NABCEP Credentials

Each applicant must:

• Complete a minimum of 10 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 Installation Specialist Job Task Analysis (PVIS JTA)
  • 6 hours of the National Electric Code (NEC)
  • Our NABCEP PV Installer Specialist (PVIS) Certification Prep bundle saves you money and time in getting all of the hours and knowledge you need to pass the exam.
• Complete installations in a decision-making role, equaling at least 6 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 PVIS exam, learners can download a certificate of completion to submit with their NABCEP application.

Applicants must also submit proof of completing OSHA 10.

For each PV system installed, applicants must submit the following:

• System summary
  • Location
  • Date system completed
  • PV system info
  • Name and phone number of installation contractor, the contractor listed on the permit or inspection, and the Applicant's supervisor
• System installation
  • Electrical and/or building permits
  • Final approved inspection records
• Decision-making role documentation - a physically signed letter on company letterhead from the Applicant's supervisor that includes:
  • Addresses of the job locations listed in the application
  • A clear explanation of the role and decision-making authority the Applicant held for the system installation

See the NABCEP Handbook for more details.

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

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

The main content areas covered are:

• Develop safety plan (8%)
• Safeguard against hazard (10%)
• Install raceways (7%)
• Install electrical equipment (8%)
• Install DC PV system conductors (8%)
• Install AC PV system conductors (8%)
• Install grounding & bonding (10%)
• Complete utility interconnection point (8%)
• Install system monitoring, control, and communication hardware (3%)
• Install battery equipment (7%)
• Install ground-mounted structure (5%)
• Install building-mounted system (8%)
• Install PV modules (8%)

The PVIS 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 NEC as well as a calculator.

The PVIS 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 PVIS exam.

Don’t forget that 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 PVIS 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 PVIS 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.