NABCEP & Training [RE-wrenches]

[Allan Sindelar]

The previous message went out unfinished due to a Microsoft glitch that I
couldn't stop. Continuing:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Bassett" <bsbassett at earthlink.net>

Without a training program and certification for
> installers who have passed this training, this will be just another "old
> boys club".

Read the requirements to sit for the exam, and I think you will reach a
different conclusion.

> The NACBEP may want to come up with a training program or we
> may have to accept what the IBEW & NECA based NJATC comes up with, which
> would of course be part of union training and apprenticeship.

I believe that FSEC and San Juan College will have accredited trainings; I'm
not up on the developing list. But there will be non-union providers.
>
> I think that there should be a training course that is required, with
> maybe some grandfathered in wrenches, but only if the test is very
> rigorous.

Agreed on a rigorous test. There are many ways to qualify to sit for the
exam, based on a combination of education, traning, and experience, but
nobody is automatically grandfathered into certification. My understanding
is that some PV manufacturers want to water down the test, as it could slow
sales. I have expressed my opinion to NABCEP that the test should be as
rigorous as possible, so that it can be genuinely a test of competence.

> Perhaps there could be different certification levels, one for
> newbies who have passed the test and one for experienced installers.
> There could also be different certifications for residential and
> commercial work, just as there is for electricians in many states.

Brad, the effort to establish this program is as voluntary as the
certification itself, and your efforts to develop a set of different
certifications would be welcomed, I'm sure.

> I would also like to see a separate certification for PV designers. This
> will increasingly be a different task than system installation, and can
> be done wrong just as easily. Other industries often have this
> certification separately.
>
> Take a look at
> http://www.radiantpanelassociation.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=185
> for an example of a certification program in a sort of similar industry.
>
>
> One other note is that in my experience with a past project consisting
> of many potential installs in CA a few years ago, the IBEW and NECA were
> very aggressive about trying to exclude non-union PV installers, and
> their playing card was supplying the training for the installers. Unless
> they have changed their tune, I would be wary if you don't want to be
> union or excluded in some way.

Bob-O has recently addressed this, and Ezra posted on it just today.

Hope this helps.
Allan at Positive E

> Brad Bassett
> bsbassett at earthlink.net

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