Brilliant Harvest is NABCEP certified – why should that matter?

By Bill Johnson, President, Brilliant Harvest

In 2016, I earned my certification as a solar PV (photovoltaic) installation professional from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). NABCEP is the most recognized and esteemed certification the solar industry has to offer. So what is the NABCEP certification all about and why should that matter within the industry and to potential clients?

First I’ll offer a little background. NABCEP was founded in 2002 as a nonprofit 501(c)(6) corporation with a mission “to support, and work with, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholders to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners.” NABCEP works to develop voluntary national certification programs that promote renewable energy, provide value to solar installation and sales professionals, promote worker safety and skill, encourage consumer confidence, and promote professionals who choose to become certified demonstrate their competence in the field and their commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice.

The NABCEP certification is a true seal of approval and has become a prerequisite qualification for certain solar projects. While the certification is not intended to prevent qualified individuals from installing PV systems or to replace state license requirements, in a field where new technologies are emerging constantly, it is important that installers are committed to staying on top of trends and technology. The NABCEP certification represents a commitment to ongoing training and real-world expertise.

To qualify to sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification Examination, every applicant must document: the completion of a minimum of 10 hours of OSHA Outreach Training Program for the Construction Industry training (or provincial equivalent); completion of at least 58 hours of PV training, which includes at least 40 hours covering advanced solar PV installation and design principles and practices addressed in the NABCEP PV Installer Job Task Analysis; and the completion of installations equaling at least 6 project credits (credits are based on project size).

The 70-question, four-hour examination covers a full range of advanced solar topics including structural and wind code, electrical code, waterproofing and roofing, system design and sizing calculations, installation, and advanced troubleshooting and maintenance.

In total, there are only 50 NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professionals in Florida today. In short, NABCEP certification is confirmation of the commitment that Brilliant Harvest has toward technical and professional quality, and ethical behavior in our business relationships. Since our founding, we have worked to deliver the best solar products and services to our clients, and this is validation of that dedication. The NABCEP certification represents an established and nationally respected third party saying, “Brilliant Harvest is one of the best in solar.”

We encourage you to give us a call and find out if we are right for your solar and/or home battery project!