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Certified Solar Installer

13 Sep 07 | Solar Electric, Training

New York State has several excellent solar PV incentives that greatly lower the price of any installed PV system. The only catch is the installation must be installed by a NABCEP certified installer.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) has several certifications available for photovoltiacs, solar thermal, and small wind system. The NABCEP requires several years experience installing the various systems in order to become certified. This requirement is logical, after all, you wouldn’t want to hire a certified installer only to find that this was their first installation. But it does present a bit of a problem.

From their website:

To be eligible for NABCEP solar PV installer certification, candidates must first meet these basic requirements:

1. Be at least 18 years of age
2. Meet prerequisites of related experience and/or education
3. Complete an application form documenting requirements
4. Sign a code of ethics
5. Pay applicable fees (PV Candidate Information Handbook, Sec. 2.6)
6. Pass a written exam (PV Candidate Information Handbook, Sec. 8 )

Prerequisites or Educational Requirements:

The NABCEP Board and PV Technical Committee identified seven different entry tracks for solar PV installer certification.

The first entry path is based upon four years of installing PV systems as the responsible person. As is indicated below, various levels of training and education can be substituted for some years of experience; however, there is a prerequisite for at least one year of actual installation experience in all seven categories. This is based on the core principal that all NABCEP certified installers should have actual experience on the job performing an installation. Candidates will need to show that they meet the prerequisites for any ONE of these combinations:

a) Four (4) years of experience installing PV; OR
b) Two (2) years of experience installing PV systems in addition to completion of a board-recognized training program; OR
c) Be an existing licensed contractor in good standing in solar or electrical-construction related areas with one (1) year of experience installing PV systems; OR
d) Four (4) years of electrical-construction related experience working for a licensed contractor, including one (1) year of experience installing PV systems; OR e) Three (3) years experience in a U.S. Dept. of Labor approved electrical-construction trade apprentice program, including one (1) year of experience installing PV systems; OR
f) Two-year electrical-construction related, or electrical engineering technology, or renewable energy technology/technician degree from an educational institution plus one (1) year of experience installing PV systems; OR
g) Four-year construction related or engineering degree from an educational institution, including one (1) year experience installing PV systems. For definitions of experience and acceptable training, please refer to the PV Candidate Information Handbook.

I meet most of the educational requirements. By their list, I need at least one year’s experience before I can sit for the exam. The definition from page 3 of the PV candidate Information Handbook:

For purposes of this process, experience installing PV systems requires being in a responsible role in decision-making on the job. This includes the foreman, supervisor, site manager responsible for the quality of the installation, or experienced person performing the trade without supervision. There may be several workers that do not carry responsible charge on the jobsite who are aspiring to this role. In these cases, the supervisor may be called upon to make a judgment as to the role of the worker in the process of
documenting their experience. Definition: one (1) year of experience = one year in a responsible role on the job installing PV systems, in the role of foreman, supervisor, site manager, or experienced worker performing PV installation work without direct supervision. This year must include installation of at least two PV systems totaling 1KW. At least one installation each year must be a system with an inverter and subject to a complete electrical permitting and inspection process by a permitting authority OR in the absence of such, an appropriate underwriter authorized to provide an inspection certificate. In regions where neither of these inspection options exists, the Application Review Committee will judge experience based on supplied documentation.

So it looks like I need to install two PV systems so that I can get certified. I can install one on my house, that is easy. Next I need to find somebody else that needs a system. Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?

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13 Sep 07 | Solar Electric, Training
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Reader's Comments

  1. Steve | June 14th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    I have a NABCEP COK (certificate). The course I took was excellent and the Instructor was very experienced, but I wonder about the NABCEP power of influence over government rebate programs. What makes NABCEP the only certification agency acceptable? Are any other recognized certification agencies allowed to certify and be acceptable for rebate programs? IS NABCEP receiving government money? The idea that a private certification agency can hold power over an Electrical Contractor, or any other individual to make money is very disturbing!

  2. Paul | June 15th, 2009 at 8:27 am

    Steve, I agree with you. New York has since changed its rules slightly. You no longer have to be a NABCEP certified PV installer to offer the NYSERDA rebates. An installer has to install at least 3 grid tied PV systems to offer the NYSERDA rebates. Of course, no customer wants to buy a PV system without the NYSERDA rebate, so it is almost the same thing.

    I think the concept of NABCEP is a good one and needed. I also think NY state has some issues with their regulatory process in the renewable energy field.

  3. Licensed Electrician | September 16th, 2009 at 6:46 am

    If we think about solar product users, Most of the solar products users are complain that their solar panels have stolen so. Stealing solar panels too one of the reason for not preferring solar products



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