meaningful certifications drive career development · meaningful certifications drive career...

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.


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.


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.


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.


NABCEP offers a variety of Certifications

• PV Installer

• PV Technical Sales

• Solar Thermal Installer

• Small Wind Installer


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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

Internal:

Work quality

Company culture & morale

Retention

Benefits?

External:

Differentiation & communication

Customers - ??

Investors - ??

Legal compliance

Colorado House Bill 1001

Benefits?

Blake Jones

President & CEO

NABCEP certified PV installer

[email protected]

Contact Info

mailto:[email protected]

Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting

• Design Review

• Training

• Commissioning

Andrew Truitt –



Installer

Andrew Truitt –



Crew Leader

Andrew Truitt –



Project

Manager

Andrew Truitt –



Director

Andrew Truitt –



Business

Owner

Andrew Truitt –



NABCEP has benefited me by:

•Setting the bar high

•Continuing education

•Staying visible

Andrew Truitt –



Valverde Energy

Larry Mapes, Founder & Owner


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


Solar Heating Industry Pain

• Inexperienced Installers

• Inexperienced Engineers

• Customization

• Uninformed Customer Base



How NABCEP Certification Helps Industry

• Basic Level of Knowledge (equipment)

• Installer Awareness

• Knowledge of Basic Tasks (how to)

• SAFETY!!!!!



NABCEP Testing

• Constantly Improving

• Drives Manufacturers Quality

• Spurs Innovation

• Helps Customer Confidence



Thank You!

Questions?


meaningful certifications drive career development · meaningful certifications drive career...

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