NABCEP Opens Nominations for the 2027 Walt Ratterman Award and Les Nelson Scholarship

NABCEP has opened applications for two of their longest-running community awards: the Walt Ratterman Award and the Les Nelson Scholarship Fund for Volunteers. Both honor people who gave their time and skills to renewable energy causes, and both come with tangible support attached, not only recognition. 

Nominations and applications are due Tuesday, December 1, 2026, with winners announced at the 2027 NABCEP CE Conference in Mobile, AL happening March 15-18, 2027.

Here’s the scoop on what each award is, who it’s for, and how to apply.

The Walt Ratterman Award

Walt Ratterman was one of NABCEP’s first Board Certified Professionals. He was killed in Haiti in 2010 while doing renewable energy work when a devastating earthquake hit. NABCEP created this award in his memory to recognize members of the NABCEP community who take on creative, public service-oriented renewable energy projects.

Here’s the details:

• The project has to be done at no charge for a charitable organization, though the person doing the work can still be paid for their labor.
• Installations can be domestic or international.
• NABCEP donates $500 to the winner’s charity of choice.

Nominations are open through December 1, 2026. You can find more information and eligibility details, or submit a nomination, through NABCEP’s site.

The Les Nelson Scholarship Fund for Volunteers

This scholarship is named for Les Nelson, a longtime advocate for the renewable energy industry, and it’s built for people who already have volunteer experience and want to formalize that into a career in solar PV or solar heating.

Recipients will receive:

• NABCEP exam fees covered, for either the Associate or Board Certification exam
• One admission to a NABCEP CE Conference
• Up to $800 in travel costs to attend that conference
• One free online course from our friends at Solar Energy International (SEI)

Recipients have two years from the date they receive the scholarship to earn their NABCEP Associate credential or Board Certification and attend the CE Conference. It’s a solid runway for someone balancing this with work or family.

Applications are open through December 1, 2026. Download the application from NABCEP and email the completed form to NABCEP CEO & President Shawn O’Brien at sobrien@nabcep.org.

Have questions about NABCEP credentials or how they fit into your solar career path? Browse HeatSpring’s NABCEP credential pages or reach out to us at NABCEP@HeatSpring.com