The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your NABCEP PV Design Specialist Certification

The NABCEP PV Design Specialist Certification recognizes experienced solar professionals with a track record of designing successfully installed solar PV projects. Prime candidates for the PVDS demonstrate expertise in both electrical and mechanical aspects, creating accurate and safe PV designs.

If this describes you, let’s dive deeper into the specifics so you too can become a PV Design Specialist! If you are still trying to decide which NABCEP certification is right for you, check out this blog post that compares them.

How can you qualify to take the exam?

Every candidate must submit proof of the following in their PVDS application:

• OSHA 10 for the Construction Industry (or an equivalent safety training for your region)
• At least 24 hours of advanced PV training
  • 18 hours on PVDS Job Task Analysis 
  • 6 hours on the National Electrical Code
  • HeatSpring’s most popular option is the NABCEP PV Design Specialist (PVDS) Certification Prep bundle, which goes above and beyond the required hours to ensure that you are as prepared as possible for the exam.
  • All training must be completed within the 5 calendar years prior to submitting your PVDS application to NABCEP.  

• Completion of designs for installations, equaling at least 12 Project Credits
  • Project Credits:
    • System size of 1-999kW = 2 Project Credits
    • System size of 1 MW+ = 3 Project Credits
  • Designs must have been completed within the 2 calendar years prior to submitting your PVDS application to NABCEP

What documentation is required to demonstrate design experience?

For each design, applicants must submit the following:

What’s covered on the PVDS exam?

The PVDS exam is written by volunteer industry Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) under the guidance of testing specialists. The PVDS Job Task Analysis (JTA) comes directly from NABCEP and provides a blueprint for the exam. 

Here are the primary content domains covered by the PV Design Specialist exam:

Reviewing the NABCEP PVDS JTA is a crucial part of preparing for the exam. Be sure to review the document and understand all the concepts listed. 

How much is it to take the exam? 

Between the PVDS application and exam fees, NABCEP charges $500 to sit for the exam. In the event you need to retake the exam, the re-exam fee is $275. All NABCEP fees are listed here.

What can I expect with the PVDS exam?

The PVDS exam can be taken in a Meazure Learning test site or at any location via live remote proctoring. The exam must be scheduled and taken within one year of NABCEP approving your application. 

Candidates get up to 4 hours to complete the exam. Everyone will have access to an electronic copy of the 2017 NEC (yes, the PVDS is still on the 2017 NEC!) as well as a calculator.

The PVDS exam consists of 70 equally weighted multiple choice questions, with 4 choices per question. 60 of the questions are scored and 10 of the questions are un-scored pilot questions. A total scaled score is used to determine if a candidate passed or failed and ranges from 0-99. A scaled score of 70 is required to pass the PVDS exam. 

All of your exam paperwork must match your valid government-issued identification, so make sure to not use nicknames or abbreviated names during the application process.

How can I renew my certification?

Like all NABCEP certifications, the PVDS needs to be renewed every 3 years. The first cycle starts on the day of initial credentialing and will expire 3 years later. You can find the date on your certificate or within your myNABCEP account. NABCEP charges a $390 recertification fee.

To renew, you must complete 30 hours of approved continuing education. The PVDS requires those 30 hours of CEU having the following break down:

• 6 hours – NEC
• 2 hour – Building and/or Fire Codes
• 12 hours – PVDS JTA
• 10 hours – Renewable Energy 

The most important areas to pay attention to when recertifying are the NEC and Building and/or Fire Code hours. That’s because the PVDS JTA and Renewable Energy hours are very easy to get because so many topics qualify under those two areas.

With many solar companies adding more energy storage, our most popular option to get recertification hours is Sean White’s 30-Hour Advanced Energy Storage and Code Training + CEUs bundle; although we have many other options as well.

You can see all the courses that HeatSpring offers to renew in the Approved NABCEP CEU Hours chart found here on the PVDS page. There is a column titled “Recertification CEU Hours” that shows how much each course counts toward renewing the PVDS.

In addition to 30 hours of CEUs, PVDS certificants must also submit a letter verifying that they are still actively involved in the solar industry.

Looking for more information? Send us an email at NABCEP@HeatSpring.com.  

References

NABCEP PV Design Specialist Job Task Analysis – September 2017

NABCEP Certification Handbook – 2023 Update