Solar

NABCEP

Certification Prep

Inspection, O&M

NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Certification Prep

Sean White and 1 other

Course description

This a bundle of 2 courses taught by Sean White and Bill Brooks:

NABCEP's PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Board Certification highlights your expertise in the areas of operations, maintenance and commissioning. It spotlights your ability to apply verification protocols, critically analyze systems, and implement preventive and corrective maintenance procedures for PV systems.

This NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Certification Prep Course gives you the advanced hours and knowledge required to earn NABCEP PVCMS Certification.

The PVCMS Practice Exam is included with the prep course - it's a great way to prepare and get comfortable so you can pass the PVCMS exam on your first try.

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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.

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Continuing Education Units

Approved for: 30 NABCEP Advanced Credit Hours, 6 NABCEP NEC.

NABCEP Registered Provider

This course counts towards the training requirements for taking NABCEP professional certification exams and CEUs for renewing all certifications.

Get NABCEP Certifications

Course Outline #1 - 30-Hour NABCEP Advanced PV Certification Training and CEUs

Welcome - 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.

2017 NEC Free Download (NABCEP is still on 2017)
Purchase a copy of "Solar PV Engineering and Installation 2nd Edition" &/or "PV and the NEC 2nd Edition" (.pdf)
Navigating the Course
Introduction Part 1 (03:48 minutes) Preview
Introduction Part 2 (09:00 minutes)
Set up email notifications and your student profile
Introduction Part 3 (03:38 minutes)
Introduction Part 4 (01:03 minutes)
Introduce yourself on the discussion board
Introduction Part 5 (48 seconds)
Connect with your instructor Sean on LinkedIn
Reading: 2019 NABCEP PV Certification Study Guide (.pdf)
Review: NABCEP Job Task Analysis (.pdf)
Announcement regarding NABCEP Certification Exams and the NEC Adoption
Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code Book by Sean White and Bill Brooks
Feedback from an highly knowledgable student after taking and passing the NABCEP PVIP exam:
Introducing Bill Brooks! (14:40 minutes) Preview
Go-At-Your-Own-Pace
Discussion Board Request from Sean and Notes on Posting Discussion Board Questions
NABCEP Adoption of 2020 NEC is moved back again, now 2023
Live Online Proctoring (LOP) for All NABCEP Exams!
Calculator and NEC Codebook Rules from Scantron Testing Centers for NABCEP Certification Exams
Books and resources
Free Additional Practice Exam

Module 1

This week will introduce many of the concepts that will be covered on the exam.

NEC Article 100 Definitions Part 1 (29:57 minutes)
NEC Article 100 Definitions Part 2 (16:35 minutes)
NEC Article 100 Definitions Part 3 (17:55 minutes)
NEC Article 110 Requirements for Electrical Installations Part 1 (19:39 minutes) Preview
NEC Article 110 Requirements for Electrical Installations Part 2 (19:49 minutes)
NEC Article 200 Grounded Conductors Part 1 (16:40 minutes)
NEC Article 200 Grounded Conductors Part 2 (16:44 minutes)
NEC Articles 210 Branch Circuits, 215 Feeders and 230 Services (20:47 minutes)
NEC Article 240 Overcurrent Protection Part 1 (22:47 minutes)
NEC Article 240 Overcurrent Protection Part 2 (19:51 minutes)
NEC Article 250 Grounding and Bonding Part 1 (26:36 minutes) Preview
NEC Article 250 Grounding and Bonding Part 2 (21:14 minutes)
NEC Article 300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials Part 1 (15:06 minutes)
NEC Article 300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials Part 2 (21:46 minutes)
NEC Article 310 Conductors for General Wiring Part 1 (14:57 minutes) Preview
NEC Article 310 Conductors for General Wiring Part 2 (18:53 minutes)
NEC Article 310 Conductors for General Wiring Part 3 (21:11 minutes)
320 to 358 Common Wiring Methods like EMT Part 1 (15:19 minutes)
320 to 358 Common Wiring Methods like EMT Part 2 (17:27 minutes)
NEC Chapter 4 Featuring Article 480! Part 1 (15:38 minutes)
NEC Chapter 4 Featuring Article 480! Part 2 (17:11 minutes)
NEC Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8 (12:20 minutes)
NEC Chapter 9 Tables Part 1 (28:19 minutes)
NEC Chapter 9 Tables Part 2 (19:32 minutes)
NEC Chapter 9 Tables Part 3 (15:09 minutes)
Informational Annexes (11:16 minutes)
Lesson 1 (24:27 minutes) Preview
Code-Compliant Conductor Sizing - SolarPro (PDF) (.pdf)
Code Compliant Conductor Sizing: a 2021 take on a 2011 SolarPro Article Part 1 (16:41 minutes)
Code Compliant Conductor Sizing: a 2021 take on a 2011 SolarPro Article Part 2 (18:55 minutes)
Building and Fire Codes with Bill Brooks Part 1- 2020 NFPA 855 Energy Storage Systems, IRC, IBC, IFC, NFPA 1, ICC (08:41 minutes)
Building and Fire Codes with Bill Brooks Part 2 Roof Setbacks (30:55 minutes)
Building and Fire Codes with Bill Brooks Part 3 The ICC i-codes (13:50 minutes)
Solar Building and Fire Codes Video 1 Part 1 (optional) (14:29 minutes)
Solar Building and Fire Codes Video 1 Part 2 (optional) (20:53 minutes)
Solar Building and Fire Codes Video 2 (optional) (23:14 minutes)
Solar Building and Fire Codes Video 3 (optional) (21:06 minutes)
Solar Building and Fire Codes Video 4 Part 1 (optional) (21:48 minutes)
Solar Building and Fire Codes Video 4 Part 2 (optional) (23:51 minutes)
Bill Brooks on Rapid Shutdown Part 1 Outside of the Array Boundary (14:57 minutes)
Bill Brooks on Rapid Shutdown Part 2 inside of the Array Boundary (20:17 minutes)

Module 2

This week you will set aside 4 hours to take the 70-question practice exam and see how you do.

Where To Get Information - Part 1 (07:24 minutes)
Where To Get Information - Part 2 (11:26 minutes)
Trigonometry Review Part 1 (19:19 minutes)
Trigonometry Review Part 2 (14:34 minutes)
Introduction to Voltage Temperature Calculations (01:09 minutes)
Voltage Temperature Calculations - Part 1 (04:45 minutes)
Voltage Temperature Calculations - Part 2 (11:50 minutes)
Voltage Temperature Calculations - Part 3 (05:57 minutes)
Voltage Temperature Calculations - Part 4 (02:29 minutes)
Voltage Temperature Calculations - Part 5 (04:23 minutes)
Read: Chapter 4 in "Solar PV Engineering and Installation" - Article 705: Interconnections
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 1 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 690 photovoltaic (PV) systems
2017 NEC Video 1 - Introduction to 690.2 (18:42 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 2 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 690 photovoltaic systems part II circuit requirements
2017 NEC Video 2 - 690.7 Voltage (16:59 minutes)
2017 NEC Video 3 - 690.8 Current (22:18 minutes)
2017 NEC Video 4 - 690.9 Overcurrent Protection (14:13 minutes)
2017 NEC Video 5 - 690.10 Stand-Alone Systems and 690.11 DC Arc-Fault Protection (06:00 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 3 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Section 690.12 rapid shutdown
2017 NEC Video 6 - 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Showdown Part 1 (21:12 minutes)
2017 NEC Video 6 - 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Showdown Part 2 (25:23 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 4 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 690 part III disconnecting means
2017 NEC Video 7 - 690 Part III Disconnecting Means (19:32 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 5 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 690 part IV wiring methods
2017 NEC Video 8 - 690 Part IV Wiring Methods (30:06 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 6 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 690 part V grounding and bonding
2017 NEC Video 9 - 690 Part V Grounding and Bonding Part 1 (18:01 minutes)
2017 NEC Video 9 - 690 Part V Grounding and Bonding Part 2 (17:04 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 7 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 690 part VI to the end of 690
2017 NEC Video 10 - 690 Part VI to End of Article 690 (23:03 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 8 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 691 large-scale photovoltaic (PV) electric power production facility
2017 NEC Video 11 - 691 Large-Scale Photovoltaic (19:10 minutes)
Grounding electrode schemes and transformers with emphasis on utility-scale (double advanced topic). (21:27 minutes)
Suggested Reading Assignment: Read Chapter 9 in "Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code (2017 edition)" - Article 705 interconnected electric power production sources
2017 NEC Video 12 - 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Part 1 (25:51 minutes)
2017 NEC Video 12 - 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Part 2 (20:46 minutes)
Bill Brooks talks Energy Storage Systems Part 1 (22:29 minutes) Preview
Bill Brooks talks Energy Storage Systems Part 2 (10:56 minutes)
Bill Brooks talks Storage Batteries Article 480 (03:30 minutes)
Bill Brooks talks EV Power Transfer Station (EV charging and EV to Grid) (05:38 minutes)
Bill gets excited talking about 705.13 Power Control Systems (08:16 minutes)
Bill Brooks on 705 Video 1 Supply and Load Side Connections (07:44 minutes)
Bill Brooks on 705 Video 2 with ESS Implications and Markets (11:51 minutes)
Bill Brooks on 705 Video 3 More 705.13 PCS and MIDs (08:04 minutes)
More EV to Grid-Full Circle with Bill Brooks (07:14 minutes) Preview
Bill Brooks on 705 Video 4 Supply-Side Connections and Microgrids (10:16 minutes)
Bill Brooks on 705 Video 5 Wire Sizing and Supply-Side Connections (05:52 minutes)
Bill Brooks on 705 Video 6 Load-Side Connections (26:10 minutes)
PV UL Listing 1703 transitioned to UL 61730 (.pdf)
Wire Sizing (Chapter 12 PV and the NEC) Reading Assignment-advanced topic (.pdf)
Calculating Fault Currents with Bill Brooks-double advanced topic (34:07 minutes) Preview
International Residential Code (IRC) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks (advanced topic) (27:36 minutes)
2021 International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC) with Bill Brooks (advanced topic) (16:21 minutes)
International Fire Code (IFC) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks (advanced topic) (07:42 minutes)
2018 International Fire Code (IFC) for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks and related topics (32:20 minutes)
2021 International Residential Code (IRC) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks (BB) (18:12 minutes)
UL PV Listing 61730 replacing UL 1703 for making the test work around the world and UL 3741 listing for Rapid Shutdown (Hazard Control Systems) with Bill Brooks PE (12:08 minutes)
UL 3741 Rapid Shutdown solution where the PV array can stay up to 1000V using SMA inverters with Sollega or Ironridge racks! (16:53 minutes)

Module 3 - Practice Exam

Optional Materials, Including Practice Exams
NABCEP Practice Exam Answers with detailed explanations (.pdf)

Conclusion - 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!

Lots of additional optional videos and audio recordings
1 Year of Access to Course Materials
Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate

Course Outline #2 - NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Practice Exam

Module 1 - NABCEP PVCMS Certification Practice Exams

Welcome! Here is the latest on this relatively new NABCEP exam
Discussion Board Request from Sean and Notes on Posting Discussion Board Questions
PVCMS Practice Exam 2022
PVCMS Practice Exam 7/2/22 with answers and explanations (.pdf)
Taking Your NABCEP Test - Thoughts & Advice from Sean (07:17 minutes)
Connect with your instructor Sean on LinkedIn
PVCMS easy test (real PVCMS exam has some more difficult questions)
PVCMS easy test - 39 Questions Answer with Detailed Explanations (.pdf)

Module 2 - PVIP exams

The PVCMS exam is a relatively new and rumored to be difficult to pass exam. Most questions on the PVIP exam can be written slightly differently in context to make them PVCMS exam questions, so if you know how to pass the PVIP exam, you will know how to pass the PVCMS exam. For example, when I recently took another one of the specialist exams, the PV Design Specialist exam, I could not tell the difference between the PVIP and the PVDS exams. I assume that this is much the same for the PVCMS exam. There are very few people who have taken the PVCMS exam and there has been no activity here until June 2022. I recommend studying the same as if you were going to take the PVIP exam and I have posted my PVIP exam question here. If you decide you would rather take the PVIP exam, let me know and we can switch you into that course. Thanks, Sean

The exam numbers go from 1 being the most recent exam to the higher number being the older exam questions
1-Additional Practice Exam - 30 Questions
Additional Practice Exam - 30 Questions Answer with Detailed Explanations (.pdf)
2-2020 PVIP Practice Questions
2020 PVIP Practice Questions Answer with Detailed Explanations (.pdf)
Important: Data for Questions 41-45 on Practice Exam 2 (.pdf)
3-NABCEP Practice Exam 2 - 70 Questions
NABCEP Practice Exam 2 - 70 Questions Answer with Detailed Explanations (.pdf)
4-NABCEP Practice Exam 1 - 70 Questions
NABCEP Practice Exam 1 - 70 Questions Answer with Detailed Explanations (.pdf)

Instructors

Sean White

2014 IREC Trainer of the Year, HeatSpring / White House Energy Inc. / Sean White Solar / Norcal Solar

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... Learn more

Bill Brooks

Principal, Brooks Engineering

Bill Brooks PE, of Brooks Engineering LLC, has over 30 years of experience designing, installing, and evaluating grid-connected PV systems. More than 12,000 installers and inspectors have attended his courses throughout the U.S. and abroad. His field troubleshooting skills have been valuable in determining where problems occur to focus training on those issues of... Learn more

Ratings

4.7

285 reviews

Courses with student ratings: 2

by Jim Carbone, ECS Energy Limited 04/17/2023

Great course.

by Christopher Maingot 04/13/2023

Very well taught course by two extremely knowledgeable people in the field!

by Jimmy Smith 02/10/2023

Sean and Bill are great instructors. I wish I had taken this course three years ago before I had taken my test. Thanks to Seans book I passed!

by brian cullen, Principal, CAM Solar 02/02/2023

All you need to know to install solar and get licensed to do it.

by Jesse Mills, Field Service Technician, Tesla Energy 12/08/2022

Sean and Bill are great. They do a good job of being easy to follow through dense material. It was so convenient to be able to do one program that fulfilled all my courses requirements.

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Frequently asked questions

How does this course work?

You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 1 module course is delivered entirely online. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. 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 get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. 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. 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.

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 HeatSpring for Teams page to get a group discount.

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