Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/27/2025 - 09/28/2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location
Marietta College


Aug 19th thru Sept 23rd:  Weekly Zoom Q&A sessions and Chapter Review

Sept 27th:  In-Person Hands-On Labs

Sept 28th:  Exam Review and PV Certification Exam

This Residential Solar Installation & Design hybrid course is a comprehensive learning experience designed to take students with little or no background in electrical systems and/or solar photovoltaics. The course provides solid foundation for those wishing to enter the industry, design and install their own residential PV system, or simply understand how this emerging and important technology works. By the end of the course, students should have all the skills necessary to design and install residential-scale solar electric system.  Students will also be certified (assuming you pass the examination) as a Level 1 ETA PV Installer – a credential recognized around the globe.

So how does the solar course work?

Online Self-Paced Study:  Registered students will have access to the 46-hour online Residential Solar Installation & Design course.  This course tracks with the provided textbook (Understanding Photovoltaics), and is organized into 15 chapters, 71 major topic areas – with 15 review quizzes, 25 lab projects, over 550 narrated slides, dozens of integrated videos, links to online resources and materials for added comprehension and more.

Upon registration, each student will be given access to this program and can begin studying at their own pace.  But most people need a bit of structure – so that will be provided as well with weekly Zoom sessions.  While this online session is designed to begin August 19th – you can start earlier if you like or even join us a bit later and catch up.

Instructor-Led Study Sessions:  Beginning August 19th instructor-led sessions via Zoom will be held to walk through each chapter and session, clarifying difficult concepts and reviewing the most important highlights.  These sessions will take place once a week for six weeks (Tuesdays at 1 pm eastern).

Instructor Availability via E-mail:  Often questions arise and can’t wait for the next Zoom meeting.  An instructor is available to answer questions via e-mail throughout the course.

Hands-On Labs:  On Sept 27th we will host the course hands-on labs, that provide opportunity to work directly with actual PV systems and also fulfills the hands-on requirements of the ETA PV Level 1 certification.  The hands on labs take a full day to complete.  The hands-on as well as the exam will take place in Marietta, OH.

Certification Examination:  We will host an examination session on Sept 28th in Marietta.  We we hold a comprehensive review session in the morning, followed in the afternoon with a proctored exam.  Remote proctoring is also available at a time scheduled by you if you cannot attend the in-person examination.

Remotely Proctored Certification Examination:  ETA now offers remote proctoring of their examinations through ExamRoom AI.   In this way you can take the examination from your own computer, with a live remote proctor monitoring the process.  ETA will help you through the process of registering for the examination.  The certification examination fees ($155 to ETA) are included in the course registration fee).  You will, however, be responsible for the $14 fee to ExamRoom AI should you select this option.

The examination consists of 75 multiple choice questions (with a 2-hour time limit).  You must achieve a score of 75% to pass.

(*by registering, student taking the solar course agrees to the terms outlined in the Waiver of Liability)

Course Content:

A copy of the textbook, Understanding Photovoltaics, is included in the cost of this course.

  • Chapter 1 – Introduction to Photovoltaics
    • Changes in the industry
    • Growth by Country
    • Declining costs
    • Government incentives
    • Connecting to the Grid
    • History of Photovoltaics
    • Codes, Certifications and Safety Regulations
  • Chapter 2 – Solar Cells and Modules
    • How photovoltaic cells work
    • Types of solar cells
    • Emerging technologies
    • Solar panel specifications
    • Factors affecting cell performance
  • Chapter 3 – Types of Photovoltaic Systems
    • Stand-alone Systems
    • Grid-tied Systems
      • String Inverters
      • Microinverters
      • Power Optimizers
    • DC Coupled Systems
    • AC Coupled Systems
    • Hybrid systems
    • Determining system loads
  • Chapter 4 – Basic Electrical Concepts
    • How Electricity is Measured
    • Electrical Safety
    • Difference between Watts, Watt-Hours and Watts/Hour
    • How the grid functions
    • Electrical Circuits
      • Connecting in Series and Parallel
    • Direct and Alternating Current
    • Resistance
    • Bonding and Grounding
  • Chapter 5: Parts of the PV System
    • Solar Panels
    • Solar Panel Connectors
    • Combiner/Junction Boxes
    • Lightning & Surge Protection
    • Wiring the System
      • Effect of Temperature on Wire
      • Types of Wire
      • Color Coding of Wires
    • DC Disconnects
    • Overcurrent Protection
    • Charge Controller
    • Inverters
      • Stand-Alone Inverters
        • Inverter waveforms
      • Selecting a Grid-Tied Inverter
      • Bimodal Inverters
      • Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE)
        • Micro Inverters
        • Power Optimizers
      • AC-Coupled Multimode Inverters
      • Rapid Shutdown initiator
      • Inverter Standards
      • Smart Inverters 
    • AC Disconnect
    • Electrical Panel
    • Tools of the trade
  • Chapter 6: Conducting a Site Survey
    • Determining Available Sunlight
      • Solar insolation maps,
      • Using PV Watts
      • Use of a Solar Pathfinder
      • Solar window
    • Locating true south (lines of declination)
    • Shading issues
    • Panel orientation (altitude and azimuth)
    • Array mounting options and issues
      • Rooftop
        • Available area
        • Structural integrity
        • Stand off requirements
        • Loading issues
        • Inter row shading
      • Ground mounted
        • Top pole
        • Side pole
        • Tracking systems
      • Building Integrated systems
    • Determining location of balance of systems
    • Evaluating existing electrical equipment
    • Economics of Solar
      • System type economic comparison
  • Chapter 7: Designing/Installing the Array and Inverter
    • Determining the size of the array
    • Calculating String lengths
    • Selecting and Inverter
  • Chapter 8:  Wiring the System
    • Wiring the array
    • DC circuits
    • Conduits and raceways
    • DC disconnects
    • Wiring the inverter input circuit
    • Wiring the inverter output circuit
    • AC disconnects
    • Grounding and bonding system
  • Chapter 9:  Energy Storage Systems
    • Types of batteries (lead acid, lithium ion, etc)
    • Battery cycles
    • Determining nominal voltage
    • Calculating Amp hour storage requirements
    • Depth of discharge
    • Temperature adjustments
    • Battery bank sizing calculations
    • How batteries are charged
    • Battery storage and maintenance issues
    • Battery safety issues
    • Electric vehicle bi-directional charging
  • Chapter 10:  Mounting Systems
    • Racking systems
    • Roof mounted systems
      • Calculating space required for the array
      • Loading issues
      • Pull-out and shear loads
      • Setbacks
      • Attaching panels to rails
      • Flat roof systems
    • Ground mounted systems
      • Foundation types
      • Site preparation
    • Online design tools for racking systems
  • Chapter 11:  Designing a Stand-Alone System
    • Stand-alone components
    • Sizing a stand-alone array
    • String calculations for stand-alone systems
    • Sizing a battery bank
    • Wiring a stand-alone system
  • Chapter 12:  Job Site Safety
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Personal Protective Equipment
    • Lock-out tag-out procedures
    • SDS documents
  • Chapter 13:  Paperwork
    • Required Documentation/Application Package
      • Interconnect Agreements
      • Net Metering Agreements
      • Required Permits
      • Commissioning Forms
      • Installation Checklists
      • Operation and Maintenance Documentation
  • Chapter 14:  Testing & Commissioning the System
    • Final Installation Checklist
    • Visual Inspection
    • Verification of Code Compliance
    • Electrical System Verification Testing
    • System Functioning Testing
    • Verify Array Power and Energy Production against STC
    • Derating Factor Components
  • Chapter 15:  System Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    • Monitoring Performance
    • Typical Systems Problems and how to Correct Them
    • System Maintenance

Hands-On Labs include:

  • Using a multi-meter
  • Wire selection and termination
  • Making MC4 jumpers in the field
  • Creating a simple circuit
  • Connecting panels and batteries in series, parallel, and a combination of the two
  • Climbing safety
  • Testing a solar panel
  • Assembling and connecting a complete string inverter system (mounting panels on racks, connecting to a combiner box, hooking up a DC disconnect,  wiring the inverter, connecting to the AC disconnect, and then connecting to the circuit breaker panel)
  • Mounting and connecting an Enphase micro inverter system
  • Mounting and connecting a SolarEdge power optimizer system
  • Assembling a hybrid system (integrating wind and solar), testing diverted load charge controller
  • Making and testing a solar generator
  • Doing a site assessment, including working with an irradiance meter and a Solar Pathfinder
  • Sizing wire based on load and temperature
  • Selecting and pricing all components
  • Working through the design (start to finish) of a residential PV system

This course prepares students to sit for the ETA Photovoltaic Installer (PVI) Level 1. It is the first level of ETA’s certifications designed to assess renewable energy professionals. It is also a great first step for those seeking to enter the PV industry, and perhaps later prepare to sit for the ETA Photovoltaic Installer Level 2 or  NABCEP PV certification programs. 

 
Some jurisdictions (the state of Illinois, for example) require certification in order for an installer to install PV systems or apply for solar incentive programs.  The ETA PV Level 1 certification meets these requirements in most cases.
 
This course is offered  in partnership with several not-for-profits.  The fee for this six-week course is $599 and includes:  Instruction, hands-on labs, textbook and lab material, and ETA examination fees.  This course may be eligible for VA and Americorps funding.  Scholarships, on rare occasions, may also be available based on need.   Group discounts may also be available.
 
Contact annie@bluerockstation.com at 740-252-6295 for further details regarding the management of fees.
Early Registration Fee:  $599 (includes ETA examination fee, online course, textbook, course materials and instructor led sessions)*
(*by registering, the student taking the solar course agrees to the terms outlined in the Waiver of Liability)

 

 

Solar PV Certification Workshop (Residential) – Hybrid (online sessions Aug 19th thru Sept 23rd) + hands-on labs, certification exam