NABCEP Credentials

• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of OSHA Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry training (or provincial equivalent); AND
• Complete at least 58 hours of advanced training - If you need all 58 advanced PV training hours you may be interested in our 58-Hour NABCEP Advanced Solar PV Training Bundle Options to save money and get all the advanced PV training hours required.
• Complete installations equaling at least 6 Project Credits. See section below on Board Eligible Status
  • System size of 1 – 999kW = 2 Project Credits
  • System size of 1MW and up = 3 Project Credits

Applicants must also submit proof of completing OSHA 10.

• System summary
  • Location
  • Date system completed
  • System info
  • Name and phone number of installation contractor, contractor listed on the permit or inspection, and Applicant's supervisor
  • Description of work performed by the Applicant
• Electrical and/or Building Permit(s)
• Final Inspection Report issued by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

If the Applicant was not named on the permit and inspection documents but held a decision-making role, the Applicant is required to also submit one of the following:

• A physically signed letter on company letterhead from the person, or a member of senior management from the company, who is named on the permit/inspection documents. The letter must include details related to the installations as well as an explanation of how the Applicant was in a decision-making authority; OR
• Design plans identifying the Applicant as being responsible for the drawing or review of the design; OR
• A commissioning or quality assurance report which identifies the Applicant as being responsible for the system commissioning or quality assurance process

See the NABCEP Handbook for more details.

Candidates must complete 58 hours of approved classroom learning and pass the PVIP examination to receive temporary "Board Eligible" status, after which they have 3 years to gain the required solar installation experience in a decision-making capacity.

The program maintains the same rigorous standards while addressing a common industry challenge by allowing professionals to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge before acquiring hands-on experience. Once all requirements have been completed, candidates will submit a Conversion Application to go from Board Eligible to Board Certified status.

See the NABCEP Handbook for more details on Board Eligible status.

The main content areas covered are:

• System Design (32%)
• Installation (38%)
• System Commissioning (17%)
• Operations & Maintenance (13%)

Candidates get up to 4 hours to complete the exam. Everyone will have access to the 2017 NEC as well as a calculator.

The PVIP 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 PVIP 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.

• 6 National Electrical Code (NEC) Hours
• 12 PVIP 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.