Solar
Energy Storage
NABCEP
Design and Installation
Solar + Storage
Batteries and Storage
Certification Prep
Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep
About this course
Pass your NABCEP exam the first time - Guaranteed We specialize in preparing students for the NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) exam and our 88% student success rate proves how valuable this course is in helping you pass on your first try. In fact, we guarantee that you'll pass on the first try and if you don't we will refund your exam fee or let you take the exam again at no charge.
Electricians, contractors, or career-changers: learn the fundamentals of solar PV systems and get expert help prepping for and passing the NABCEP Photovoltaic (PV) Associate Exam. You'll have access to an expert instructor, lecture videos, useful resources and practice quizzes to help you pass the NABCEP PV Associate exam and earn this well recognized industry credential.
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.
HeatSpring is a NABCEP Registered Provider, a NABCEP PV Associate Exam provider and the official NABCEP PV Associate training partner of the NABCEP 2025 CE Conference.
When you finish this course, you will be eligible to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. The exam can now be taken at home via Live Online Proctoring on your own computer or at any of the 1,350 Meazure Learning testing centers in the world. Learn more about NABCEP Exams.
Not Included - Exam Fee
The NABCEP PV Associate Exam fee is a separate fee charged by NABCEP when scheduling your exam after you have completed the course. After completing the course and earning a certificate of completion, students can optionally submit a NABCEP 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 cover your exam retake fee.
To earn 18 Advanced NABCEP credits, you will need to complete the course AND pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam.
This only applies you are planning to sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification exam or other NABCEP PV Certification exams, AND you need the 18 hours of Advanced PV Training credit for this course. If that is the case then you must pass the PV Associate Exam in order for the 18 hours to be valid with NABCEP.
To get the most out of this course, you should also buy a copy of Sean White's book: Solar Photovoltaic Basics: A Study Guide for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam 2nd Edition. The book covers the basics of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and focuses on preparation for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. You can buy the book online for about $25, we provide a link in the course for some options.
Get your NABCEP credential the easy way. The sooner you get your NABCEP credential, the sooner you are on your way to a lucrative career. We can help you pass the NABCEP PV Associate and get you on your way to a NABCEP PV Certification. Not to mention delivering to you the important professional grade knowledge you need to be successful in the industry.
Learning Objectives
- System Design: Knowledge of system sizing, component selection, and layout.
- Installation: Understanding proper installation methods, safety procedures, and best practices.
- Operation and Maintenance: Knowledge of system monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintenance procedures.
- Sales and Economics: Understanding the economics of renewable energy systems and sales strategies.
- Safety and Best Practices: Understanding safety regulations, codes, and industry standards.
- Fundamentals of Electricity: Understanding basic electrical concepts and principles.
This course is included in these bundles
Course outline
8 modules
18 - 24 hours to complete
18:51 hours
of video lectures
Welcome • 22 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 22 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 • 15 assignments
History of Solar, Markets and Applications for Solar PV, and Safety Basics
Module 1 • 15 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 • 15 assignments
Electricity Basics + Solar Energy Fundamentals
Module 2 • 15 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 • 18 assignments
PV Module Fundamentals and System Components
Module 3 • 18 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 • 22 assignments
PV System Sizing and Electrical Design
Module 4 • 22 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 • 26 assignments
PV System Mechanical Design, Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Module 5 • 26 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 • 14 assignments
Practice Exams
Module 6 • 14 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 • 15 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 15 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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Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- 30 AIA LU/HSW Credits
- 18 NABCEP PV Training Hours (passing score on the PV Associate exam required)
NABCEP Registered Provider
This course fulfills the training requirements to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate exam and HeatSpring is a NABCEP Registered PV Associate Provider.
Instructor
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 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 FAQHow 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 88% 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 day. The students really like him and the course gets great reviews.
How do I take the NABCEP PV Associate Exam?
NABCEP has Live Online Proctoring for all exams 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 testing centers located throughout the world, which is still an option.
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 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.
Can I use my VA education benefits (GI Bill) to pay for this course?
Yes! This course has been approved by the VA and can be found in the WEAMS system. That means you can get reimbursed for the full cost of the course.
Here's the best explanation of how the process works:
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/licensing-and-certification-tests/
This is an 'exam prep' course that has been approved. The testing fees can also be paid for by the VA education benefits.
Here's the best explanation of how the process works:
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/licensing-and-certification-tests/
This is an 'exam prep' course that has been approved. The testing fees can also be paid for by the VA education benefits.
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 see that I have up to a year to complete the course, but is it possible to complete over a shorter period?
The course can be taken at your own pace, so you can complete it as quickly as you want. Typically, expect folks to take 18-24 hours to complete this course, but if the material is completely new to you, we expect that you may take more time reviewing and with the test prep portion.
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.
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 further notice). 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?
Our PVA exam guarantee is for any student who has enrolled on their own or with their company to the Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep course, completed the course wholly on the HeatSpring platform over at least 8 weeks, and has passed all the practice exam quizzes within the course classroom. The PVA exam guarantee is not available when a student has enrolled through workforce partnership programs or has been enrolled at no cost after completing an in-person PVA cohort.
If you meet the requirements listed above and don't pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam on your first try, HeatSpring will refund $125 for your re-take fee. Our students have a 88% pass rate on the exam, so we think you're going to pass!
If you meet the requirements listed above and don't pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam on your first try, HeatSpring will refund $125 for your re-take fee. Our students have a 88% pass rate on the exam, so we think you're going to pass!