NABCEP Credentials

Each applicant must:

• Complete 30 hours of OSHA Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry training (or provincial equivalent)
• Complete at least 24 hours of advanced training, including:
  • 18 hours covering the NABCEP PV Commissioning and Maintenance Specialist Job Task Analysis (PVCMS JTA)
  • 6 hours of the National Electric Code (NEC)
  • Our NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Certification Prep bundle saves you money and time in getting all of the hours and knowledge you need to pass the exam.
• Completion of services on installations equaling at least 12 Project Credits
  • System size of 1 – 999kW = 2 Project Credits
  • System size of 1MW and up = 3 Project Credits

Upon completion of HeatSpring courses approved for advanced hours for the PVCMS exam, learners can download a certificate of completion to submit with their NABCEP application.

Applicants must also submit proof of completing OSHA 30.

For each PV system serviced or commissioned, applicants must submit the following:

• System summary
  • Location
  • Date system commissioned or serviced
  • System info
  • Name and phone number of contractor servicing the PV system and the Applicant's supervisor
  • Description of work performed by the Applicant
• System service documentation (one of the following for each service)
  • Service call record or ticket
  • Invoice with service info included
  • Commission report
• Decision-making role documentation
  • A physically signed letter on company letterhead from the supervisor that includes the addresses of the jobs listed in the application and a clear explanation of the role and decision-making authority the Applicant had in regards to servicing the systems

See the NABCEP Handbook for more details.

Between the PVCMS application and exam fees, NABCEP charges $500 to sit for the PVCMS exam. In the event you need to retake the exam, the re-exam fee is $275. All NABCEP fees are listed here.

The PVCMS Job Task Analysis provides a blueprint for the exam.

The main content areas covered are:

• Review or develop commissioning protocol (10%)
• Complete visual and mechanical inspection (12%)
• Conduct mechanical tests (8%)
• Conduct electrical tests (15%)
• Verify system operation (10%)
• Confirm project completion (8%)
• Orient end user to system (8%)
• Verify system operation and performance (8%)
• Perform preventative maintenance (10%)
• Perform corrective maintenance (10%)

The PVCMS exam can be taken in a Meazure Learning test site or at any location via live remote proctoring. The exam must be scheduled and taken within one year of NABCEP approving your application.

Candidates get up to 4 hours to complete the exam. Everyone will have access to an electronic copy of the National Electrical Code (NEC) as well as a calculator.

The PVCMS exam consists of 70 equally weighted multiple choice questions, with 4 choices per question. 60 of the questions are scored and 10 of the questions are un-scored pilot questions. A total scaled score is used to determine if a candidate passed or failed and ranges from 0-99. A scaled score of 70 is required to pass the PVCMS exam.

All of your exam paperwork must match your valid government-issued identification, so make sure to not use nicknames or abbreviated names during the application process.

A total of 30 advanced PV training hours are required to maintain your PVCMS certification and documentation must be submitted to NABCEP every 3 years for your certification renewal. These hours must fulfill specific sub-categories including:

• 6 National Electrical Code (NEC) Hours
• 12 PVCMS Job Task Analysis (JTA) Hours
• 2 Building and Fire Code Hours
• 10 Renewable Energy (RE) Elective Hours

All NABCEP-approved HeatSpring courses will have a chart at the bottom of the course landing page which summarizes approved hours by exam and sub-categories.