setting standards through credentialing programs
DESCRIPTION
Jack Werner of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council discusses setting workforce standards through credentialing programs. This presentation was given December 4, 2009 at the Solar Energy Focus Conference: Fall 2009 hosted by the Maryland, DC, Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA) in Gaithersburg, MD. To learn more please visit:www.mdvseia.camp7.orgTRANSCRIPT
Making Sure the Green Economy Doesn’t Get a Black Eye
Jack WernerExecutive Director, Institute for Sustainable [email protected], 2009 Solar Energy Focus Conference: FALL 2009
Setting Standards through Credentialing Programs
Safeguards for the green economy
� Standards
� Credentialing programs
� Licensure
� Defining the green
(jobs, products, companies, practices)
Value of Certification
� Protects the public
� Establishes standards for professional knowledge, skills and practice
� Assures consumers that professionals have met standards
� Advances the profession
Each credentialing scheme – whether for people, products or services –requires a defensible, balanced and transparent assessment and set of criteria, requirements and standards
First, some definitions…
� Credentialing - umbrella term that includes the concepts of accreditation, licensure, registration, and professional certification.
� Professional certification - voluntary process by which a non-governmental entity grants a time-limited recognition and use of a credential to an individual after verifying that he/she has met predetermined and standardized criteria.
Source: The NOCA Guide to Understanding Credentialing Concepts, 2005
� A curriculum-based certificate - issued after an individual completes a course or series of courses and passes an assessment instrument. One-time look at an individual.
� Accreditation - voluntary process by which a nongovernmental agency grants a time-limited recognition to an institution, organization, business, or other entity after verifying that it has met predetermined and standardized criteria.
Setting Standards: The Task Analysis
� The task (or job) analysis is a formal process for determining what people do, under what working conditions they do it, what they must know to do it, and the skills they must have to do it.
� Tasks are classified as either cognitive or psychomotor skills.
� Skills are further categorized as Critical, Very Important, and Important for job performance.
Raising the bar for RE Installers
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
Offers third-party assessment of renewable energy practitioners
NABCEP’s TAs
� PV Installer Task Analysis� 8 Main Tasks
� 58 Subtasks
� Solar Thermal Installer Task Analysis� 12 Main Tasks
� 129 Subtasks
� Small Wind Installer Task Analysis� 8 Main Tasks
� 101 Subtasks
All available at www.nabcep.org
Professional Credentials
� Solar Electric (PV) Installer Certification
� Solar Thermal Installer Certification
� Small Wind Installer Certification –under development
� Entry Level PV Certificate of Knowledge
As a credentialing body, NABCEP sends a clear message to consumers,
financers, and public officials that the Solar Industry stresses safe and
quality services, consumer protection and ethical business practices
While NABCEP certifies practitioners, it is the ISPQ process that accredits training programs and certifies
instructors
Practitioner Training
While NABCEP certifies practitioners, ISP is applying an international
framework of standards and metrics to ensure legitimacy of what’s being
taught and by whom
Quality Assessment for
Training Programs & Instructors
The Institute for Sustainable Power (ISP) Quality International Standard offers a process of application and audit for accreditation of renewable
energy training programs and certification of instructors
ISPQ International
� North America - Interstate Renewable Energy Council in US
� Europe – ISPQ Europe in UK
� Asia-Pacific - Global Sustainable Energy Solutions in Australia
� China – ISPQ office under development
ISPQ Assessment
� Ensures legitimacy of what’s being taught and by whom
� System of review and audit
� Provides a means to compare content, quality, and resources across a broad range of training
ISPQ Accreditation
Sends signals to students, employers, and government officials that training
standards have been met
Verifying content
The ISPQ process uses an
industry-approved Task Analysis to verify, compare and approve course
content
IREC is the North American Licensee for the ISPQ* International 01021 Standard for Renewable Energy
Training Accreditation and Instructor Certification Programs
*ISPQ – Institute for Sustainable Power Quality Standard
IREC is responsible for the full ISPQ accreditation and certification cycle in NA including processing applications, assigning registered auditors, awarding the credential, and maintaining all records of applicants, candidates and certificants.
Application
Audit
Award
5 ISPQ designations
1. Accreditation for Training Programs
2. Accreditation for Continuing Education Providers
3. Certification for Independent Master Trainers
4. Certification for Affiliated Master Trainers
5. Certification for Instructors
ISPQ designation offers
The ISPQ mark is a signal to students, employers, government officials and funding sources that standards for the curriculum, student services, and trainers have been met.
Resources from IREC
� Best Practices & Guidelines for Renewable Energy Training
� Occupational Profiles for the Solar Industry� Index of Job Trends and Labor Forecasts
Reportswww.irecusa.org
� On-Line Training Catalogwww.irecusa.org/trainingCatalog