Description
Online Sessions: Feb 11th – March 18th
In-Person (Marietta, OH): April 5th-6th
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 11 chapters, 71 major topic areas – with 11 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 Feb 11th – you can start earlier if you like or even join us a bit later and catch up.
Instructor-Led Study Sessions: Beginning Feb 11th 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 April 5th 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 April 6th 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.
This course content includes:
• Basic Principles and Concepts of Power
• Basic Principles and Concepts of Photovoltaics
• The Economics of Photovoltaics
• Photovoltaic System Options and Components
• Standard system configurations
• Site assessment
• Designing a PV system
• Battery Systems
• System Installation
• Permits and Required Agreements
• Testing and Commissioning the System
• System Maintenance and Troubleshooting
This course prepares you 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.
The fee for this six-week 
course is $599 and includes: Instruction, hands-on labs, textbook and lab material, ETA examination. This course may be eligible for VA and Americorps funding. Scholarships may also be available based on need. Contact us at 740-674-4300 for further details regarding the management of fees.
This course has been approved by ETA to meet the requirements of the PV1 certification program. It has also been approved by NABCEP, both for initial certification as well as for recertification.
