Check out HeatSpring's new free course and get a NABCEP CEU and AIA LUs - Introduction to Architectural Solar!

How does this course work?

You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 6 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 this course appropriate for total beginners, a complete newbie to solar pv?

This course, like all of our courses, is quite intensive and contains a lot of information and work for the students. Overall most HeatSpring students are professionals in the industry and many of our courses are very advanced. That being said, the Solar PV Bootcamp is our most introductory course and it is intended for people who may have no background in solar or electricity or who are relatively new to the industry. There is a lot of material to work through, but if you study what is presented in the video lectures and the practice exams in the course, you have a high chance of passing the NABCEP PV Associate exam and earning the credential. Over 97% of our students who take the exam pass, so as long as you study the material you should be able to get the credential.

The course is also appropriate for people with experience in various roles in solar PV industry or with an electrical or construction background looking to get into the solar market. There is a ton of information in this course and a lot of resources for diving deeper so its a good way to learn about the many facets of the industry.

The instructor, Sean White, is one of our best rated instructors and is really welcoming to newcomers to the industry. He is available on the discussion board during your year long instructor-led session and he answers every question, typically in great detail and within a business day. The students really like him and the course gets great reviews.

How do I take the NABCEP PV Associate Exam?

NABCEP has just announced Live Online Proctoring for the PV Associate Exam which means you can take the exam at home on your own computer with a live proctor. This is a new development as of April 2020, previously all exams had to be scheduled at taken at Scantron testing centers located throughout the world.

To take an exam through live online proctoring, you will first need to complete our PV Associate Boot Camp course, then submit your NABCEP application and $150 testing fee in the course. HeatSpring will then submit your application and exam fee to NABCEP to verify you have completed the required course. You will then be sent a scheduling email to schedule your exam via Live Online Proctoring on your own computer.

How long does one have to complete the course? Should I expect homework due at deadlines or required class attendance that I will need to incorporate into my schedule?

You get access to all of the course materials as soon as you enroll and your instructor-led session of the course will last for one full year. There are no scheduled lessons or times that you need to be in the course. The instructor, Sean White is available to answer on the course discussion board during your instructor-led session. He answers every question typically in great detail and within a business day.

Typically we recommend spending 5-10 hours per module, so 30-60 hours total depending on your background and how much energy you want to put in to test prep and practice exams etc. Some people complete the whole course in a week, some people take a full year or more to work through the content, so it is completely up to you how fast you want to go through it.

After your 1-year instructor-led session ends you can optionally re-enroll a new instructor-led session (a retake fee applies) or extend your access to the course materials as a self-serve course by joining as a HeatSpring Member.

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.

I'm a senior in bachelor's Electrical Engineeeing and want to work in the solar and storage industry. Learning this material and being a PV Associate will surely help me find jobs after graduation in this sector. As for my question, is this something I can complete over say a 4 week period?

Yes the NABCEP PV Associate credential is a well recognized credential in the industry and is a valuable indicator that shows you have taken the time for proper training.

The course can be taken at your own pace, so you can complete it as fast as you want. Typically we recommend spending 5-10 hours per module, so 30-60 hours total depending on your background and how much energy you want to put in to test prep and practice exams etc.

Some people complete the whole course in a week, some people take a full year or more to work through the content, so its completely up to you how fast you want to go through it.

I am comparing a few courses I found on the NABCEP site and hope to make a decision in the next few days. What I hope to gain is the confident ability to be "given” a building/complex in any area of the world and be able to design an efficient system for that particular location/purpose. Do you feel your course is suited to this?

The PV Boot Camp course is very successful at getting students to pass the NABCEP Associate Exam, but as any course goes, you get out what you put into it. The course goes along with my book Solar Photovoltaic Basics and the NABCEP Associate JTA. The JTA was put together to teach students design among other things.

I go over different types of design software and tools. We will determine system sizing for interactive (grid-tied) and stand-alone (off-grid) systems. We will learn about the different types of shading analysis tools, how to calculate voltage based on temperature, how to design systems on buildings based on the 2017 NEC (I will be adding 2020 NEC over the coming weeks),

The course is go at your own pace. Many people will finish the course in a few weeks. Even after you finish the course, you will still have access to all of the material and discussion forum for a year after you finish the course. Many students favorite part is how active I am on the discussion forum. I answer questions every day, with few exceptions.

Since you are interested in designing systems in different countries, I do have a lot of experience with that. I am working in Argentina this week and a few weeks ago Angola. I sometimes make analogies in the course about different standards around the world. The US NEC is the most comprehensive set of rules for installing PV systems and energy storage in the world by a long shot.

I also recommend taking the 40-Hour Advanced PV Training course and preparing to take the NABCEP PVIP Certification Exam in the future.

Thanks,
Sean

Can I register multiple people?

Yes please visit our HeatSpring for Groups page to get a group discount.

Are there any supplemental texts I will need to purchase?

This course uses Sean White's book: "Solar Photovoltaic Basics: A Study Guide for the NABCEP Associate Exam. 2nd Edition" The book is available on multiple online book retailers in multiple formats including eBooks, Kindle and used or rented versions. Here is a link to the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FUVcIQ

Another optional book to consider buying if you plan on taking the NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Exam is the 2017 NEC Codebook (NABCEP will use the 2017 version on their exams until sometime in 2021). There is no rush to buy the NEC, since it is not required for this course. You can also access the NEC for free on the internet.

Once again, for this course, you only need a copy of Solar Photovoltaic Basics by Sean White.

How does the 'Guaranteed Pass' work?

If you complete this course and don't pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam on your first try, HeatSpring will pay your re-take fee for your next ten attempts. Our students have a 97% pass rate on the exam, so we think you're going to pass!

Support articles

What is a HeatSpring course?

A HeatSpring course is an online learning experience that will expose you to a wealth of new information, challenge you, provide a unique opportunity to learn directly from an expert in your industry, connect you with a network of peers, and, ultimately, transform your career. Your journey begins the moment you enroll and gain access to your online training materials.

Our courses are delivered through our platform and are taught by expert instructors with real-world experience who have a knack for passing their knowledge along to students. Students leave our courses with technical expertise and tools for taking their businesses and careers to the next level.

How long do I have access to the materials?

Students have unlimited access to the course materials for one year (365 days) after enrollment in a course. After the one year of access expires, students can extend access to the course materials by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to all past courses and also includes access to any updates made by the instructors, learn more about HeatSpring Membership.

How do HeatSpring online courses work?

Our online courses maximize flexibility and convenience while providing access to world-class instructors. Courses vary in length from free short courses to paid courses with ten or more modules packed with assignments. The assignments (videos, reading, quizzes, example problems, projects, etc.) and discussion board are organized into modules so you and your fellow students will be on the same general schedule. Aside from that, you are on your own to complete the assignments at your own pace.

How often do instructors check in on courses?

We offer two main types of courses at HeatSpring and they both have different levels of instructor interaction.

All HeatSpring courses are contiuously updated by the expert instructor as needed. After enrolling students can access future updates to the course as well. After your year of access to the course expires, you can optionally join as a HeatSpring member to extend your access and continue to receive updated content from the expert.

Instructor-led Courses

Our instructor-led courses are created and led by expert instructors. In these courses, instructors utilize discussion boards to interact with students. 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.

Self-serve Courses

Self-serve courses are built by expert instructors and are intended to be self-serve for students. Instructors are involved to update content and review surveys, but generally do not interact with students.
 

Are there prerequisites for your courses?

There are no prerequisites required for any of our courses, even though most of them go into very advanced topics. We believe people learn in different ways and sometimes being thrown in 'over your head' is the way to go for a person or particular subject.

If you are unsure where to start, just contact us and we'd be happy to give you recommendations on what courses would be good for you based on your individual background and interests.

What happens if I enroll in a course and need to cancel?

As explained in our Refund Policy and Terms we do not provide refunds. If you are unhappy with our services for some reason let us know and we will work to make it better. Depending upon our assessment of the circumstances of your dissatisfaction, we may allow you to use some portion of your payment as a credit towards a different course.

If you enroll in the wrong course by mistake please contact us immediately before accessing any course materials.

Compare: Solar Executive MBA Training VS Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects

Solar Financial Modeling Courses

Our two most popular courses on solar finance are the Solar Executive MBA Training and Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects. Both of these courses are taught by finance and legal expert Chris Lord, and the Solar Executive MBA Training is co-taught by solar business expert Keith Cronin.

We get a lot of questions about these courses, and many students want to compare the two. Often students take both of these courses as part of our Solar Finance Professional Certificate program.

First, let's review what both courses have in common:

For both courses:

  • Participants get access to all content upon enrollment and for 1 full year after enrollment.
  • The instructors answer questions on the discussion board and review required project work
  • They are both intensive online courses intended for experienced professionals in the industry.
  • An Excel financial model tool is included in the course materials and used for your project work. Each model is quite detailed (breakdown of costs, production, etc), but, more importantly, the models give you the tools and understanding to add any additional details you need.
  • International students are welcome! Approximately 20-30% of the content is specific to the United States. The remaining 70-80% would apply to any location internationally. The instructors are very open and supportive of international students and projects.

Next, let's focus on the differences. The content is completely different in both courses, and the financial models used are also different. Other differences include:

Solar Executive MBA Training view detailed outline

  • 6 modules
  • Co-taught by Chris Lord and Keith Cronin
  • Financial model is a little simpler but you get to learn more about the drivers behind tax equity, Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) depreciation, and investment tax credit (ITC). 
  • Inputs for the model are geared a bit more toward a commercial-scale project, but the size can be scaled up or down as necessary.
  • This is an advanced course, but it does have more introductory content intended for students who may have experience in solar or finance but desire a better understanding of how commercial solar projects are developed, structured, and financed.
  • Also includes content related to selling, creating proposals, organizing your team, and increasing the profit margins of your projects.


Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects view detailed outline

  • 5 modules
  • Taught by Chris Lord
  • Financial model has more detail and is done as a quarterly model (a little more complex) and includes a more complex partnership flip model.
  • Inputs for the model are geared a bit more toward a utility-scale project, but the size can be scaled up or down as necessary.
  • Content focuses a little less on the technical/legal issues behind the tax equity investment. 
  • More advanced content intended for students who already have a good general understanding of how solar projects are developed, structured, and financed.

Solar Finance Professional Certificate view more info

Complete both courses and earn your Solar Finance Masters Series Certificate. If you take both courses, we recommend starting with the Solar Executive MBA Training. Enroll in our series package for additional savings.
 

Do I have to pay for the class up front, or can I pay in installments?

If you prefer to pay in installments, we provide financing and payment plan options at checkout. Just click the "take this course" button for the course you would like to enroll in and instead of using the credit card option, choose the "Klarna" option for installment payment plans with a simple account setup and instant approval. Once approved you will be redirected back to the checkout session and enrolled in the course.

Klarna

Klarna gives customers a range of payment options during checkout. Available payment options vary depending on the customer’s billing address and the transaction amount. In the US, Klarna offers a 4-payment plan as well as a longer term financing option. Klarna is available in the United States and Canada and also in a growing list of other countries.

If the course you want to take is out of reach financially you can also apply for financial aid using this link: https://www.heatspring.com/financial-aid

Financial aid applications are reviewed weekly so you'll receive a response pretty quickly. Heads up that we don't approve requests for full tuition.

How do OSHA 10, OSHA 30, and other safety courses with ClickSafety work?

How It Works for OSHA 10 and OSHA 30

  1. Students will purchase OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 on HeatSpring.
  2. Because students only have 6 months to complete OSHA courses (per OSHA guidelines), students will complete the course registration confirmation in the classroom on HeatSpring when they are ready to begin.
  3. HeatSpring will enroll students in their course via ClickSafety. 
  4. Students will receive 2 emails – one generic email welcoming them to ClickSafety and another with their ClickSafety login credentials and course registration confirmation.
  5. Upon course completion, ClickSafety will provide Certificates of Completion. For U.S. residents, ClickSafety will mail out official Department of Labor/OSHA cards.  

How It Works for All Other Non-OSHA Safety Courses

  1. Students will purchase a safety course from HeatSpring
  2. Within one business day, HeatSpring will enroll students in their course via ClickSafety. 
  3. Students will receive 2 emails – one generic email welcoming them to ClickSafety and another with their ClickSafety login credentials and course registration confirmation.
  4. Course access is indefinite, so students can complete their courses as they are able.
  5. Upon course completion, ClickSafety will provide Certificates of Completion. 

All ClickSafety courses will completed on the ClickSafety platform, not within the HeatSpring platform.

Note that OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 must be fully completed within 6 months of enrollment, per OSHA guidelines. All other safety course have no expiration date.

Are there captions on HeatSpring course videos?

Yes! In mid-2023, HeatSpring's video hosting partner started to offer captions on all videos hosted there.

All videos uploaded after that update automatically have captions. Videos before that update are getting manually added by the HeatSpring team.

If there is a course where you need captions and we haven't updated it yet, please let us know at support@heatspring.com, so we can expedite the caption process.

 

Can HeatSpring help me find a new job?

While we love to help our students get skilled up, HeatSpring does not provide job placement services. Still, there are tons of great career resources at your disposal. Check out the following job board links if you are looking to get into a new climate action job:

Renewable Energy and Climate Jobs

Solar Jobs

Home Energy 

How do I fill out the NABCEP PV Certification Exam Application and document Accredited Advanced Training Hours?

HeatSpring is a NABCEP Registered Provider and many of our courses qualify for Accredited Advanced PV Training hours required to sit for NABCEP Certification exams and are also approved for continuing education hours (CEU hours) to maintain your credential and recertify. HeatSpring is also a NABCEP PV Associate Provider.

If you have completed your course and are ready to fill out an application for your exam with NABCEP then the following may be helpful.

NABCEP PV Associate Exam

If you are planning to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate exam then you do not need to follow the instructions below. Instead navigate to your classroom for the Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep course and fill out the application provided in the course. You will then submit the application and exam fee directly to HeatSpring within the course. Then HeatSpring will submit the application and fee on your behalf to NABCEP to verify you have completed the required course.

NABCEP Board Certification Exams

  • PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification
  • PV Design Specialist (PVDS) Certification
  • PV Installer Specialist (PVIS) Certification
  • PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Certification
  • PV Technical Sales (PVTS) Certification
  • PV System Inspector (PVSI) Certification

Step 1: Complete the Required Advanced Training Hours for the credential you wish to obtain and earning your certificate(s) of completion from HeatSpring.

Step 2: Fill out an application on the special myNABCEP certification application website at https://my.nabcep.org/ and pay the exam fee directly to NABCEP. When filling out the application the following information may be helpful:

Accredited Training Hours

When you are filing out your application you may see a question like this (example from the PVDS application):  

A minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of training of accredited, advanced PV design principles and practices as outlined in the NABCEP PV Design Specialist Job Task Analysis. All advanced PV training must be offered by one of the following providers

Followed by a list of ways the institution or training course qualifies. For documenting hours from HeatSpring certificates of completion choose the option titled: "Training institutions approved by State Contractor Licensing Boards or Canadian Provincial equivalents".

Multiple Records for NEC hours and Advanced Hours

For some certification exam applications NABCEP requires that the JTA hours and NEC hours be reported separately under multiple records even if a single course fulfills all requirements. You may see a requirement on your application that looks like this:

You must have at least two (2) Records listed, one for each Course Type (JTA hours & NEC hours). If the course covers both Course Types, you may split course(s) into two records

If so you can split the hours approved for a single course certificate of completion between JTA hours and NEC hours. To do this just submit two copies of the same certificate, one for the JTA hours the course qualifies for and one for the NEC hours.

Approved NABCEP Hours by Course

If you need to review how many hours are approved for your course you can do so be either clicking the "verified certificate" link provided on your certificate of completion, or find your course using our NABCEP Credential Course Finder Tool.

What are the Best Solar Certifications and NABCEP Photovoltaic (PV) Certifications and Exams?

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the industry gold standard for solar certifications and credentials. Many manufacturers, state licensing agencies and solar incentive programs require installers have some level of NABCEP credential.

NABCEP has two levels of PV Credential:

  1. NABCEP PV Associate
  2. NABCEP Board Certifications:
    • PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification
    • PV Design Specialist (PVDS) Certification
    • PV Installer Specialist (PVIS) Certification
    • PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Certification
    • PV Technical Sales (PVTS) Certification
    • PV System Inspector (PVSI) Certification

NABCEP Credential 3 Step Tool

Use our new tool to read more about each of these credentials, as well as to find the hours requirements and courses for any NABCEP credential in 3 simple steps.

NABCEP PV Associate Exam

After completing our Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep course, you are eligible to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. There is a $150 exam fee due along with your application to NABCEP. You will submit those to us in an assignment at the end of the course. Then, we will submit them to NABCEP on your behalf and verify that you have completed the course. You can then schedule to take your exam at any Scantron Testing Center worldwide. NABCEP has also recently announced that they are allowing the exam to be taken at home on your own computer with live online proctoring due to COVID-19 stay at home orders.

Related Articles:

Which courses offer NABCEP credit hours for the PV Installation Professional Certification or recertification?

NABCEP requires documentation of 58 Advanced PV Training Hours in sit for the PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification exam. At least 40 of these hours must come from a NABCEP Accredited Provider (HeatSpring courses qualify). HeatSpring is a NABCEP Registered Provider and our Provider Number is: 0255.

We provide 4 main pathways for earning the 58-hours:

  1. PV Associate Pathway 
  2. Energy Storage Pathway
  3. PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification Prep
  4. Build your own Pathway
    • Courses: PVIP Course Finder
    • Choose any combination of courses which add up to at least 58 Advanced Hours

PVIP Recertification Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements

NABCEP has updated requirements for continuing education hours within specific subcategories in order to maintain your PVIP certification. Visit our NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification detail page to see the latest continuing education requirements, and corresponding courses to maintain your PVIP Certification.

NABCEP Credential 3 Step Tool

There are several NABCEP certifications and credentials in addition to PVIP Certification. You can use our new tool to read more about each of these credentials, as well as to find the hours requirements and courses for any NABCEP credential in 3 simple steps.


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Why NABCEP Certification? Information on licensing, incentives, manufacturers, state resources

NABCEP credentials can be valuable for many different reasons. Depending on your state, they may help with licensing, incentives or being on a list of qualified professionals. NABCEP credentials can also be a valuable marketing tool and differentiator for your business to establish trust with customers. In addition, some manufacturers and distributors require some level of NABCEP credential.

The first thing to clarify is the difference between certification and licensing.

Certification

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a well recongnized independent certification program for photovoltaic (PV) professionals, with various certifications and credentials for PV professionals. To become NABCEP certified, professionals must have a certain amount of work experience and must document all training and installations. Professionals must also pass a rigorous exam, sign a code of ethics, and take continuing education courses for re-certification every three years.

HeatSpring is an approved, accredited provider and certificates of completion from our approved NABCEP courses can be used as documentation with NABCEP to qualfy for PV Certfication exams. In addition to full PV Certification exams, NABCEP also offers the PV Associate Credential and our Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep course is an approved prerequisite to sit for that exam.

Licensing

State regulation and licensing of solar contractors continues to evolve as the industry grows. The contractor licensing requirements described here refer to solar-specific licensing requirements, rather than general electrical contractor licenses. Most states require a licensed electrical contractor for PV installation.

Some states require solar installers to obtain a separate, specialized solar contractor’s license. In most cases, solar is a specialty classification under the general electrical licenses and all appropriately licensed contractors can install solar systems without the solar specialty license. However, contractors may be able to obtain a solar specialty license and install systems without having the full electrical license. This reduces the cost of licensure for contractors who only install solar systems.

In addition, NABCEP credentials can help you qualify for state incentive programs or to be added to a list of qualified solar professionals.

A helpful resource is IREC's national database of solar licensing and incentive requirements for the United States. Keep in mind that certain local jurisdictions within each state may have different requirements than what is listed by IREC.  For the most accurate understanding of licensing requirements it is best to talk to your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) or building department.

Related Articles:

Does NABCEP offer special accommodations if I have a disability?

The short answer is, yes. 

Here is a link to download the NABCEP special accommodations form: NABCEP Special Accommodations Request Form

If you need special accomodations for NABCEP PV Exams, including the PV Associate Exam and all PV Board Certifications you can fill out the NABCEP Special Accommodations Request Form and submit it to NABCEP using the instructions on the form. After submitting the NABCEP request form you will also still need to fill out the standard NABCEP exam application for the exam you intend to take.

The introduction to the NABCEP Special Accomodation Request Form follows:

To ensure equal opportunities for all qualified persons and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, Inc®. (NABCEP®) will make reasonable accommodations for candidates when possible. The information you provide and any documentation regarding your disability and your need or accommodation will be treated with strict confidentiality. Review of requests for accommodations can take 3-4 weeks or more and should be submitted as far in advanced as possible.

How to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam

HeatSpring is a Registered NABCEP PV Associate Provider. We specialize in preparing students for the NABCEP PV Associate exam and our 92% student success rate shows how effective our courses are in helping our students to pass NABCEP Credential exams and NABCEP Certification exams. Learn more about our NABCEP PV Associate Exam course.

1) Complete this course https://www.heatspring.com/courses/solar-pv-boot-camp-nabcep-pv-associate-exam-prep, sign the honor code and request a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

2) Download the Candidate Eligibility Form and fill it out by typing into the PDF then save it to your computer. You can choose to take your exam at a Scantron Testing center OR at home on your own computer with Live Online Proctoring (if you computer meets the technical requirements). NABCEP has not yet updated the form, so for either option just check the "CBT with Scantron" box when you're filling out the form. When NABCEP contacts you to schedule the exam, you can then pick how you want to take the exam. When the form asks for a signature, you can either just type in your name or print the form and sign it.

3) Visit the assignment titled "Submit Your NABCEP PV Associate Application and Schedule Your Exam" to complete the online application, upload your saved pdf Candidate Eligibility Form, and pay the exam fee.

4) Once Step 3 is complete, HeatSpring will receive your application and register you in the NABCEP system.

5) You'll receive an email with instructions for setting up your account in Certemy to complete your application and manage your NABCEP credentials. Once you complete the setup process in Certemy you will receive another email for scheduling your exam via Live Online Proctoring from your own computer at home or at any Meazure Learning Testing Center near to you.

Need Help Scheduling Your Exam?

If you have completed all of the steps but have not received an email to schedule your exam or set up your Certemy account, please follow this guide: How to Complete Your NABCEP PV Associate Application on Certemy and Schedule Your Exam

How to Complete your NABCEP PV Associate Application on Certemy and Schedule your Exam

First make sure you have followed all the steps to submit your NABCEP PV Associate Application.

Accept Certemy Account Invitation and Complete the Exam Registration

Once you submit your application to HeatSpring and recieve confirmation that the application was accepted, you will receive a welcome email titled "Welcome to Certemy" from the email address "support@nabcep.certemy.email" to the email address on the application form. You may need to check your junk/spam box or add this email address to your contacts or safe sender list. The email will look something like this:

Click on the "Complete Registration" button to set up a password for your account and accept the terms and conditions then log into the account. Once you are logged in click the "My Testing" tab at the top of the page and then complete the "Exam Registration" step. You will just need to check the checkbox that says "please confirm your authorization to register for examination" and click the submit button. No additional payment is required at this step. For more information you can view this Certemy support video about the My Testing page.

Schedule Your Exam with Meazure Learning

Once you set up your Certemy account and complete the exam registration step, you will then receive another email from Meazure Learning (formerly Scantron) called a "Notice to Schedule" to schedule your exam date. The email will come from the email address "candidatsupport@meazurelearning.com", please make sure you check junk/spam for this email or add this email address to your contacts or safe sender list. You will be able to schedule your exam via Live Online Proctoring from your own computer at home or at any Meazure Learning Testing Center near to you. For Meazure Learning support, please call (855) 772-8678 or visit https://www.meazurelearning.com/contact-us

Remember your Certemy Login Information

You will be using this Certemy account to manage your testing as well as your credential moving forward for recertification and also manage additional NABCEP credentials in the future if you sit for more exams. Visit https://nabcep.certemy.com and log in with this account information to check on the status of your exam or credentials and renew your credentials in the future. If you have any issues you can visit the Certemy user guide page.

Haven't Received a Welcome Email from Certemy?

If you are unable to find welcome email inviting you to set up a Certemy account let us know at support@heatspring.com and we can manually activate the account for you. Once your account has been manually activated you can use the reset password function here to set a password https://nabcep.certemy.com and log into the Certemy account.

How long does it take NABCEP to review my exam application?

It varies! But it's usually pretty fast. Lately they have been sending email responses within two working days.

Which course bundles offer NABCEP credit hours for the PV Technical Sales Certification?

NABCEP requires documentation of 58 advanced PV training hours in sit for the PV Technical Sales (PVTS) Certification exam. At least 40 of these hours must come from a NABCEP Accredited Provider (HeatSpring courses qualify). HeatSpring is a NABCEP Registered Provider and our Provider Number is: 0255.

We provide 4 different pathways for earning the 58 hours:

    Codes & Standards Focus
  1. Commercial & Industrial Sales + Energy Storage Focus
  2. PV Associate Pathway 
    • Course Bundle: NABCEP PV Technical Sales (PVTS) Certification Prep: PV Associate Exam Pathway
    • Enables you to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam - You have to take and pass the PV Associate exam for the full 58-hours to count
    • Includes foundations of solar, codes and standards related to solar installations in the National Electrical Code and other relevant standards, and technical sales principles exam prep
  3. Build your own Pathway
    • Courses: PVTS Course Finder
    • Choose any combination of courses which add up to at least 58 "advanced hours for exam"

PVTS Recertification Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements

NABCEP has updated requirements for continuing education hours within specific subcategories in order to maintain your PVTS certification. Visit our NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification detail page to see the latest continuing education requirements, and corresponding courses to maintain your PVTS Certification.

How does HeatSpring qualify trainees for the Illinois Solar for All program?

Illinois Solar for All has qualified HeatSpring as an Other Qualifying Program (OQP), because completing our coursework would lead an eligible trainee to become a Qualified Person under the Illinois Adm. Code 468.20 as listed in the Illinois Solar for All Approved Vender Manual .

To be considered an eligible trainee, students must complete at least 50% of our 58-Hour Advanced PV Certification Training Series, which prepares students to take the NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) exam. This series includes the Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep and the 40-Hour NABCEP Advanced PV Certification Training and CEUs.

To be 50% complete, students must fully complete the Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep course and complete all the way through to the end of Module 1 of the 40-Hour NABCEP Advanced PV Certification Training and CEUs course. If you have any questions about what qualifies within the Illinois Solar for All program, reach out to us at support@heatspring.com.

What version of the National Electric Code (NEC) is being used on NABCEP exams?

It depends.

The PV Installation Professional (PVIP), PV Design Specialist (PVDS), PV Installer Specialist (PVIS), PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) and PV System Inspector (PVSI) certification exams are all using the 2017 NEC.

The new Energy Storage Installation Professional (ESIP) certification exam is using the 2020 NEC.

The NEC stays mostly the same as far as the exams go. There are probably one to zero questions where the version of the NEC would make a difference. The exam committees do not try and trick people based on versions of the exam.

In our NABCEP prep courses, we typically keep 2 versions of the NEC, so students can balance the version being used on their NABCEP exam as well as what may be adopted in their local areas. It is real life that there are so many different versions of the NEC that we are dealing with. It is helpful to remember that the NEC is mostly the same year to year, decade to decade. Most of the changes do not change the way we do things, it is primarily organizational, such as moving something to a different place or renumbering something.

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