An Insider's Guide to NABCEP Solar PV Certifications and Credentials

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the preeminent certifying body in the solar industry. NABCEP offers several well-respected and widely recognized certifications for different job roles within solar.

The entry-level credential is called the NABCEP PV Associate credential. This credential is available to anyone in any role in the solar industry and is a great place to start. The exam tests knowledge of the fundamental principles of photovoltaic systems as well as the design and installation of these systems. This credential is geared towards people working or seeking employment in the solar industry. It is often the first step towards more advanced certification credentials and the training hours required even count towards the PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification (58 hours of Advanced PV training are required, 18 of which can come from the PV Associate training). At this time the PVIP Certification is the only one which counts hours from the PV Associate training.

The most well-respected solar PV certification is NABCEP's PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification. It is the oldest certification, first administered in 2003 and therefore has the largest number of certified professionals listed in NABCEP's directory. This certification is also the most rigorous, requiring a total of 58 hours of advanced solar PV training as well as documented experience on solar projects. The exam is also one of the toughest to pass, with roughly a 50% passing rate and encompasses PV design, installation, operations, commissioning and maintenance.

The PV Design Specialist (PVDS) Certification demonstrates advanced skill and experience for PV system designers. The exam tests your ability to configure the mechanical and electrical design components of PV systems.

The PV Installer Specialist (PVIS) Certification is intended for professionals who are highly competent in all aspects of PV installation processes. The PVIS exam focuses only on solar installation technique, whereas the PVIP exam also covers system design, commissioning, and operations & maintenance. So this is a slightly lower-tier credential than the PVIP and focuses only on the installation aspect. That being said, the topics covered on installation are broad, ranging from installing DC and AC PV system conductors, raceways, system monitoring, control, and communication hardware to developing safety plans.

The PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS) Certification demonstrates knowledge in the areas of operations, maintenance and commissioning. The exam covers verification protocols, system analysis, and preventive and corrective maintenance procedures for PV systems.

The PV Technical Sales (PVTS) Certification is intended for sales professionals and demonstrates knowledge of site analysis, performance analysis and financial analysis of PV systems as well as the ability to qualify customers and collect technical requirements.  

The PV System Inspector (PVSI) Certification demonstrates knowledge of inspecting both residential and commercial photovoltaic systems. This is currently the easiest NABCEP Certification to attain due to the fact that there are no training or work experience requirements at this time, anyone can sit for this exam.