Frequently Asked Questions

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP®) offers voluntary personnel certification for beginners and professionals in the renewable energy industry. NABCEP’s Board Certifications include: NABCEP PV Installation Professional® (PVIP), NABCEP Solar Heating Installer® (SHI), NABCEP PV Technical Sales Professional® (PVTS), NABCEP PV System Inspector® (PVSI), NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector® (SHSI), and three (3) PV Specialist Certifications: PV Design Specialist™ (PVDS), PV Installer Specialist™ (PVIS), and PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist™ (PVCMS).  NABCEP’s Associate Credentials include: PV Associate™ (PVA), Solar Heating Associate™ (SHA), and Small Wind Associate™ (SWA).

Certification — a procedure by which an independent third-party gives written assurance that a professional conforms to specified standards, usually by holding professionals in a particular field to a set of requirements including a written examination. As a result of meeting the requirements and passing the exam, professionals receive a certificate, which they can display publicly to witness their proficiency.

Certification assures the public, employers and practitioners that a certified professional possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to competently carry out the work processes of a specific field as outlined in the relevant Job Task Analysis (JTA), and that they are committed to continued professional training and education as well as adherence to ethical practices.

NABCEP Board Certification is formal recognition that an individual has proficiency within, and a comprehension of, a specified body of knowledge. It is peer recognition, not registration or licensure.

Competition is everywhere, and there is a need for skilled individuals in the Renewable Energy industry. Certification is a mark of excellence and offers the public a high degree of protection because practitioners have to voluntarily meet standards and qualifications and pass an exam. It demonstrates that the certified individual has the knowledge to assure the quality of products and services. Earning a NABCEP Board Certification is an investment in your career and in the future of your employer.

To obtain a NABCEP Board Certification, you must first meet the eligibility requirements outlined on the website and detailed in the NABCEP Certification Handbook. Then you must pass a rigorous exam.

We receive many calls and emails regarding choosing the right certification. This is purely an individual choice, based on your unique career path and goals. To give you some ideas on how to proceed, use the Certification Career Map as a guide for which path to follow.

The NABCEP Associate Credential is an entry level credential and is intended for people who are new to the renewable energy industry or are currently working in, or seeking employment in, the renewable energy industry, including those who are: students in renewable energy programs or workers in the early stage of their renewable energy career.

The NABCEP Board Certification is a professional certification and is intended for people who are already in the renewable energy industry, including those who are students in renewable energy programs or workers at any stage in their renewable energy career.

With the launch of the new myNABCEP platform, Applicants no longer start their application from their myNABCEP account. To begin an application for all NABCEP Board Certifications and Associate Experience or Conversion Pathways, you are required to self-enroll in the certification or credential you wish to apply. The application will automatically populate to your myNABCEP account.  If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to open one.

Please go to the Apply Now page of our website to begin a NABCEP Board Certifications and Associate application and open an account.

NOTE: All NABCEP notifications are sent via email from Certemy using [email protected]. Please add [email protected] and any addresses sent from “@nabcep.certemy.com” and “@nabcep.org” to your “safe senders” list or firewall to ensure delivery.

Each NABCEP Board Certification has specific requirements in order to be approved to sit for the certification exam. The NABCEP Certification Handbook contains detailed information on each certification and their respective requirements.

NABCEP Board Certifications and Associate Credentials are valid for three (3) years from the date of issuance. You will need to meet the requirements for recertification by the end of each three-year period in order to be eligible to recertify or renew your certification or credential.

For all certifications, with the exception of the PV System Inspector and Solar Heating System Inspector exams, your exam will occur at one of Meazure Learning’s testing facilities. To review the list of testing sites, please click here.

For the PV System Inspector and Solar Heating System Inspector exams, you can schedule your exam in a live remote proctoring (LRP) environment through Meazure Learning.

NABCEP has uploaded a digital copy of your current certificate which can be found in your digital wallet in your myNABCEP account. If you would like a physical copy, there is a $25.00 fee in order to receive a duplicate of your certificate on cardstock. You may mail a check to NABCEP with a letter asking for the certificate (please be sure to include your current mailing address) or email [email protected] with your request and contact information to pay by credit card. Once payment is received, a duplicate of your certificate will be mailed to the address of record on your account via US Postal Service.

Please visit the PV Consumer Guide page of our website.

Certemy is NABCEP’s technical partner and hosts the myNABCEP platform. For technical questions regarding your account or the platform, please contact Certemy at [email protected]. You may also call 866-907-4088 to leave a voicemail with your question.

With the launch of the new myNABCEP platform, Applicants no longer start their application from their myNABCEP account. To begin an application for all NABCEP Board Certifications and Associate Experience or Conversion Pathways, you are required to self-enroll in the certification or credential you wish to apply. The application will automatically populate to your myNABCEP account.  If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to open one.

Please go to the Apply Now page of our website to begin a NABCEP Board Certifications and Associate application.

There are three pathways to obtaining a NABCEP Associate credential:

• Education Pathway — Successfully complete a photovoltaics, solar heating, or small wind training course with a NABCEP Associate Registered Training Provider, and pass the relevant NABCEP Associate Examination. Click here to find a class.
• Experience Pathway — Document at least 6 months of full-time equivalent work experience in a job that is directly involved with photovoltaics, solar heating, or small wind technologies, complete an application in your account, schedule and take the relevant NABCEP Associate Examination. Click here to start your application.
• NABCEP Entry Level Conversion Pathway — You already received a NABCEP Entry Level Achievement Award for photovoltaics or solar heating, and pay a small conversion fee. If the award was earned more than three years ago, documentation of at least 12 hours of continuing education within the last three years will also be required. Click here to start your application.

Not unless the PV Associate credential is specifically asked for in the certification requirements.

NABCEP recommends that you read the NABCEP Certification Handbook before starting an application. Once you have read the Certification Handbook and understand the requirements, there are several steps between when you start an application and when you take the exam.

1. Fulfill Eligibility Criteria

NABCEP’s Board Certifications require you to meet experience requirements and advanced training requirements before you can take the exams. You will need to provide us with the details of your experience and training, so we recommend that you gather and prepare this information before you open the application.

To find out the eligibility requirements, consult the NABCEP Certification Handbook for the Board Certification that interests you. Each one has unique eligibility requirements.

2. Complete Application

Once you’ve determined you meet the eligibility requirements, it’s time to apply. Collect the following information and then use our online application portal to guide you through the application process.

• Contact information — email, address, phone number, date of birth
• Experience — details of the projects you’ve worked on including the address, date of installation, proof of a decision-making role, organization details, permits, final approved inspections, and any other required documentation based on the particular Board Certification
• Advanced Training — course completion documents for courses attended, training provider information, verification of the length of the course, completion date
• OSHA — course completion documents for either OSHA 10-Hour Training for Construction or OSHA 30-Hour Training for Construction

Once you open an application, it will remain active for 1 year, after which time it will expire.

Tip: To complete the application quickly, gather all of the information and documentation you need before opening it. Otherwise, it might take you multiple sessions to complete your application.

3. Application Review

Once you submit your application, we will review it to verify that you meet the eligibility requirements and that your experience and training is valid and consistent with the guidelines stated in the NABCEP Certification Handbook.

Although the volume of applications can vary greatly throughout the year, NABCEP staff will typically be able to review your application within 5–10 business days, although it may take up to 30 days. Once it’s complete, we’ll email you to move on to the next step.

If we have any questions or issues with your application, we’ll flag your application and email you with detailed instructions.

Read Frequently Asked Questions about the application process.

4. Payment

There are two payments involved in the application process. The first occurs when you submit your application, and the second occurs when your application has been accepted so that you can schedule to take the exam. The fastest and easiest way to pay is through our application portal, nabcep.certemy.com.

Once payment is received, you will receive an email from our testing vendor, Meazure Learning, that includes information that you’ll need to schedule to take the exam. You are eligible for one year, and you may take the exam up to four times during that period. NABCEP requires that you wait a minimum of two weeks between exam attempts.

5. Schedule Exam Appointment

For all certifications, with the exception of the PV System Inspector and Solar Heating System Inspector exams, your exam will occur at one of Meazure Learning’s testing facilities. To review the list of testing sites, please click here.

For the PV System Inspector and Solar Heating System Inspector exams, you can schedule your exam in a live remote proctoring (LRP) environment through Meazure Learning.
After you’ve completed all of the steps above, the only thing left to do is take the exam. Good luck!

Accreditation is a status granted to an institution that meets or exceeds the stated criteria of educational quality. The purposes of accreditation are to assess and enhance the educational quality of an institution, to assure consistency in institutional operations, to promote institutional improvement, and to provide for public accountability.

“Advanced” training is defined as a course which provides instruction beyond the “basic,” “fundamental,” or “introductory” PV Installation principles and practices. Courses should be designed for the Professional who is prepared to maintain a decision-making role in the design, project management, installation, and/or commissioning & maintenance of a system.

Follow these steps to find an advanced, accredited course for an exam on the NABCEP Course Catalog:

1. In the blue header bar, click “Courses for Professional Exams”
2. From the first drop-down, choose which Certification you are applying for
3. From the second drop-down, choose which course format you want to take
4. Continue narrowing your search with the other drop-downs as needed
5. Hit Apply
6. Click on the course you would like more information about
7. Contact the Training Provider if you are interested in the course for pricing and availability.

Follow these steps to find an advanced course for recertification on the NABCEP Course Catalog:

1. In the blue header bar, click “Courses for Recerts & Renewals”
2. From the first drop-down, choose which Certification you are recertifying
3. From the second drop-down, choose which course format you want to take
4. Continue narrowing your search with the other drop-downs as needed
5. Hit Apply
6. Click on the course you would like more information about
7. Contact the Registered Training Provider if you are interested in the course for pricing and availability.

To qualify to sit for a NABCEP Board Certification Exam, every Applicant, regardless of background, education or experience must complete all requirements. There are no exceptions.  However, you may be eligible for a NABCEP Associate credential exam if you have taken an approved course.

All NABCEP Board Certification exams are given by NABCEP’s testing vendor, Meazure Learning.  Please visit their website for all available testing centers near you.

Yes, you will receive an email notification from NABCEP letting you know your application has been approved and to expect an email from NABCEP’s testing vendor, Meazure Learning, with instructions on how to schedule your exam at one of their testing facilities.

Follow these steps for find a course on the NABCEP Course Catalog:

1. In the blue header bar, click “Courses for Exam Qualification”
2. From the first drop-down, choose which Certification you are applying for
3. From the second drop-down, choose which course format you want to take
4. Continue narrowing your search with the other drop-downs as needed
5. Hit Apply
6. Click on the course you would like more information about
7. Contact the Training Provider if you are interested in the course for pricing and availability.

Return to your application at myNABCEP . If your application is for an exam, it will be located under “My Testing.” If your application is for recertification or renewal, the application will be located under “My Credentials”. The workflow step that was rejected will have a red notice along with an explanation of what is missing or needed to complete the step. Select this box for the reviewers notes, make the necessary corrections and resubmit for further review.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended), it is the policy of NABCEP to provide accommodations in testing conditions to applicants with disabilities who are qualified candidates for our certification examinations to the extent such accommodations are requested on a timely basis, reasonable, not unduly burdensome, and consistent with the nature and purpose of the examination and necessitated by the applicant’s disability.

All Candidates who desire special testing accommodations due to a disability or religious observance must make this request prior to exam scheduling. It is the responsibility of the Candidate to provide advance notice by completing the Special Accommodations form along with appropriate documentation of the disability or religious observance and the specifications of the type of accommodations or aids that will be required. During your test registration, complete the ADA questionnaire, upload the appropriate documentation and submit to NABCEP for review and approval. Once you have been approved, you will be able to schedule your exam with Meazure Learning.

ALL NABCEP FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERRABLE, and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Fees are payable to the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) via credit card, check or money order.

• Refunds: All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Appointment Reschedule/Cancellation: Candidates are subject to Meazure Learning’s cancellation and rescheduling policies. You must submit rescheduling requests to Meazure Learning at least two (2) business days before the date you wish to take or reschedule your exam. You must submit a reschedule request through Meazure Learning’s online scheduling system. A $50 fee will apply; the fee must be paid online (Visa or MasterCard by secure e-commerce) at the time of the request.
• Absence: Failure to notify Meazure Learning at least two days before your exam appointment and failure to meet a scheduled examination appointment will result in a no-show status. If you reach a no-show status, you will forfeit the exam fee and have to pay the full re-examination fee to schedule another examination.

Failure to notify Meazure Learning at least two days before your exam appointment and failure to meet a scheduled examination appointment will result in a no-show status. If you reach a no-show status, you will forfeit the exam fee and have to pay the full re-examination fee to schedule another examination.

If you fail the exam on your first attempt, you can re-take it up to four more times within your one-year eligibility period. You must wait 2 weeks between exam attempts. Fees are associated with re-examination. Details for re-examination can be found in the NABCEP Certification Handbook.

For all Board Certification exams, you are eligible to take the exam for 1 year from the date of approval. If you allow your eligibility to lapse, you must re-apply.

Yes, your application expires after one year.

If you began your exam application on the old myNABCEP platform, but it was never submitted and approved, your information was not migrated to the new platform and you will need to begin your exam application again.

With the launch of the new myNABCEP platform, Applicants no longer start their application from their myNABCEP account. To begin an application for all NABCEP Board Certifications and Associate Experience or Conversion Pathways, you are required to self-enroll in the certification or credential you wish to apply. The application will automatically populate to your myNABCEP account.  If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to open one.

NABCEP’s Board Certification exams and PV Associate exams are currently available in over 100 countries. For information, please review our NABCEP Global page. For a list of international test sites, please click here.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the ONLY reference approved for use during the NABCEP PV Installation Professional, PV Design Specialist, PV Installer Specialist, PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist and PV System Inspector Certification exams. All candidates’ Codebooks will be checked by the test proctor/administrator for adherence to the guidelines in this document before candidates are permitted access to the testing room. An electronic PDF version of the NEC will be available to all candidates regardless of whether they bring a physical copy of the codebook or not.

Physical codebooks from any year may be used. However, candidates are advised that exams are updated regularly to align with the newest Codebook. Only softbound and spiral-bound versions of the Codebook are permitted. Highlighting within the Codebook is the ONLY permissible method of preparing or manipulating the Codebook prior to the exam.

Codebooks that fail to meet the following guidelines will not be allowed in the testing room. These guidelines are in place to ensure that every candidate is tested fairly and that no candidate has access to unapproved resources.

• Handwritten notes are NOT allowed in any portion of the Codebook.
• Movable or permanent tabs are NEVER permitted in the Codebook.
• Codebooks CANNOT contain sticky notes, loose papers, or any added materials.
• Additional keyword indexes CANNOT be used with or added to any Codebook.
• Photocopied documents CANNOT be added to a Codebook.
• Photocopied versions of a Codebook are NEVER permitted.
• Formula sticks CANNOT be used with or added to any Codebook.
• Test preparation study guides are NOT approved references and are NOT permitted in testing centers.

During the testing process, candidates are NOT permitted to do the following:

• Share Codebooks with other candidates.
• Highlight, underline, mark, or write any information in their Codebooks.

None. All computer-based exams feature a basic scientific calculator on-screen during the exam.

CBT and LRP Certification Exams are offered on a continuous basis. There are no application or registration deadlines. Once your application is accepted by NABCEP, you may schedule your exam with Meazure Learning as soon as you wish.

All examinations consist of multiple-choice questions that are carefully designed, reviewed for correctness, and computer-scored.

All exams are given in English only.

You may refer to yourself as a NABCEP Board Certified Professional. Under My Credentials you will need to accept your certification by completing the Board Certification Acceptance workflow. NOTE: You do not need to pay or complete the recertification workflow until the 3rd year of your certification period.

Your NABCEP certificate may be downloaded and printed for the Digital Wallet in your myNABCEP account. You will receive an email from Credly with instructions on how to download your NABCEP Digital Badge, which can be added to your website, email signature, and anywhere else you would want industry professionals and customers to see your digital badge profile.

You may also want to start making plans for maintaining your certification by familiarizing yourself with the recertification requirements for your Board Certification. More details on the recertification requirements can be found within the NABCEP Certification Handbook or the Recertification & Renewal page of our website.

All NABCEP exams are developed on a pass/fail basis. NABCEP provides exam score reports to anyone who fails an exam for the purpose of developing a more informed study plan to retake the exam. Exam score reports will be completed and uploaded to the Candidate’s account approximately 3-5 business days following the administration of the exam. Exam score reports are only available to those who fail the exam; individuals who pass will receive a congratulatory letter and certificate.

Grade results or pass/fail status will not be given out over the telephone or by email or fax.

If NABCEP has received your exam results, you may log into your myNABCEP account to see if you passed or not.  Go to your exam application under “My Testing” and click on the Test Score Validation step and the score and result will be posted there.  If you passed, there will be a corresponding recertification or renewal application assigned under “My Credentials.”  If you did not pass, there will be a corresponding re-take application assigned under “My Testing.”

Exam score reports will be completed and uploaded to the Candidate’s profile approximately 3-5 business days following the administration of the exam. Grade results or pass/fail status will not be given out over the telephone or by email or fax.

If NABCEP has received your exam results, you may log into your myNABCEP account to see if you passed or not.  Go to your exam application under “My Testing” and click on the Test Score Validation step and the score and result will be posted there.  If you passed, there will be a corresponding recertification or renewal application assigned under “My Credentials.”  If you did not pass, there will be a corresponding re-take application assigned under “My Testing.”

• PV Installation Professional – 70
• PV Technical Sales – 75
• PV Design Specialist – 70
• PV Installer Specialist – 70
• PV Commissioning & Maintenance – 70
• PV System Inspector – 65
• Solar Heating System Inspector – 65
• Solar Heating Installer – 75
• PV Associate – 65
• Solar Heating Associate – 65
• Small Wind Associate – 65

Because different test forms may vary slightly in difficulty from one version to another, it is a testing industry best practice to have scores reported as scaled scores. Scaled scores are statistically derived by adjusting the raw score (the number of questions a Candidate answers correctly) by a factor that accounts for the difficulty of a particular exam format relative to other formats.

Using a scaled score helps ensure that all candidates are treated fairly whether they take an exam that is slightly easier or more difficult than an exam that other candidates took. A total scaled score is used to determine pass or fail status and is reported as a scaled score ranging between 0 and 99.

For your current certification information, please log in to your account at myNABCEP. Once you have logged in to your account, look under “My Credentials” and the expiration date of your certification will be listed there. You must submit your application by midnight the day before your expiration date to recertify without a late fee.

Board Certified Professionals and Associates may ONLY submit their recertification or renewal application during the third (3^rd) year of their current credential period.

“Advanced” training is defined as a course which provides instruction beyond the “basic,” “fundamental,” or “introductory” PV Installation principles and practices. Courses should be designed for the Professional who is prepared to maintain a decision-making role in the design, project management, installation, and/or commissioning & maintenance of a system.

Follow these steps to find an advanced course for recertification on the NABCEP Course Catalog:

1. In the blue header bar, click “Courses for Recerts & Renewals”
2. From the first drop-down, choose which Certification you are recertifying
3. From the second drop-down, choose which course format you want to take
4. Continue narrowing your search with the other drop-downs as needed
5. Hit Apply
6. Click on the course you would like more information about
7. Contact the Registered Training Provider if you are interested in the course for pricing and availability.

Follow these steps to find an advanced course for recertification on the NABCEP Course Catalog:

1. In the blue header bar, click “Courses for Recerts & Renewals”
2. From the first drop-down, choose which Certification you are recertifying
3. From the second drop-down, choose which course format you want to take
4. Continue narrowing your search with the other drop-downs as needed
5. Hit Apply
6. Click on the course you would like more information about
7. Contact the Training Provider if you are interested in the course for pricing and availability.

If the course is listed on the NABCEP Course Catalog, we will accept the course for the Approved Credits listed.
If the course is not listed on the Course Catalog, but covers the Course Types listed in your application and meets the criteria for CE credits, then it will be accepted.

To receive teaching credits, you will need a signed letter on letterhead from the institution or company you taught for and an outline for the qualified course. The letter must include the name of the course, the total length of the course in hours and when you taught it. Continuing education contact hours for teaching activities will be determined based on the number of actual instructional, contact hours, and cannot exceed twelve (12) contact hours per three (3) year recertification period. Continuing education contact hours may be claimed only once within a recertification period for each specific course offering.
See Section 19.12 of the NABCEP Certification Handbook for detailed information.

NABCEP’s Board of Director’s extended the “Expiration Period” for 1 year before you are required to take the exam again. If you do not recertify before the 1 years is up, you will have to start over and complete a certification application, fulfill all requirements, and pass the Professional Certification exam to become NABCEP Board Certified again.

If recertifying during this “Expiration period”, there is an additional $50.00 late fee.

During this “expiration” period you cannot claim yourself as being NABCEP Board Certified. Expiration dates do not change depending on at what point in the renewal cycle you meet recertification requirements. If you renew within the first, second, or third year of the renewal period, or prior to expiration, your new expiration date set as three years from the previous expiration date and is not tied to the date that your recertification application is accepted.

Once your recertification application is accepted, a digital copy will be added to your Digital Wallet in your myNABCEP account.

The Code of Ethics and recertification fee is required before Certificants may enter CEU and Industry Involvement information. Recertifications must be completed by Certificant`s expiration date in order to remain valid. Documents may be uploaded to the Certificant’s Digital Wallet at any time and held until it is time to recertify.

Check your Expiration Date before you pay!  DO NOT remit recertification payment until the appropriate time. Certificants may only submit their Recertification Fee and recertification requirements during the third (3rd) year of their current certification period.