About this course

Prepare for the NABCEP Operations & Maintenance Associate (OMAT) exam.
Learn fundamentals of safety, operational protocols and system maintenance for residential, commercial and utility-scale solar PV installations and get expert help prepping for and passing the NABCEP Operations & Maintenance Associate Exam. You'll have access to an expert instructor, lecture videos, useful resources and practice quizzes to help you pass the NABCEP Operations & Maintenance Associate exam.

The instructor for this course, Sean White, is one of HeatSpring's most popular and highest rated instructors. He is available to answer questions on the discussion board while you work through the course materials. He is extremely responsive and answers questions in great detail. He is an IREC Master Trainer, was named 2014 Clean Energy Trainer of the Year, travels around the world to teach seminars on solar technology, served on the NABCEP technical committee, and recently published two more books on solar design and installation.

Learning Objectives

  • Safety and Best Practices: Understanding safety regulations, codes, and industry standards.
  • Fundamentals of Electricity: Understanding basic electrical concepts and principles.
  • Existing System Infrastructure Considerations: Understanding system components, site plans, and electrical design
  • Operation and Maintenance: Knowledge of system monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintenance procedures.

Course outline

8 modules
23 - 26 hours to complete
22:23 hours of video lectures
2 practice exams
Welcome • 18 assignments
Orientation Materials

This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

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Module 1 • 22 assignments
History of Solar, Markets and Applications for Solar PV, and Safety Basics

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).

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Module 2 • 22 assignments
Electricity Basics + Solar Energy Fundamentals

This module 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.

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Module 3 • 22 assignments
PV Module Fundamentals and System Components

This module 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.

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Module 4 • 20 assignments
PV System Sizing and Electrical Design

This module 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.

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Module 5 • 24 assignments
PV System Mechanical Design, Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting

In this module, you will study PV System Mechanical Design, which goes along with Chapter 9 in Solar Photovoltaic Basics.

Also included in this module is Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting which goes along with Chapter 10 in Solar Photovoltaic Basics, which means you are getting close to the end!

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Module 6 • 5 assignments
Practice Exams

In this module, you'll take practice 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!

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Conclusion • 13 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

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Instructor

Sean White

2014 IREC Trainer of the Year, HeatSpring / White House Energy Inc. / Sean White Solar / American Solar Energy Society (ASES)

Sean White was the 2014 Interstate Renewable Energy Council Trainer of the Year. He is an IREC 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...

Frequently asked questions

Full FAQ
How does this course work?
This course is delivered entirely online. Pre-order courses are available on launch date. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. During your year of access the instructor will be in the course answering questions on the discussion board. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students can pre-order but will not be able to access the full course materials or earn a certificate of completion until the course is fully published. Once the course is published any students who have pre-ordered will then have access to the course materials for one year (365 days). After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Will the instructor really answer my questions during this course?
Yes! This is an instructor-led online course. You can ask questions on the discussion board and get prompt answers from your instructor. It varies by instructor and by course but typically instructors check-in between daily and weekly to check quiz results or project work, review and respond to discussion board questions and read survey responses. Check the enrollment page for specific information about each instructor's check-in frequency.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, 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.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, please visit our For Teams page to get a group discount.

$895

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