Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
What is a HeatSpring course?
A HeatSpring course begins the moment you enroll and gain access to your online training materials. Some of our courses are delivered completely online and some courses have a live in-person training component along with online materials. All of our courses are taught by technical experts with field experience, and have a knack for passing that knowledge along to students. Students walk out of our courses with technical expertise and tools for taking their business or career to the next level.
How do online courses work?
Our online courses give you more flexibility in when and how you learn. You get access to our world class instructors and can interact with them through email, discussion boards and phone. The online courses have a start and end date and the assignments (videos, reading, quizes and example problems) are laid out by week so that you and your classmates will all be on the same general schedule. You have access to the online materials for 4 months after your class ends, but you'll have access to the network you build with your instructor and classmates forever.
What if I want to attend an in-person course but I don’t see the location I want?
You can request training near you by sending an email to info@heatspring.com. We frequently schedule new course locations as the result of these requests, and will email you when your course gets added to the schedule.
Enrolling in an online course is another great option.
What happens if I enroll in a course and need to cancel?
One benefit of enrolling in a HeatSpring course is the ability to transfer into another course. The earlier you can let us know the better, but transfers are free up until a week before the course begins. For a more detailed look at our cancellation policy click here.
Do you provide accommodations for your in-person courses?
No. We used to do that, but it got too complicated. Everybody has different preferences and reward points and we stopped trying to manage that for people. We think the best place to find good deals on hotels, airfare, or car rental is www.kayak.com. And they didn’t pay us to say that.
How soon before the course do you set the location for the in-person training?
We typically confirm the location four weeks before the first day of the course. Once an course location is confirmed, we put that information up on our website and notify all of the students.
How large are your courses?
Courses have 10-35 students, depending on the course and time of year. We optimize the size of each course so it is big enough for great networking, but small enough so the instructor can answer all of your specific questions.
What time do the in-person training days start and end?
The in-person training usually starts at 8 AM on the first day and generally runs until around 5 PM or so. Double check the on your "My Account" page after you enroll to be sure. We encourage attendees to come a bit earlier on the first day to leave enough time for registration. We have plenty of coffee available for those not used to being up that early.
IGSHPA Geothermal Installer Certification
What is the accreditation that I’ll receive with this course?
The accreditation is through the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and the North American Technician Excellence (NATE). In most cases this is a voluntary credential, not a license, and is intended to help generate business and get you going in the industry. In some cases this credential is required to pull a permit, access geothermal incentives, or bid on a commercial project. It is widely known in the industry and viewed by many distributors as a requirement in order to buy certain products.
What time does it end on the third day?
Attendees will begin the open book exam after lunch, at around 1 PM. The exam usually takes about an hour and a half to two hours to finish, and once you are finished you are free to leave.
How is the exam laid out?
The exam is comprised of 100 questions, both True/False and Multiple Choice. It is an open book exam, so attendees are allowed to use all of their course materials (minus the study guide) for the exam.
What happens if I fail the exam?
You can retest for $100 – you don’t have to take the whole course again.
What do I receive with the course?
Three days of world-class instruction, contacts in the industry, installer listings on both the IGSHPA and HeatSpring websites, a copy of the new IGSHPA manual, a full set of six design and installation manuals, HDPE pipe fusion certification, course presentation materials, coffee, breakfast, lunch, and a one-year IGSHPA membership and NATE Certification.
I don’t have an HVAC background. Can I take the course?
It happens all the time. We send out pre-course reading materials to make sure everyone comes to a class with a fundamental grasp of the technology. Courses are generally made up of contractors, drillers, engineers, and technical folks with non-traditional backgrounds. Geothermal businesses need all sorts of people, so the course is set up to accommodate that.
How technical does the course get?
This course moves pretty quickly through the three days and covers a lot of information. It is not meant as a beginner course, so if that’s what you’re looking for, we would suggest you take the Entry Level Professional Certificate Training course before enrolling in this more advanced course.
Do I get a textbook with this course, or do I need to order it myself?
You get a manual set of 6 different techical installation design guides with registration in this course. It will be mailed to you immediately after you enroll and usually takes about a week to arrive (depending on where you live). If you are enrolling within a week of the course, we'll rush ship them to you. If you already own the books just let us know and we’ll credit you for the bulk price of the set.
Solar PV Installer Boot Camp
What is the certificate that I’ll receive with this course?
Passing of the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam is a way for candidates to demonstrate that they have achieved a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of grid-tied and stand-alone PV Systems. The knowledge demonstrated by passing this test does not replace the knowledge, skills or abilities of the electrical or other construction trades, or those of other professions or degree programs that require considerably more academic and/or practical experience. This achievement demonstrates that the student has passed an industry-designed, NABCEP-issued exam.
Do most people pass the exam? What happens if I fail?
The passing rate seems to fluctuate around 75%, depending on the class. The best predictor for who passes? It’s usually the people who complete all the pre-course assignments. It’s no secret: if you spend time preparing for the exam, you have a better chance of passing it. If you fail the exam you can take up to four re-tests before NABCEP requires you re-complete the 40 hour training course.
How is the exam laid out?
You are eligible to sit for the exam after completing the full 40 hour course. Once you've finished the online assignments and studied for the exam, you can schedule your test at a Prometric computer testing facility near you. The exam fees are included with your enrollment in the course so there will be nothing more to pay, unless you need to take a re-test. Testing candidates will have two (2) hours and fifteen (15) minutes to complete 65 multiple choice questions (60 scored questions and 5 unscored pilot questions). Passing Score: Candidates must earn a score of 65 or higher.
Do I need to be a licensed electrician to take the course?
No. Many electricians take this course, but it is not a requirement. For non-electricians we suggest reviewing basic electric principles in advance. We do cover this material, but it moves very fast for those with no prior experience.
Will I be able to install solar PV after taking this course?
You’ll be able to speak intelligently with your customers and you’ll have all the information you need to put a system in, but there’s no substitute for experience. We recommend having a licensed electrician involved with the project, especially on bigger jobs. Site assessment and system design are critical too, so finding some experienced people to help on your first couple jobs is critical. That’s something the instructor can help with, and there is always great networking in the class.
You should also look into eligibility requirements for your state’s rebate program. DSIRE.org is a great place to start.
How technical does the course get?
While the course is intended as an introduction to solar PV, it does get fairly technical. We have created a tightly packed schedule to get the most out of our time together. Therefore, we encourage our attendees to read all pre-course reading material and come prepared to absorb a lot of information.
Is this course mostly geared towards installing or designing the systems?
You’ll learn how to do both. The three-day format doesn’t allow us to spend time in the field doing an actual installation so we rely on pictures and classroom demos. We also don’t get deeply into commercial design issues, though the instructor is qualified to answer your questions on that topic.
Do I get a textbook with this course, or do I need to order it myself?
A copy of ATP’s “Photovoltaic Systems” comes with registration in this course. It will be mailed to you immediately after you enroll and usually takes about a week to arrive (depending on where you live). If you are enrolling within a week of the course, we'll rush ship it to you. If you already own this book just let us know and we’ll credit you for the bulk price of the book.
Solar Thermal Installer Boot Camp
What is the certificate that I’ll receive with this course?
Passing of the NABCEP Entry Level Solar Heating Exam is a way for candidates to demonstrate that they have achieved a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of Solar Thermal Systems. The knowledge demonstrated by passing this test does not replace the knowledge, skills or abilities of the plumbing or other construction trades, or those of other professions or degree programs that require considerably more academic and/or practical experience. This achievement demonstrates that the student has passed an industry-designed, NABCEP-issued exam.
Do most people pass the exam? What happens if I fail?
The NABCEP Entry Level Solar Heating Exam is still very new, so we're still gathering data on passing rate. What have we seen so far? It’s no secret: if you spend time preparing for the exam, you have a better chance of passing it. If you fail the exam you can take up to four re-tests before NABCEP requires you re-complete the 40 hour training course. Retests are $100 - you don't need to re-take the whole class.
How is the exam laid out?
You are eligible to sit for the exam after completing the full 40 hour course. Once you've finished the online assignments and studied for the exam, you can schedule your test at a Prometric computer testing facility near you. The exam fees are included with your enrollment in the course so there will be nothing more to pay, unless you need to take a re-test. Testing candidates will have two (2) hours and fifteen (15) minutes to complete 65 multiple choice questions (60 scored questions and 5 unscored pilot questions).
What do I receive with the course?
40 hours of ‘board approved’ training if you plan to sit for the NABCEP Solar Thermal Certification exam, contacts in the industry, a professional listing on the HeatSpring website, a copy of the industry-standard ‘Solar Water Heating’ text book, course presentation materials, coffee, breakfast, and lunch.
Do I need to be a licensed plumber to take the course?
No. Many plumbers take this course, but it is not a requirement. For non-plumbers we suggest reviewing basic materials in advance. We do cover basics in the course, but it moves very fast for those with no prior experience.
Will I be able to install solar thermal systems after taking this course?
You’ll be able to speak intelligently with your customers and you’ll have all the information you need to put a system in, but there’s no substitute for experience. We recommend having an experienced installer on the first project (or a patient customer), especially on bigger jobs. Site assessment and system design are critical too, so finding some experienced people to help on your first couple jobs is critical. That’s something the instructor can help with, and there is always great networking in the class.
You should also look into eligibility requirements for your state’s rebate program. DSIRE.org is a great place to start.
How technical does the course get?
While the course is intended as an introduction to solar thermal, it does get fairly technical. This is a course for professionals, so we have created a tightly packed schedule to get the most out of our time together. Therefore, we encourage our attendees to read all pre-course reading material and come prepared to absorb a lot of information.
Is this course mostly geared towards installing or designing the systems?
You’ll learn how to do both. The three-day format doesn’t allow us to spend time in the field doing an actual installation so we rely on pictures and classroom demos. We also don’t get deeply into commercial design issues, though the instructor is qualified to answer your questions on that topic.
Do I get a textbook with this course, or do I need to order it myself?
A copy of Bob Ramlow’s “Solar Water Heating” comes with registration in this course. It will be mailied to you immediately after you enroll and usually takes about a week to arrive (depending on where you live). If you are enrolling within a week of the course, we'll rush ship it to you. If you already own this book just let us know and we’ll credit you for the bulk price of the book.
