The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the State of Rhode Island have joined the growing number of government and utility programs that are recognizing the consumer protection value that NABCEP Certification provides. They are among the most recent to have implemented requirements that recognize NABCEP credentials. They join programs ranging from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Austin Energy, Connecticut Green Bank, and Duke Energy, to the states of Utah, Maine, and Louisiana, which use NABCEP Certification as a pathway to access financial incentives and/or obtain a license to install systems.
Currently, the TVA requires passing the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam to access rebates, but beginning in January 2016 NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification will be required of all TVA Green Power Providers. The upcoming certification exams will be the only opportunity for many individuals to maintain their eligibility in TVA territory before the January 1,2016 implementation.
NABCEP administers the Certification Exams twice per year at test sites across the US and Canada. In order to be eligible for the fall exam, held on October 24, 2015, candidates must submit applications by August 7. Each of NABCEP’s Certifications – PV Installation Professional, PV Technical Sales Professional, and Solar Heating Installer – has a variety of qualifying pathways with different education and experience requirements. All required education and experience must be completed by the application deadline. The best way to identify if additional training or experience is needed is to start an application at my.nabcep.org. The October 24, 2015 Certification Exam will be the first to be based off the 2014 NEC.
