NABCEP Credentials

Each applicant must:

• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of OSHA Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry training (or provincial equivalent); AND
• Complete at least 58 hours of advanced training - If you need all 58 advanced PV training hours you may be interested in our 58-Hour NABCEP Advanced Solar PV Training Bundle Options to save money and get all the advanced PV training hours required.
• Complete installations equaling at least 6 Project Credits. See section below on Board Eligible Status
  • System size of 1 – 999kW = 2 Project Credits
  • System size of 1MW and up = 3 Project Credits

Upon completion of HeatSpring courses approved for advanced hours for the PVIP exam, learners can download a certificate of completion to submit with their NABCEP application.

Applicants must also submit proof of completing OSHA 10.

For each completed PV system, applicants must submit:

• System summary
  • Location
  • Date system completed
  • System info
  • Name and phone number of installation contractor, contractor listed on the permit or inspection, and Applicant's supervisor
  • Description of work performed by the Applicant
• Electrical and/or Building Permit(s)
• Final Inspection Report issued by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

If the Applicant was not named on the permit and inspection documents but held a decision-making role, the Applicant is required to also submit one of the following:

• A physically signed letter on company letterhead from the person, or a member of senior management from the company, who is named on the permit/inspection documents. The letter must include details related to the installations as well as an explanation of how the Applicant was in a decision-making authority; OR
• Design plans identifying the Applicant as being responsible for the drawing or review of the design; OR
• A commissioning or quality assurance report which identifies the Applicant as being responsible for the system commissioning or quality assurance process

See the NABCEP Handbook for more details.

NABCEP has introduced a new Board Eligible Status program that allows candidates to complete their PV Installation Professional (PVIP) certification requirements in a more flexible order, separating the process into two main steps: education/examination first, followed by field experience.

Candidates must complete 58 hours of approved classroom learning and pass the PVIP examination to receive temporary "Board Eligible" status, after which they have 3 years to gain the required solar installation experience in a decision-making capacity.

The program maintains the same rigorous standards while addressing a common industry challenge by allowing professionals to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge before acquiring hands-on experience. Once all requirements have been completed, candidates will submit a Conversion Application to go from Board Eligible to Board Certified status.

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

The PVIP Job Task Analysis provides a blueprint for the exam.

The main content areas covered are:

• System Design (32%)
• Installation (38%)
• System Commissioning (17%)
• Operations & Maintenance (13%)

The PVIP 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 the 2017 NEC as well as a calculator.

The PVIP 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 PVIP 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.

A total of 30 advanced PV training hours are required to maintain your PVIP certification and documentation must be submitted to NABCEP every 3 years for your certification renewal. HeatSpring certificates of completion can be used as documentation with NABCEP. Training hours must fulfill specific sub-categories including:

• 6 National Electrical Code (NEC) Hours
• 12 PVIP Job Task Analysis (JTA) Hours
• 2 Building and Fire Code Hours
• 10 Renewable Energy (RE) Elective Hours

All NABCEP-approved HeatSpring courses will have a chart at the bottom of the course landing page which summarizes approved hours by exam and sub-categories.