NABCEP PV Exam Prep Class - Advanced Solar PV Installer Training - Prepare for the September Exam

NABCEP PV Installer Certification continues to gain ground as an industry standard as more utility companies and government agencies require that systems be installed by a NABCEP Certified Installer for those systems to qualify for incentives. ONTILITY, in keeping with its commitment to solar industry growth, wants to help as many qualified solar professionals as possible to become NABCEP certified. If you have the experience and knowledge to qualify for the NABCEP exam, we want to do whatever we can to help you pass it the first time. Our exam prep class is one way we can help.

ONTILITY's intensive two-day NABCEP Exam Preparation Course will lead qualified professional solar installers through the difficult task of passing the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar PV Installer Certification Exam.  Solar PV Installers who attend this class will review advanced PV design problems, electrical and safety topics, and discuss test-taking strategies.

The enrolment fee for ONTILITY's two-day exam preparatory class is $595, and registration and payment can be accomplished online. The ONTILITY NABCEP Exam Prep Class is being offered in  North America: Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, New Orleans, Raleigh, Miami, St.Louis, Philadelphia.

John Berry, ONTILITY Director of Training Sales notes, "The ONTILITY Solar Training program is a truly comprehensive approach to professional solar training and career development. It's so much more than workshops and seminars. ONTILITY Solar Training provides solar training courses and career path development tracks  which are in tune with what the industry and market demand. Following the Los Angeles solar training program launch in March, ONTILITY will offer a full schedule of solar design, installation and PV technical sales training courses in the major solar markets over the following months." 

If you are working in the solar industry you've probably heard how rigorous the NABCEP Certified PV Installer exam is. Eddie Haynes , ONTILITY Senior Solar Consultant, Instructor, Design Engineer and NABCEP Certified PV Installer, puts it this way, "I took the Solar PV Installer test this past March. I have to say that it was probably one of the harder open-book tests that I've taken. Now I'm not trying to scare anyone, but you need to be very well prepared if you want to pass. NABCEP certification has become the de facto standard for installing solar (thermal and PV) in the US. If it's already not required to install solar in your area, it soon may be. You need to be certified." Eddie continues, "When I walked out of the exam room, I realized that I was not as ready as I had thought. I had studied every resource and practice exam that I could find to prepare, but in the end the actual exam looked like none of what I had studied. Yet I managed to pass. Why? I think because I had spent so much time trying to solve the problem of passing the test that I practiced the very skill that is the key to passing the test – Problem Solving. And that seems to be the crux of what NABCEP is looking for. "

When you look at the NABCEP Certified PV Installer Job Task Analysis, you'll see six major content domains covered and everything involves finding the best solution to a problem. Whether it's identifying the correct way to deal with potential hazards, finding the best location for equipment or even selecting the best tools for a job, problem solving is required. That's why the itemization of tasks is so extensive and comprehensive, covering every aspect of the PV system installation and design process:

• System Design
• System Installation
• Project Management
• Electrical Components
• System Commissioning
• Operation and Monitoring
• Maintenance and Troubleshooting.

So how can you better prepare for the NABCEP Certified PV Installer Exam? 

1. Read everything on NABCEP's reading list. That means every one of the resources theat NABCEP lists, and it is alot.  
2. Spend some extra time with the NEC, 2011 edition. Even if you are an experienced electrician, review the sections which pertain to solar and memorize where things are. Other than a calculator, the code book is the only resource available to you during the 4-hour test. And you do not want to spend extra time trying to figure out what part of the code applies to the problems.  
3. Review the details of every PV project you've ever worked on, no matter how minor those details may seem. Think about issues you had to solve both during the design and on-site during the installation. The kinds of problems you've solved before may show up on a 60 question test on March
4. Finally, Attend the ONTILITY NABCEP Exam Prep Class. If you are a licensed electrician or hold certification in any trade, you probably didn't take that exam without a test prep session. Don't try it with the NABCEP exam. This class is offered in these cities in February and March: Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, New Orleans, Raleigh, Miami, St.Louis,Philadelphia.

Improve your problem solving ability, as Eddie said, "Problem solving is the key." Being able to think through complex problems quickly, find the information you need efficiently and draw sound conclusions is extremely important. This is precisely the reason that ONTILITY designed its AS210 - NABCEP PV Installer Certification Exam Prep class the way they did. Two days of advanced design challenges, installation problems and code issues, intense problem solving, lively discussion and instruction from the ONTILITY PROS - the ONTILITY Solar Instructors, all NABCEP Certified PV Installers, so they know what they're talking about, that's how you can prepare for the test. 

About ONTILITY

ONTILITY is committed to Connecting the Last Mile of the Solar Industry. In just over two years, ONTILITY has grown from a start up to an 80M solar business success leader featuring Solar Distribution, Solar Training, Solar Business and Project Support Services and Solar Solutions. Learn Solar design & installation through our professional solar training. Buy Solar from our stocking warehouse of superior solar products at competitive prices. Enjoy Solar Business Success with our full range of partner support services including engineering and design consulting, proposal support, sales and marketing programs, technology solutions, due diligence and financial support, lease programs, custom training and project consulting. Team with us on residential, commercial and large scale Solar Solutions. ONTILITY brings you best-in-class solar business and project training, products, support, services and solutions.

About NABCEP

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the “gold standard” for PV and solar thermal installation certification. Designed to raise industry standards and promote consumer confidence, NABCEP offers certification and certificate programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America.