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Meaningful Certifications Drive
Career Development May 16, 2012 - World Renewable Energy Forum
• Tehri Parker, NABCEP
• Ezra Auerbach, NABCEP
• Blake Jones, Namaste Solar
• Andrew Truitt, Truitt Renewable Energy
Consulting
• Larry Mapes, Valverde Energy
Ezra Auerbach, Executive Director of
NABCEP
• I have a long and varied career in the PV
industry.
• Been involved with NABCEP since it’s
inception.
• I have have lived off
grid for over 40 years.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
The growth of the PV industry in the
US has been nothing short of
phenomenal -
• This type of growth prompts a
responsible industry to look within for
quality assurance.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Cumulative US Grid Tie PV Installations (source US Solar Market Trends IREC)
It was clear to the founders of
NABCEP that our rapidly emerging
solar industry could fail under the
weight of poor
installations.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
NABCEP set about to develop and
operate voluntary certification
programs that:
• Promote renewable energy,
• Provide value to practitioners,
• Promote worker safety and skill,
• Promote consumer confidence.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Certifications establish consistent
standards by which to measure
specific, multi-discipline
knowledge sets.
• It provides a way to test a variety of skilled trades people and other practitioners on the specific and unique knowledge requirements of their specialty.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
NABCEP offers a variety of Certifications
• PV Installer
• PV Technical Sales
• Solar Thermal Installer
• Small Wind Installer
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
PV Installer
Aimed at people who are responsible for the PV
installation process, they must
be capable of adapting designs
to meet site conditions, safe
installation practices, know the
NEC and how to trouble shoot
problems.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
PV Technical Sales
These individuals are responsible for the honest
and ethical presentation of
performance estimates and
proposals.
They are charged with ensuring quality
assurance throughout the entire sales process.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Solar Heating Installer
These renewable energy professionals are
responsible to ensure that SH
systems are specified correctly
for local climatic conditions
along with safe and
professionally installation
practices.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Small Wind Installer
These individuals are the leads on installations
of wind power generation systems,
both tilt up and crane assisted up to
100 kW – they have considerable
mechanical knowledge in addition to
electrical.
An affinity for heights is an asset.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
PV Entry Level Exam
NOT to be confused with Certified Installers.
Successful exam candidates
have demonstrated basic
knowledge of the fundamental
principals of PV.
25% of newly Certified PV Installers started out
with an Entry Level program.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Solar Heating Entry Level
• This NEW program offers individuals
entering or advancing within the Solar
Heating industry a way to show that have
learned the fundamentals.
• The Learning Objectives offers
instructors a road map to
develop curriculum from.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
NABCEP does NOT offer any training programs.
• This comes as a surprise to
many people.
• It would be a conflict of
interest to train and test the
same individuals.
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Namaste Solar
PV systems integrator
16+ MW installed
Based in Colorado
7 years old
Employee-owned
cooperative
100+ employees
Company Awards
Top Small Company Workplace (2011)
Winning Workplaces / Inc. Magazine
Most Democratic Workplaces (2010-2012)
Worldblu
Best Overall Company of the Year (2010)
The American Business Awards – “The Stevies”
Best Places to Work (2009, 2010)
Denver Business Journal
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
#56 Fastest Growing Private Company (2009)
Inc. 500 / Inc. Magazine
Budget allocation for “professional development”
Training costs
Test fees
Internal NABCEP study groups
Encouraging NABCEP Certification
Explicit connection to compensation
Hiring & evaluating applicants
Internal promotions
Encouraging NABCEP Certification
External:
Differentiation & communication
Customers - ??
Investors - ??
Legal compliance
Colorado House Bill 1001
Benefits?
Blake Jones
President & CEO
NABCEP certified PV installer
Contact Info
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
• Design Review
• Training
• Commissioning
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Installer
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Crew Leader
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Project
Manager
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Director
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Business
Owner
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
NABCEP has benefited me by:
•Setting the bar high
•Continuing education
•Staying visible
Andrew Truitt –
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Solar Heating Advantages
• Old Industry in a New Market
• 4 times more output per sq ft
• Highest ROI Potential
• Independent of Grid (laws)
Larry Mapes, Valverde Energy/ThermaSun
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
Solar Heating Industry Pain
• Inexperienced Installers
• Inexperienced Engineers
• Customization
• Uninformed Customer Base
Larry Mapes, Valverde Energy/ThermaSun
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
How NABCEP Certification Helps Industry
• Basic Level of Knowledge (equipment)
• Installer Awareness
• Knowledge of Basic Tasks (how to)
• SAFETY!!!!!
Larry Mapes, Valverde Energy/ThermaSun
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development
NABCEP Testing
• Constantly Improving
• Drives Manufacturers Quality
• Spurs Innovation
• Helps Customer Confidence
Larry Mapes, Valverde Energy/ThermaSun
Meaningful Certifications Drive Career Development