There are two widely recognized certification programs available within the solar PV industry. Both are offered by not-for-profit industry organizations. These are NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals) and ETA-I (Electronic Technicians Association – International).
Both programs offer high quality industry certifications. The approach is slightly different. NABCEP certification assumes the candidate has been in the industry for a period of time and has been involved in at least three installation projects. The ETA-1 Level 1 certification assumes the candidate is new to the industry and can obtain hands-on experience in a classroom environment. The ETA-I Level 2 certification is for those who have been in the industry for a while and wish to demonstrate supervisory and/or commercial design/installation skills.
We at SolarPVtraining.com focus on four of these programs. Our entry level course (Residential Solar Installation & Design) prepares people for the NABCEP Associate exam, the NABCEP Installer exam (PVIP) and the ETA PV Level 1 certification. The NABCEP Associate program is a “Certificate” program rather than a “Certification” – which is a big deal for those who care about these things (for instance the State of Illinois requires that those installing systems be certified, so the NABCEP Associate program does not qualify but the ETA PV Level 1 certification and the PVIP do).
Comparing NABCEP Certification to ETA Certifications
| NABCEP Installer | ETA PV Level 1 | ETA PV Level 2 | |
| Experience | 3 projects | Classroom Hands on | 2 years, OJT Completed |
| Training from Accredited School | 58 hours | 40 hours | 60 hours |
| OSHA Safety Training | 10 hours | None | 10 hours |
| Customer Service Certification Required | No | No | Yes |
| Application Fee | $125 – $175 | None | None |
| Examination Fee Re-take Fee | $375 $275 | $155 1 free retake | $155 1 free retake |
| Renewal (Recertification) Fee | $290 | $100 | $100 |
| Exam Covers: | |||
| Initial System Design | No | No | Yes |
| Verify System Design | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial System Design | No | No | Yes |
| Managing the Project | Yes | No | Yes |
| Installing Electrical Components | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Installing Mechanical Components | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| System Installation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial System Installation | A Bit | A Bit | Yes |
| Conducting Maintenance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Troubleshooting Activities | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commissioning | Yes | A Bit | Yes |
| Certification Term | 3 Years | 4 Years | 4 Years |
| Passing Score | 70% | 75% | 75% |
| Hands on Testing | No | Yes | Job Task Signoff |
| Re-certification Education Requirement | 18 hours | 24 hours | 32 hours |