How to become certified through Blue Rock Station

ETA Photovoltaic Installer – Level 1

This certification is designed for those who are new to the solar photovoltaic industry (no previous experience required).  It is offered and administered by the Electronic Technician’s Association, International (ETA-I), a non-profit association established in 1978 with a global membership. This is a true certification program that is recognized in a number of states and jurisdictions as indicating an individual is qualified to install solar PV systems.

In order to obtain this certification, individuals must:

  • complete 40 hours of training from an ETA-I approved school or training facility (our curriculum has been approved by ETA-I);
  • complete the hands on tasks as outlined in the certification program;
  • sit for and pass the certification examination.

The certification is valid for 4 years. More details…

NABCEP Installation Professional

This certification is designed for those who are already working within the solar photovoltaic industry. It is offered and administered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), a non-profit association established in 2002. This is a true certification program that is recognized in a number of states and jurisdictions as indicating an individual is qualified to install solar PV systems.

In order to obtain this certification, individuals must:

  • complete 58 hours of training from a NABCEP approved school or training facility;
  • provide proof of working in a decision making role on three solar PV installations;
  • obtain an OSHA 10 certificate (10 hour course in project safety);
  • sit for and pass the certification examination.

The certification is valid for 3 years. More details…

ETA Photovoltaic Installer – Level 2

This certification is designed for individuals who have been installing systems for several years and wish to advance to a more senior level within the industry.  This certification requires a number of job performance benchmarks, time on the job, and an assessment of knowledge (examination).  This program focuses more heavily on larger PV systems, project management and testing and troubleshooting.

In order to obtain this certification, individuals must:

  • complete 60 hours of training from an ETA-I approved school or training facility;
  • provide proof of working in a decision making role on a number of PV installations (on-the-job task checklist);
  • obtain an OSHA 10 certificate (10 hour course in project safety);
  • complete the ETA-I Customer Service Specialist certification;
  • sit for and pass the certification examination.

The certification is valid for 4 years. More details…

How ETA PV Certifications Compare to NABCEP