38-Hour NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification Exam Prep Series

Online

Instructor: Sean White

Subjects: Solar: Marketing and Sales, Solar: NABCEP, Solar: Certification Prep

Length: 3 courses

Student Rating

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Rating: 9.2/10 (view ratings)
Courses with student ratings: 3

Description

This is a bundle of three courses taught by expert solar PV instructor Sean White. This is the best way to prepare to for the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification exam. This training can also fulfill 18 hours of advanced training towards the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification exam (as long as you pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam). It is comprised of three courses:

You'll earn 20 advanced NABCEP credits when you complete the 20-Hour NABCEP Advanced PV Systems and the 2017 NEC portion. If you pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam after completing the first course, you receive an additional 18 advanced NABCEP credits for a total of 38 Hours. HeatSpring is a registered NABCEP Provider.

Not Included: "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" and "PV Technical Sales" textbooks

The Solar PV Installer Boot Camp course is based on Dr. Sean White's NABCEP PV Associate Exam preparation book: "Solar Photovoltaic Basics." In order to participate in the exam prep discussion group, you'll also need to purchase a copy of Sean White's 2016 book: "PV Technical Sales: Preparation for the NABCEP Technical Sales Certification." Once you register, you'll see a link in the courses to purchase a copy. These books are not included in the course price. They can be purchased for about $35 through Amazon or other online booksellers.

Not Included: NABCEP PV Associate Exam Fee ($150)

After completing the Solar PV Boot Camp Training, you can optionally to take the NABCEP PV Associate Exam in order to earn the PV Associate credential as well as 18 advanced NABCEP credits. The exam can now be taken at home via Live Online Proctoring on your own computer or at any of the 1,350 Scantron testing centers in the world. After completing the course and earning a certificate of completion, students can submit a NABCEP PV Associate application and $150 exam fee in the last module of the course. We guarantee that you will pass the exam on your first try, if you don't we will refund the $150 exam fee or let you take the exam again at no charge. Learn more about NABCEP Exams

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Preview the Course Material

Check out a free preview of the course by clicking the button below. This is a live assignment from the course and will give you a good sense for what the course will be like.

Free Preview - History of Solar PV
Flexible Online Training for Industry Professionals

This online course is self-paced. You can begin instantly upon enrollment.

Access Information and Build Your Training Library

After enrolling, the course materials will remain in your account and be accessible 12 months (1 year) after enrollment. Access can be extended beyond 1 year with a monthly membership. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world.

Earn A Certificate of Completion

When you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.

Earn Continuing Education Credits

Self Report with Certificate: NABCEP Advanced Credit Hours, NABCEP JTA, NABCEP NEC, NABCEP Building or Fire Code, NABCEP RE Elective, NABCEP PV Associate Renewal.

Approved NABCEP CEU Hours by Credential and Category

NABCEP Credential Advanced Hours for Exam Recertification CEU Hours NEC JTA RE Elective Building or Fire Code
PV Technical Sales Certification 38 20 0 20 20 0

+ Learn more about NABCEP Credentials

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Instructor

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Sean White

2014 IREC Trainer of the Year

Sean White was the 2014 Interstate Renewable Energy Council Trainer of the Year. He is an ISPQ Certified Solar PV Master Trainer and has authored several books on solar. He contributed to the development of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Job Task Analysis and has been a member of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Technical Committee. Sean is a...[more]

Free Preview - History of Solar PV

Course Outline #1 - Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep

Module 1 - History of Solar, Markets and Applications for Solar PV, and Safety Basics

This week you'll learn about the beginnings of solar PV technology, current markets and applications for the technology, and the basic safety considerations and requirements for solar PV installers. Topics include: different types of PV systems, OSHA, National Electrical Code (NEC), arc flashes, overcurrent protection devices, fall protection, and lockout-tagout (LOTO).

  • Review: NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Exam Job Task Analysis (JTA) (Resource)
  • Read Chapter 1 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV Markets and Applications (Text)
  • History of Solar PV (Video - 13:56 minutes) preview
  • PV Markets and Applications Part 1 (Video - 14:46 minutes) preview
  • PV Markets and Applications Part 2 (Video - 19:03 minutes)
  • PV Markets and Applications Part 3 (Video - 20:00 minutes) preview
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • PV Price Per Watt (Text)
  • Read Chapter 2 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Safety Basics (Text)
  • Safety Basics Part 1 (Video - 22:58 minutes)
  • Safety Basics Part 2 (Video - 24:37 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
  • Week 1 Quiz (Quiz)
Module 2 - Electricity Basics + Solar Energy Fundamentals

This week covers concepts, definitions, terminology, and formulas related to electricity. It also lays out the science, data, and principles you must understand to grasp how solar energy is collected. Topics include: Ohm's Law, power, energy, voltage, current, batteries, multimeters, measurement, types of DC connections, transmission, insolation data, solar time, sun paths, shading, and solar radiation.

  • Read Chapter 3 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Electricity Basics (Text)
  • Electricity Basics Video 1 (Video - 29:46 minutes)
  • Electricity Basics Video 2 (Video - 21:20 minutes)
  • PV Math Quiz (20 questions) (Quiz)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 4 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Solar Energy Fundamentals (Text)
  • Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 1 (Video - 27:29 minutes)
  • Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 2 (Video - 29:43 minutes)
  • Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 3 (Video - 21:42 minutes)
  • Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 4 (Video - 28:47 minutes) preview
  • Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 5 (Video - 30:49 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
  • Solar Energy Fundamentals Quiz (Quiz)
Module 3 - PV Module Fundamentals and System Components

This week covers how solar photovoltaic (PV) technology works, the materials used to make PV modules, module efficiency, important formulas, temperature and voltage considerations, and how to test a PV system. It also provides definitions for the primary components that comprise a solar PV system.

  • Read Chapter 5 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV Module Fundamentals (Text)
  • PV Module Fundamentals - Part 1 (Video - 30:08 minutes)
  • PV Module Fundamentals - Part 2 (Video - 51:15 minutes)
  • PV Module Fundamentals - Part 3 (Video - 29:18 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 6 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - System Components (Text)
  • System Components - Part 1 (Video - 55:11 minutes)
  • System Components - Part 2 (Video - 27:36 minutes)
  • System Components - Part 3 (Video - 44:05 minutes)
  • Thin Film PV Manufacturing YouTube Video (Resource)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
  • Week 3 Quiz PV Module Fundamentals and System Components (Quiz)
Module 4 - PV System Sizing and Electrical Design

This week covers the factors to consider when sizing a grid-tied or off-grid system, system losses, tilt, factors that increase or decrease PV system output, single-line diagrams, ampacity, Ohm's Law, voltage drop, charge controllers, AC- and DC-coupled battery systems, battery charging stages, overcurrent protection devices, and determining voltage ranges.

  • Read Chapter 7 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV System Sizing Principles (Text)
  • PV System Sizing - Part 1 (Video - 38:10 minutes)
  • PV System Sizing - Part 2 (Video - 38:56 minutes)
  • PV System Sizing - Part 3 (Video - 36:24 minutes)
  • PV System Sizing - PVWatts Part 1 (Video - 40:13 minutes)
  • PV System Sizing - PV Watts Part 2 (Video - 25:49 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 8 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV System Electrical Design (Text)
  • PV System Electrical Design Part 1 (Video - 38:41 minutes)
  • PV System Electrical Design Part 2 (Video - 40:20 minutes)
  • PV System Electrical Design Part 3 (Video - 50:30 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
  • Week 4 Quiz (Quiz)
Module 5 - Solar PV Components and Complete Systems

Beginning with a close-up look at each element of grid-tied and off-grid systems, including: modules, inverters, charge controllers, batteries and more, these elements are then configured into complete systems. We'll also cover series and parallel wiring for batteries, and interaction between charge controllers and batteries.

  • Read Chapter 9 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV System Mechanical Design (Text)
  • PV System Mechanical Design - Part 1 (1 of 3) (Video - 39:33 minutes)
  • PV System Mechanical Design - Part 1 (2 of 3) (Video - 43:32 minutes)
  • PV System Mechanical Design - Part 1 (3 of 3) (Video - 20:44 minutes)
  • PV System Mechanical Design - Part 2 (1 of 2) (Video - 38:06 minutes)
  • PV System Mechanical Design - Part 2 (2 of 2) (Video - 37:24 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 10 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Performance Analysis, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting (Text)
  • Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting (Video - 54:05 minutes)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
  • Quiz Week 5 (Quiz)
Module 6 - Voltage Temperature Calculations + Practice Exams

This week, you'll learn about voltage temperature calculations, review some useful resources and take exams to see how well you've mastered the material presented during the course. These exams can be repeated here as many times as you want and are highly recommended to be used to prepare for the NABCEP PVA exam! Note: Since 2019, NABCEP has not had any voltage temperature calculations on their PVA exams.

  • Read Special Section - Voltage Temperature Calculations in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" (Text)
  • String Sizing no longer on NABCEP PVA exam (Text)
  • String Sizing - Voltage Temperature Calculations Part 1 (Video - 35:41 minutes)
  • String Sizing - Voltage Temperature Calculations Part 2 (Video - 01:05:36 hours)
  • String Sizing Quiz (Quiz)
  • Resource: SolSmart Permitting (Resource)
  • Exam 1 70 questions (Quiz)
  • Exam 1 Answers with detailed explanations (Download .pdf)
  • Exam 2 75 Questions (Quiz)
  • Exam 2 Answers with detailed explanations (Download .pdf)
  • Exam 3 74 Questions (Quiz)
  • Exam 3 Answers with detailed explanations (Download .pdf)

Course Outline #2 - NABCEP PV Technical Sales Exam Prep Discussion Group

Module 1 - PV Technical Sales Facts and Figures & Compounding Interest

  • Read Chapter 1: "PV Technical Sales: Facts and Figures" (Text)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 2: "Compounding Interest" (Text)
  • Read Solar Pro Article "The Importance of Discounting Future Solar Savings" (Text)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
Module 2 - Electricity and Solar PV Systems

  • Read Chapter 3: "Electricity" (Text)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 4: "Photovoltaics" (Text)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
  • IV Curves (Video - 23:39 minutes)
Module 3 - PV System Components & Utility Interconnections

  • Read Chapter 5: "PV System Components" (Text)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
  • Read Chapter 6: "Utility Interconnections" (Text)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
Module 4 - 70-Question Practice Exam

  • 70 Question Practice Exam (Quiz)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
Module 5 - Additional Review and Exam Strategy

  • 30-Question Practice Exam (Quiz)
  • Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)

Course Outline #3 - 20-Hour NABCEP Advanced PV Systems and the 2017 NEC

Module 1 - 2017 National Electric Code (NEC)

  • Free Digital Version of the 2017 NEC and NEC Reading Assignment (Resource)
  • 2017 NEC Video 1 - Intro to 690.2 (Video - 18:42 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 2 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 690 photovoltaic systems part II circuit requirements (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 2 - 690.7 Voltage (Video - 16:59 minutes)
  • 2017 NEC Video 3 - 690.8 Current (Video - 22:18 minutes)
  • 2017 NEC Video 4 - 690.9 Overcurrent Protection (Video - 14:13 minutes)
  • 2017 NEC Video 5 - 690.10 Stand-Alone Systems and 690.11 DC Arc-Fault Protection (Video - 06:00 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 3 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Section 690.12 rapid shutdown (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 6 - 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Showdown Part 1 (Video - 21:12 minutes)
  • 2017 NEC Video 6 - 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Showdown Part 2 (Video - 25:23 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 4 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 690 part III disconnecting means (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 7 - 690 Part III Disconnecting Means (Video - 19:32 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 5 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 690 part IV wiring methods (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 8 - 690 Part IV Wiring Methods (Video - 30:06 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 6 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 690 part V grounding and bonding (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 9 - 690 Part V Grounding and Bonding (Video - 34:47 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 7 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 690 part VI to the end of 690 (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 10 - 690 Part VI to End of Article 690 (Video - 23:03 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 8 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 691 large-scale photovoltaic (PV) electric power production facility (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 11 - 691 Large-Scale Photovoltaic (Video - 19:10 minutes)
  • Read Chapter 9 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (PV and the NEC)" - Article 705 interconnected electric power production sources (Text)
  • 2017 NEC Video 12 - 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources (Video - 58:00 minutes)
  • Practice Exam 70 Questions (Quiz)
Free Preview - History of Solar PV

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