[RE-wrenches] NABCEP

[The Office of Tom Duffy]

Doug

I have to agree with you on the dubious value of certification testing as
any benchmark at all. Certification in any industry is a separate business,
and as such, sooner or later, becomes mostly about itself, given that,
fast-tracking installers is the next logical step into another useless layer
of bureaucracy.

Unfortunately for all of us in this day and age, in all industries, the
"certification industry" and the demands of the corporate world has given
rise to very expensive Certification Boot Camps and the like, qualifying
folks that don't know squat, and leaving really qualified folks out in the
non-corporate cold. 

This is the next step, just wait until Lowes, Home Depot or Wal-Mart wants
their installers to be "Certified". Don't think so? Just go into Wal-Mart's
auto department and check out the "Certified Mechanics" working for seven
bucks and hour. 

Sooner or later the Government steps in and says we all have to pony up the
big bucks and get certified or don't work at all, because governmental
agencies feel safe requiring folks to pass some sort of test. 

Next they'll want a bond too, and insurance which will drive up the costs to
the point that we don't have to worry about anyone being qualified to design
an off grid system, no one will be able to afford to buy one anyhow, at
least not from the little non-corporate installer.

Certification testing without real experience standards just proves someone
can cram and pass a test. It in no way proves that they know their a** from
a hole-in-the-ground.

I usually don't get this crazy, but this subject really bothers me, my
apologies 

  Tom Duffy
  tom at thesolar.biz
  575-539-2111 X 301

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Doug Wells
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:33 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP

William,

I agree that the value of NABCEP is mixed.  I would like to think that  
it is still a benchmark.
To me the importance of NABCEP has not been the test, but the  
prerequisites to take the test.
A test is just a test and I have always felt that they have limited  
value.  But experience is different.
When I applied you had to have 3 years of experience installing(in my  
track).  And the jobs that you used had to be lead installs.
Not just, "yeah I was on a crew for a couple jobs.  Or I have "some  
experience" installing.  I feel it important to understand the job  
from beginning to end.
Design, Safety, Installs and Commissioning.
The more they water down the experience component to fast track eager  
installers, the less the certification will mean.

Doug Wells
The Solar Specialists
Morrisville, VT 05661
(p) 802-223-7014
(c) 802-498-5856
www.thesolarspecialists.com





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