 hours. This can be done 100% online, or a combination of online and face to face. Again, make sure the 40 hours is advanced and that it will help you pass the exam.
• If you’re not in a time crunch and you’re attending an accredited university, the best way to get the certification will be take a solar PV design and/or installation course at your university. In order to qualify for advanced training the materials must follow the job task analysis.

A few other critical points and resources

• For management, sales people. We get a lot of questions for management, sales people and marketers interested in getting the NABCEP Installer. This can be accomplished but it’s getting more and more difficult for non-construction related fields to get the certification. It is clear that the NABCEP Installer Certification is meant for construction related fields, namely installation, design, and project management and that other certification, like PV Technical Sales, are being offered for sales people.
• Most will take entry level, some take advanced because it’s still very useful information, but they’ll never be able to get the experience required to sit for the exam.
• What do you call the NABCEP Solar PV Entry? Is it a Certification. This again is extremely confusing, but NABCEP is working to make sure that the words “NABCEP Entry Level” and “Certification”, do not go together. Here is an email from Chad Wolf. The names have been removed to protect the innocent.