The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) announced a 30% increase in NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certificants after the last round of exams. This certification, launched in the fall of 2010 and the newest NABCEP certification, now has 193 certificants. The 2012 PV Technical Sales Exam deadlines have been released and potential applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process early.

The schedule is as follows:

 

April 11, 2012: Early application deadline to save 25% on the 2012 PV Technical Sales exam.

May 11, 2012: PV Technical Sales exam application deadline.

June 8, 2012:  Computer-Based Exam Scheduling Form deadline for accepted candidates.

July 21–August 11, 2012: Exam date for the PV Technical Sales certification.

 

This NABCEP certification is aimed at solar PV salespeople who are responsible for site analysis, system design, ethical presentation and accurate analyses and projections of electrical, environmental and financial performance of PV systems. Individuals with job descriptions such as inside or outside sales person, application engineer, financial or performance analyst, or site assessor are encouraged to investigate their eligibility for the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification.

“Since my PV Tech Sales certification came through, clients specifically ask for me to go out to their homes for design and installation advice, even though I am not in the direct sales department,”  says David Boynton, director of product development and training, Southern Energy Management, Inc.

Ezra Auerbach, executive director of NABCEP, noted that “Superior PV system performance starts with the sales process. A poorly designed system or one that overpromises output will never meet the customer’s expectations.”

Potential applicants can review the candidate eligibility requirements, a comprehensive Job Task Analysis (JTA) and a resource guide on NABCEP’s website at www.nabcep.org. The JTA was developed by a wide range of leading industry professionals. It covers all aspects of the residential and light commercial sales process.

Candidates who complete their applications (including uploading all supporting documentation) before April 11, 2012 will receive a $25 discount on their application fee.