Page 7 – Everblue Training

Solar Career Planning: The 5 Steps to Reach Your Goals

If you’re thinking about changing careers and working in the growing solar industry, it’s best to research the steps and major milestones along the way. Solar career planning will save you time and money and will also help set expectations on how long it’ll take to get started.

Here are my top 5 solar career planning tips:

Read about all the different jobs and career pathways in the solar industry
Research employers and expected salary for your desired solar career
Research state solar licensing and certification requirements
Make a list of your short-and long-term goals
Make a list of actionable steps you can take to achieve your goals

I’ll go into more detail about these solar career planning tips now…

#1 Learn about all of the Solar Career Pathways

At this stage, it’s important to keep an open mind. Solar is more than just installation.

There was a time when the solar industry was so small that being a solar panel installer typically meant being a one-man-show who had to know how to do every aspect of the job. But now, the solar industry is so large that there’s enough work to go around; there are clearly established job roles for all the different aspects that contribute to a successful solar installation.

Aside from solar installation, there are opportunities in manufacturing, system design, project development, operations, inspections, and sales.

The leading resource for solar career planning is the IREC Solar Career Map, which specifically highlights career tracks in manufacturing, system design, project development, and installation/operations. Within those four tracks, the map includes milestones that represent entry-level careers, mid-level careers, and advanced careers.

There are so many different solar careers to analyze. To best focus your efforts, think about which track is more appealing to you and begin reading about the different careers in that track.

#2 Research employers and salary expectations

Once you zero in on the type of solar career you’d like to have, you should start to think about whether it’s practical and realistic for you to have that job. Are there solar companies locally who are hiring for that type of position? Will you be able to maintain your current quality of life with the expected salary from that position?

As part of this solar career planning step, you should browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There you’ll find information on the job outlook over the next 10 years, the number of jobs available, an idea of median pay, and and overview of the education and work experience requirements needed to earn your desired job.

To supplement the salary information found on OOH, you might also look at job posting sites such as Indeed, OwlGuru, Payscale, and Recruiter.com. In addition to viewing actual job postings with expected salary figures, these sites often compile the information into research papers and aggregate a summary of what you can expect if you get a job as X occupation. For those of you who are interested in becoming a solar panel installer, we’ve done this part for you. See our post on Solar Installer Salary.

While we’re at it, you might be wondering how to find a solar job in general. Are the job posting sites listed above enough? Sure, but there are also job sites specifically related to solar. You might as well spend time browsing those sites as well, since they focus directly on solar jobs.

Now that you’re armed with some high-level information on where you want your career in solar to go, you need to see what it’ll take to make this dream a reality. This is when we get to solar licensing and certification.

#3 Do you need to be licensed or certified?

Because solar projects can impact the health and safety of your clients, oftentimes those working in the industry have a legal responsibility to be licensed or certified.

There’s no hard and fast rule about this, however. Since solar is still a relatively new occupation, states are playing catch-up and are slowly rolling out formal requirements. That means that some states have no licensing and certification requirements, others only have a solar licensing requirement, and others may require both a license and a certification. You need to find out what’s required in your state. There’s typically a state contractor licensing board that will make this decision. Simply google your state and “contractor licensing board” and see if you dig further into what’s required near you.

I know, it’s confusing. License… certification… how are these terms different? See our related post on getting a solar license to learn more.

Put simply, licensure is mandated by the state to legally perform work, whereas certification is (typically) a voluntary achievement that highlights trade-specific knowledge by way of passing a technical exam. Because licensure is tied to your state, it may not be reciprocated (or recognized) by other states if you move. Certification, however, is generally nationally (or internationally) recognized because the certification itself creates a standard for all professionals regardless of where they live and work.

In the solar industry, NABCEP Certification is the most respected and most well-known program. NABCEP, or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, offers several different designations that align with specific job roles in solar. It can take 3-6 months and between $800-$2000 of an upfront time and money investment in solar training to be qualified to sit for a NABCEP Certification exam.

Researching licensing and certification is a crucial step in your solar career planning because it can literally be the difference between you legally working in solar and not.

#4 List out your short- and long-term goals

Do you need to get a solar job fast, or can you afford to take your solar career planning to the next level by focusing on a long-term career?

Here’s the difference:

Short-term – get a job fast. Given everything you’ve learned about the solar industry thus far, you might decide that it makes the most sense for you to start with the PV101 Solar PV Associate training ($599, 40 hours). This online training is relatively inexpensive and may only take a few weeks to complete. It’ll introduce you to how solar energy works, different types of solar energy systems, how to convert DC and AC electricity, and more – all the information you need to speak intelligently about solar and land an entry-level job in a non-technical role.
Long-term – get certified to install solar panels and/or own a solar business. The keyword here is “get certified.” At this point in your solar career planning journey, you should start thinking about NABCEP Certification – which credential you want and how you will qualify for it. For this specific long-term goal, the NABCEP PV Installation Professional package is most appropriate because it’ll teach you about solar energy principles, installation, design, commissioning, operations, and troubleshooting. With this comprehensive range of skills, you’ll be well suited to own a solar business. However, to qualify for this exam, you’ll need a combination of solar installation work experience and education / training (including the aforementioned PV101 training). So if this is your ultimate goal, it makes more sense to go straight to the NABCEP PV Installation Professional training package ($1899, 58 hours) than to start with just PV101 because the NABCEP PV Installation Professional package includes the PV101 training content and more. Save yourself time and money by going straight for your long-term goal.

Here’s a real-life example. I spoke with a guy yesterday who wants to install solar panels in Rhode Island. He didn’t have any electrical background and didn’t have a contractor’s license. Rhode Island has a solar PV contractor license called the Renewable Energy Professional (REP), which is meant for solar professionals who have no electrical experience (like my guy yesterday). To earn the REP license, he can take Everblue’s NABCEP PV Installation Professional training. The state of Rhode Island literally lists our course as a prerequisite for the state license. But, naturally, as someone new to the industry, he was sort of hoping to dip his toes in the water with the fast and inexpensive option of PV101 training. Sure, PV101 is a great place to start. It will give you immediate job opportunities. But looking at the big picture, as his goal was to get certified as a solar installer and own a business, the NABCEP PV Installation Professional makes more sense. It’s more of an upfront time and money investment, but it’ll get you to your long-term goal less painfully (aka piecemealing multiple courses together over time). So… as part of your solar career planning, you need to decide whether you want to prioritize your short-term goal or your long-term goal. That answer directly affects your next steps.

#5 Next Steps

You’ve researched the industry. You’ve identified local opportunities. You know what’s required in your state to legally work in your desired profession. And you should have an idea of what you want out of this whole solar career planning exercise. Now how are you going to get there?

You will very likely need to start with solar training. Here at Everblue, we offer IREC-accredited and NABCEP-approved courses that focus on solar skills and prepare candidates for NABCEP Certification.

Among our 10 solar training packages, we have a solution that will meet your short- and long-term needs.

Still want to talk through your career goals before making a time and money investment? No problem! Call us at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll guide you to the most appropriate training package.

Changing careers can be overwhelming, but if you follow these 5 solar career planning steps, you’ll be much closer to your end goal. Start broad and slowly narrow in on the parts that will most impact you.

We’re here to help! We want you to be successful – before, during, and after your solar training. Contact us if you have any questions along the way.

Learn more about Everblue's PV101 Training

Learn more about Everblue's NABCEP Certification Training

NABCEP Certification Training Requirement Varies by Credential

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the most well-known organization for creating workplace standards and certifications for solar energy professionals. To qualify for many of NABCEP’s designations, candidates must complete training and/or show proof of work experience. The NABCEP Certification training requirement varies from 24 hours to 60 hours, depending on which credential you choose to pursue.

NABCEP currently offers three entry-level “Associate” credentials and eight “Board” certifications.

Associate

NABCEP PV Associate
NABCEP Solar Heating Associate
NABCEP Small Wind Associate

Board Certifications

NABCEP PV Design Specialist
NABCEP PV Installer Specialist
NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist
NABCEP PV Installation Professional
NABCEP PV Technical Sales
NABCEP PV System Inspector
NABCEP Solar Heating Installer
NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector

Because the Associate credentials are entry-level, you can qualify EITHER by completing an education pathway OR by documenting work experience.

The Board certifications, however, are more advanced and therefore require education / training AND work experience.

Please note: A candidate for any NABCEP certification should be at least 18 years of age. Neither the NABCEP Associate Handbook nor the NABCEP Certification Handbook identify any other requirements related to K-12 schooling, GED, or high school diploma. Instead, the NABCEP Certification training requirement relies on a network of approved training providers (like Everblue) who offer accredited solar training programs. We’ll discuss these requirements in greater detail below.

Qualifying for NABCEP Associate Using the Education Pathway

To qualify through the Education Pathway, an individual must successfully complete a course or program that covers the full NABCEP Associate Job Task Analysis (JTA) from a Registered NABCEP Associate Provider for the specific technology they intend to pursue – photovoltaics, solar heating, or small wind.

NABCEP allows each Registered Provider to develop their own curriculum to cover the JTA and recommends that such courses include a minimum of 40 hours of content instruction.

Here at Everblue, we are a Registered NABCEP Associate Provider, and our NABCEP PV Associate course is 40 hours in duration. This package also includes the cost of the NABCEP PV Associate exam.

At the end of the program, students receive an Everblue certificate of completion as well as a NABCEP Associate Candidate Eligibility form. We will submit these documents to NABCEP on the student’s behalf, to vouch for their full participation and completion of the course.

NABCEP Certification Training Requirement for Board Certifications

The full scope of requirements are listed, in detail, in the NABCEP Certification Handbook, but for a brief overview of the NABCEP Certification training requirement for the various designations, continue reading…

NABCEP PV Design Specialist (PVDS)

Minimum of OSHA 10 Training
24 hours of training from an accredited institution, where 18 hours cover advanced PV design principles as outlined in the NABCEP PV Design Specialist JTA and 6 hours cover National Electric Code

NABCEP PV Installer Specialist (PVIS)

Minimum of OSHA 10 Training
24 hours of training from an accredited institution, where 18 hours cover advanced PV installation principles as outlined in the NABCEP PVIS JTA and 6 hours cover National Electric Code

NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist (PVCMS)

Minimum of OSHA 30 Training
24 hours of training from an accredited institution, where 18 hours cover advanced PV commissioning/maintenance principles as outlined in the NABCEP PV Commissioning Specialist JTA and 6 hours cover National Electric Code

NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP)

Minimum of OSHA 10 Training
58 hours of training, where 40 must come from an accredited institution and cover advanced PV installation principles as outlined in the NABCEP PV Installation Professional JTA. The remaining 18 hours may include Associate-level coursework through a Registered NABCEP Associate Provider but only if candidate also passes the NABCEP Associate exam

NABCEP PV Technical Sales

This is where things get very tricky. NABCEP offers eight “qualifying categories” for this certification. Depending on which category you choose, you will have specific education / training and work experience requirements. These requirements vary from category to category, and you must stay within one lane to fully be eligible.

Specific to NABCEP Certification training requirements, you’ll want to note that:

Category A requires a minimum of 60 hours of advanced training directly related to the PV Technical Sales JTA
Category B requires a minimum of 32 hours of advanced training directly related to the PV Technical Sales JTA
Category C lists as associate’s degree from an accredited educational institution in renewable energy technology or related field of study
Category D lists a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution

NABCEP PV System Inspector

There are no specific prerequisites to take the NABCEP PV System Inspector exam. However, the exams are intended to test the knowledge of someone who is familiar with PV systems, code, and labeling. To be successful on this exam, candidates should complete a minimum of 40 hours of NABCEP PV System Inspector training.

NABCEP Solar Heating Installer

Much like the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification, the Solar Heating Installer Certification also has “qualifying categories” that specifically address education / training requirements and work experience requirements.

Category A2 lists 16 hours of advanced training
Category B lists 40 hours of advanced training
Category F lists a 2-year degree from an accredited educational institution in a construction-related, engineering technology, or renewable energy technology field
Category G lists a 4-year degree from an accredited educational institution
Category H lists NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification (which is 58 hours in its own right, plus OSHA 10 training) AND 16 hours of advanced training

NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector

There are no specific prerequisites to take the NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector exam. However, the exams are intended to test the knowledge of someone who is familiar with solar thermal systems. To be successful on this exam, candidates should complete a minimum of 40 hours of training.

Please note that each of these certifications also has a work experience prerequisite that must be met before a candidate is eligible to sit for the exam.

Because the NABCEP Certification training requirement varies by credential, it’s important to read the NABCEP Certification Handbook fully and make a plan for which certification(s) you choose to pursue.

For more information about NABCEP Certification and which designation is right for you, call (800) 460-2575.

NABCEP Company Accreditation: Stand Out From the Crowd

Here are Everblue, we provide solar training courses that help qualify professionals for the internationally-recognized certification exams offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Though the NABCEP certifications are designed for the individual specifically, many people ask us whether they can get their company certified too. And the answer is yes! It’s called NABCEP Company Accreditation.

In fact, NABCEP Company Accreditation is a fantastic way to help your company stand out from other solar companies – both in your local market and nationally.

What is NABCEP Company Accreditation?

NABCEP highlights company accreditation as the most prestigious accreditation that a PV installation company can earn in the renewable energy industry.

Though that sounds biased coming from NABCEP, it is actually fair to say that company accreditation is the real deal and not for the faint of heart. It’s reserved for extremely organized, knowledgeable, and successful solar businesses.

Get this:

To qualify, a company must adhere to a laundry list of requirements, ranging from staff qualifications to company policies. (summary at the end of the post)
Because of the very high bar that’s been set, only 10 companies nationwide are listed on NABCEP’s website as having the accreditation.

Benefits of NABCEP Company Accreditation

NABCEP again lists some of the typical benefits you’d expect to see from a company that has earned accreditation.

NABCEP Company Accreditation is an official stamp of approval that represents that a company is committed to:

High-quality installation standards
Hiring fully trained and qualified staff
Safe work practices
Accountability to the customer

Those are all valid benefits, but I’m more interested in the benefits concerning marketability and opportunism.

Opportunity for YOUR Solar Company

As I mentioned above, only 10 companies are listed on the NABCEP website, each categorized by state. There are only 6 states listed:

California
Florida
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
North Carolina

To me, this means that there are extraordinary opportunities for solar installation companies operating in the other 44 states!

Be that one company in your state to boast of NABCEP Company Accreditation! When a customer asks how your company is different from another local company, you can proudly share that your company is the only one in the state with this nationally-recognized accreditation, and you can go on to explain the high standards and high bar that your organization has met by earning the accreditation. Credibility? Check.

Standing Out from Your Competition

Even in states where there are other accredited companies, like California, there’s still a marketing opportunity.

California

In 2018, the commissioners of the California Energy Commission voted unanimously to require that nearly all new homes in the state be built with solar panels.

We also know that solar contractors must have a C-46 license in California to operate legally.

Between the California renewable energy policies and its state licensing requirement, we know there is interest and demand for solar energy in the state. Yet there are only 3 companies that appear to have the NABCEP Company Accreditation.

Given that California spans a good portion of the West Coast (nearly 900 miles of coastline), methinks there are opportunities for other solar installation companies in the state. All of the CA solar companies are on an even playing field with the C-46 license, so the NABCEP Company Accreditation is just one way that your company can quickly stand out from the rest.

Florida

Similar to the California situation, I also find it interesting that none of the solar companies listed under Florida are from the Miami area.

Our 2017 blog post on Miami solar legislation highlighted the fact that solar panels are now required on all new single-family residences, townhouses, and multi-story buildings.

So solar companies in the area should be busy with installations, but they should also be combatting the common question of “How are you different from your competitors?” Once again, NABCEP Company Accreditation would a special cherry on top for underscoring your organization’s commitment to quality and safety.

Is NABCEP Company Accreditation only for the big guys?

At this point, I’m sure you’re saying to yourself, “Well, I bet the 10 companies listed on NABCEP’s website are huge. They’re probably not small mom-and-pop shops…”

I also had that suspicion, especially when I looked through the NABCEP Company Accreditation Handbook and reviewed all of the requirements. For example, the parts that jumped out to me included:

Sales Manager must have the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification.
At least 20% of all company sales personnel must have the NABCEP PV Associate credential.
All company sales personnel must complete NABCEP PV Associate training, and
At least one Construction Supervisor must be have the NABCEP PV Installation Certification.*

*The handbook shows a publication date of 2013 in the footer, but the web address says 2018, so when the handbook says NABCEP PV Installation Certification, I’m not sure if they are referring to the “gold standard” NABCEP PV Installation Professional or the newer NABCEP PV Installer Specialist Certification.

Anyway, I wondered if a one-man-show could claim to be all of those positions – sales, installer, and supervisor.

Out of curiosity, I turned to LinkedIn and looked up the 10 companies that have NABCEP Company Accreditation to get a sense of their size.

Here’s what I found:

Renova Energy: 51-200 employees
Sullivan Solar Power: 51-200
Advance Solar: 51-200
PV Squared: 11-50
Bob Heinmiller: 11-50
Yes Solar Solutions: 11-50
Insource Renewables: 2-10
Araybeam: 2-10
Solar-Ray Inc: 2-10 (but 12 employees on LinkedIn?)
Synergy Solar: couldn’t find the right company page on LinkedIn

Well, look at that! It comes out to a 3-way split. One-third of NABCEP Accredited Companies are the big guys, with over 51 employees. Another third are mid-sized, with 11-50 employees. And the final third are smaller companies, with fewer than 10 employees.

So regardless of your company’s size, you can earn the NABCEP Company Accreditation, provided that you adhere to the long list of requirements.

How to Qualify for NABCEP Company Accreditation

I’ll do my best to summarize the requirements below. For full details, be sure to read the NABCEP Company Accreditation Handbook.

In order to be eligible for NABCEP Company Accreditation, an applicant company must:

Provide appropriate proof that the firm has been operating as a residential PV installation business for at least one year
Maintain written customer care standards, service escalation procedures, dispute resolution procedures, warranty terms, and termination of operations procedures
Maintain policies on company administrative procedures, employee code of conduct, health and safety, community involvement, and an environmental policy
Currently employ staff with the following qualifications and/or training: (1) Sales Manager must have the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification. (2) At least 20% of all company sales personnel must have the NABCEP PV Associate credential, (3) All company sales personnel must complete NABCEP PV Associate training, (4) At least one Construction Supervisor must be a NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer in good standing, etc.
Maintain programs for Quality Assurance, Employee Training, and Installation Site Training
Adhere to Design Review and Site Assessment requests
Maintain current and appropriate business insurances
Confirm that all required governmental tax filings have been completed and submitted to the appropriate tax agencies
Maintain an OSHA total case incident rate of 5.00 or less
Maintain appropriate customer records
Accept sample field audits of the company’s PV installation work

Is Your Solar Company Up for the Challenge?

Honestly, I’d say that many of these requests listed above are reasonable and representative of a quality business, in general.

As a training company, I was a little surprised to see how many of the requirements are related to employee training AND certification.

Thankfully, we can help with that part! If you’re interested in pursuing NABCEP Company Accreditation and need to satisfy the employee training requirements, we offer the NABCEP PV Associate training as well as the NABCEP PV Installation Professional training.

Since the requirement states that multiple employees need to be trained and certified, we can work with you on group rates. Simply give us a call at (800) 460-2575 to get started!

Learn more about Everblue's NABCEP PV Associate Training

Top Considerations if You Want to Start a Blower Door Testing Business

Many of the HVAC contractors and insulation professionals who are interested in blower door training intend to learn new skills so that they can start a business and reach new customers. In this case, a blower door testing business helps contractors branch out from their specialty trade and use their newly earned blower door testing certification to work directly with builders on energy code compliance.

We have this same conversation by phone with contractors multiple times a day, every day, so I thought I’d share some snippets from a recent call and answer the commonly asked questions about starting a blower door testing business.

Sean Gray is Everblue's Program Manager This particular conversation was between our BPI/RESNET Program Manager Sean Gray and a prospective student with a background in insulation. Prior to working for Everblue, Sean worked for a utility company and led a team of BPI Building Analysts providing residential energy assessments. Sean understands our students’ motivations and concerns because he’s been there himself. In this conversation, he shares some anecdotes from his experiences as a blower door testing contractor.

Without further ado, here are the top questions people interested in starting a blower door testing business typically ask:

How much could I charge for a blower door test?

It depends. It depends on the company, your location, what types of houses you’re working on, etc. When Sean was working on the coast of North Carolina, he and his team were offering very simple blower door tests and would charge $200 per house. If they had a larger house, say 2,500 square feet, they might charge $225.

If your goal is to work directly with builders on new construction homes to meet energy code requirements, it’s possible to book, per builder, 20+ houses a year and charge $300-$400 per house. The real goal here is to grow and scale by establishing relationships with multiple builders. Imagine if you had multiple builder partnerships, and each builder had 20+ houses that year. Moreover, if you had a partnership with one builder that did 100 houses a year, that averages to 8.3 houses per month; let’s say you charge $300 per house, that’s $2,500 earned in a month from that one builder.

He’s also heard of other companies and other scenarios where the teams have charged as much as $450 per blower door test.

How many appointments could I reasonably take in a day?

Once you’ve got established builder partnerships and are more comfortable working in the industry, it’s possible to take 5-6 appointments in one day.

If you’re doing the math here… $200 per house with 5 appointments in a day, it’s possible to make $1000 in one day. Not every day will look like that, and it depends on your personal work style.

Sean and his team had their work down to a science; they were familiar with the house plans offered by their builder partner so they already knew the square footage of the home and exactly what to expect in terms of air changes per hour. They got into a rhythm and felt confident doing their blower door tests in an efficient way.

How much is blower door equipment?

In its simplest form, the blower door itself is going to be about $3,500. If you buy a duct blaster, that’s going to be about $2,500.

From there, you could decide to go all out and spend another $1,000 on other types of diagnostic energy auditing equipment, but it really depends on the scope of your business.

There is a direct correlation between the equipment you need and the type of blower door testing business you intend to have. If you’re working with builders on new construction homes and code compliance, you could start with just your blower door testing business. That means you can earn the BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage certification, purchase a blower door set, and rock-and-roll.

As you progress, if you start doing more diagnostic testing, combustion safety testing, and workscope development on existing homes, you might choose to upgrade to a whole-house energy auditor, or BPI Building Analyst. In that case, you would want to purchase additional equipment, such as an ambient CO monitor, combustion analyzer, pressure pan, and fan flow meter.

Which BPI Certification should I pursue to become a business owner?

As we said in the previous section, the answer to this question depends on what type of blower door testing business you want to start.

blower door test setup The BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage course is entry-level and will teach you how to physically set up, operate, and perform blower door and duct leakage tests. You will not spend a lot of time learning about building science principles or understanding exactly what the results of the blower door test mean in terms of the greater picture of the house’s energy efficiency. You’ll just be a third party technician helping out a builder who needs a blower door test and needs to hit a certain number to meet energy code requirements. There’s nothing wrong with this pathway; it certainly meets a need in the industry. Your niche would be knocking out large volumes of houses for builders and not necessarily understanding why a blower door test failed on a specific house.

If you want to be able to speak more intelligently about the blower door test results, and offer additional diagnoses throughout the house, then you’ll need to understand building science principles like heat radiation and R-values to make appropriate recommendations for improvement. That’s where BPI Building Analyst comes into play. Specifically, when looking at the difference between the BPI IDL course and the BPI Building Analyst course, you’ll see that the BPI Building Analyst course contains almost twice as much “classroom” content – and that’s the building science.

What are the BPI training formats offered by Everblue?

We offer our BPI Certification packages in two formats:

100% Online – starts with online (self-paced) video modules. Candidates can access the training immediately after registration and will be able to follow along any time 24/7 for 6 months. When you’re ready to take the exam, you’ll simply schedule a day and time to be remotely proctored.
Blended – starts with the same online (self-paced) video modules described above. The biggest difference between the two formats is that you will join us for one day in person to get hands-on experience using the energy auditing equipment that we’ve provided. You’ll also take your certification exam(s) in person in a proctored testing environment at our course location.

How does the remotely proctored BPI exam work?

With the 100% online format of the course, you’ll schedule a day and time to be remotely proctored for your certification exam, meaning that you’ll record yourself in real time on a mobile phone or webcam and stream the video to us. You will need to buy, borrow, or rent equipment and secure a house that meets the BPI standards.

If you’re ready to get started, visit our BPI Training Catalog. If you have additional questions, speak with Sean directly when you call (800) 460-2575.

Image credit: Holtkamp Heating & A/C, Inc.

RESNET RFIs Can Earn the IECC/HERS Compliance Designation

Last week, the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) and International Code Council (ICC) determined that RESNET RFIs (Rating Field Inspectors) can earn the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation when they pass the Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner Certification exam.

There’s a lot to unpack in that statement, like:

Why does this matter?
Who are RESNET RFIs?
How can I become a RESNET RFI?
How is a RESNET RFI different from a RESNET HERS Rater?
Can a RESNET HERS Rater also earn the IECC/HERS Compliance designation?
Where can I find more information about the IECC/HERS Compliance designation?

Growing demand for energy code compliance experts

The IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation combines the energy code knowledge of code officials with the energy efficiency knowledge of RFIs to identify experts in energy code inspection and testing.

The credential leverages the strengths of both organizations to increase the number of qualified individuals available for evaluating energy code compliance and home energy performance.

Since more and more states across the country are starting to adopt and implement strict energy efficiency standards in their building codes, it’s important to have a technical expert on the government side to verify that these standards are being enacted properly.

Who are RESNET RFIs?

An RFI is like an apprentice to a RESNET HERS Rater. This person assists with collecting measurements and performing necessary diagnostic tests throughout a home in order to produce a home energy rating.

How to Become a RESNET RFI

There are five steps to becoming a RESNET Rating Field Inspector.

Download the necessary paperwork. This includes the RFI Field Evaluation Form, the instructions for RESNET Graded Field Evaluation, and the (optional) RFI Photo Documentation Form.
Complete three mentored field inspections observed by a HERS Rater or Candidate Field Assessor. At least 1 inspection must be a rough-in inspection and 1 must be a final inspection. 10 supporting photos must be taken at each home.
Complete a final graded field evaluation after completing the 3 mentored field inspections.
Pass the RESCAZ Simulation Exam through an accredited RESNET Training Provider (like Everblue!)
Pay $50 and complete the RFIIN application

Additional details about each step can be found on the RESNET website.

RESNET RFI vs. RESNET HERS Rater

As I mentioned above, the RESNET Rating Field Inspector designation is a step below the RESNET HERS Rater designation.

RESNET RFI candidates only have to pass the RESNET Combustion Safety Exam and complete three mentored field inspections. HERS Rater candidates, on the other hand, have to pass three certification exams and complete five total ratings before they can earn the certification.

For more information on the process of being a HERS Rater, visit our HERS Rater Certification page.

Can HERS Raters Earn the IECC/HERS Compliance designation?

Yes! In fact, RESNET and ICC made this announcement back in July 2017.

RESNET HERS Raters are indeed able to earn this energy code compliance certification.

In addition to holding an active HERS Rater Certification, one must also hold the ICC Residential Plans Examiner Certification (79).

What exactly is the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation?

IECC/HERS Compliance Specialists verify that the local energy code has been implemented successfully.

By having a background in RESNET HERS ratings and ICC residential building plan examinations, the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialists bring a strong combination of technical knowledge that’s unmatched by any other outsourced party. This is especially valuable to municipalities that face resource constraints.

For more information about the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation, visit the ICC website.

We’ve now covered how to earn the RESNET RFI designation, the RESNET HERS Rater Certification, and the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist designation!

Here at Everblue, we can help you with taking the RESCAZ Simulation Exam (RFIs) and/or all of the RESNET HERS Rater Certification exams. Call us at (800) 460-2575 to talk about which pathway makes the most sense for you.

Learn more about Everblue's RESNET HERS Rater Training

LEED GA vs. LEED AP: Comparing the Difficulty Level of Each Exam

As you research the LEED Credentials, you’ll notice that there are multiple levels of LEED accreditation. All candidates are required to start at the LEED Green Associate level. You may choose to remain a LEED Green Associate (GA) or upgrade to the advanced LEED AP with Specialty level. If you currently work in the green building industry, you might be asking yourself, “What’s really the difference in difficulty level of LEED GA vs. LEED AP?” Let’s dig into it.

LEED Green Associate Knowledge

The LEED Green Associate credential is designed for professionals working in non-technical fields of practice who need to understand the basic framework of the LEED Rating System.

This includes knowing the proper terminology and understanding the difference between concepts like LEED points, LEED credits, and LEED prerequisites.

In short, the LEED Green Associate exam tests a candidate’s knowledge of high-level concepts and requires basic recall of definitions, mission statements, and naming of concepts that are part of the LEED Rating System.

To learn more about this level, visit our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training page.

LEED AP Knowledge

Those who pursue the LEED AP credential, however, typically work on LEED green building projects regularly, in a leadership role, and therefore need to understand more intricate details about how LEED certification works.

This includes:

understanding exactly what strategies will earn LEED points (and how many points to anticipate)
how to plan for a specific level of LEED Certification on a building project
how to document all activities related to the building’s pursuit of LEED Certification

If LEED is a regular part of your job, then you should definitely work toward becoming a LEED AP.

Moreover, LEED AP not only takes a deeper dive into the LEED credit requirements in general; this level literally focuses on a specific type of building. When you pursue LEED AP, you also commit to having specialized knowledge on a certain type of building project.

There are five LEED AP specialties available:

Building Design + Construction
Operations + Maintenance
Interior Design + Construction
Neighborhood Development
Homes

So if you were to choose the LEED AP Building Design + Construction specialty, you would be committing to learning everything there is to know about LEED for new construction building projects, where the focus is on the design and construction phases. You can learn more about this specialty by visiting our LEED AP BD+C exam prep training page.

We also offer a LEED AP O+M exam prep course to help you learn about LEED for existing buildings.

LEED AP BD+C and LEED AP O+M are among the more popular specialty designations.

LEED GA vs. LEED AP Exam Difficulty

The reason why the U.S. Green Building Council requires candidates to first pass the LEED Green Associate exam is because the LEED AP exams build from the foundation presented in LEED GA.

For example, the LEED Green Associate exam might ask, “Which of the following is the name of a credit in the Energy & Atmosphere category?” In this case, you would just have to be familiar with the names of the 11 credits that make up the EA category.

The LEED AP BD+C exam might then ask, “Which of following building strategies would contribute to earning 1 point in the EA category under the Optimize Energy Performance credit?” Here, we’ve narrowed in on the Optimize Energy Performance credit. So you know which of the 11 credits are being asked about from the EA category. Now you have to dive deeper into this specific credit and think about the strategies that can increase energy performance in a building and thus be categorized under this credit.

Regardless of whether you take the LEED GA or LEED AP exam, you will be asked about the LEED credit categories. The number of questions per category may change, as well as the depth of the content. We wrote more about this in our other post on the LEED Exam Outline. There you can better compare LEED GA vs. LEED AP in terms of how many questions are asked on each exam about each LEED credit category.

In summary, the LEED Green Associate exam will test your high-level knowledge and ability to recall basic facts about the LEED Rating System structure. The LEED AP exams, on the other hand, will require more technical understanding of how to earn points on a LEED building project. At the LEED AP level, you are asked to apply the basic principles from LEED GA to theoretical projects.

If you have any questions about getting started with LEED, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Register now for LEED Green Associate Exam Prep

Pros & Cons of the LEED AP Combined Exam Format

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) manages the LEED exam registration process. After you create a free account with USGBC, you can then purchase your LEED exam(s). They offer several options, so read closely. You can register for the LEED Green Associate exam, the LEED AP specialty exam, or the LEED AP combined exam.

Before we get into the pros & cons of the LEED AP combined exam format, you should first understand the process of earning LEED credentials and know that there are a total of 6 possible LEED credentialing exams.

1. All candidates are required to first take and pass the LEED Green Associate exam.

2-6. After you earn the LEED Green Associate credential, you may choose to upgrade to a LEED AP with a Specialty. There are five specialty credentials (exams) available:

LEED AP Building Design + Construction
LEED AP Operations + Maintenance
LEED AP Interior Design + Construction
LEED AP Neighborhood Development
LEED AP Homes

Each exam is comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions.

You are not required to take all six exams! However, you do have the option to bundle the exams together, which brings us to the conversation on the LEED AP combined exam.

What is the LEED AP Combined Exam?

Put simply, the LEED AP Combined Exam is literally the LEED Green Associate exam and the LEED AP specialty exam (of your choice) combined back-to-back.

Why You Might Take the LEED AP Combined Exam (Pros)

There are four key reasons why you might consider taking the LEED AP combined exam:

Fast-track to an advanced LEED credential. If you already work in the green building industry and have a basic understanding of sustainability principles, you might want to jump straight to the LEED AP credential. Passing the LEED AP combined exam is the fastest way to get yourself to the LEED AP level. Not to mention, taking the LEED AP combined exam upfront prevents life from getting in the way. If you know that it’ll benefit your career to be a LEED AP, you should just go for it. It might be difficult to find the time to return to your studies later and to build from knowledge you acquired years ago.
Make the best use of your time. You’ll become comfortable with the “exam prep” mindset as you study for the LEED Green Associate exam; it’s simply more efficient to stay in that mindset and prepare for the next-level exam. The concepts will still be fresh in your mind, and you’ll be able to more easily build on the entry-level Green Associate topics with the advanced topics.
Increase your chances of passing the LEED Green Associate exam. Preparing for the LEED AP exam will make you more likely to pass the LEED Green Associate exam. For both exams, you need to study the rating systems, the credit categories, and the credits themselves. The way the exams are structured, LEED AP simply tests more depth than LEED Green Associate. So by pursuing the LEED AP combined exam, you’ll literally be going above and beyond to make sure that you fully understand the content.
Save money! You’ll save money when you bundle courses and when you bundle exams. At Everblue, we offer a discount for taking the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP courses simultaneously. Visit our LEED Training Bundles page to get started. When you’re ready to register for the LEED exams, you’ll notice that the LEED AP combined exam will save you $50 versus taking the exams individually because you’re only having to submit one application fee to USGBC.

Why You Might NOT Take the LEED AP Combined Exam (Cons)

The LEED AP combined exam option is not for everyone. Here’s a fair warning on why you might want to take the LEED exams separately.

You get test anxiety. If being in a timed environment freaks you out, you may not want to subject yourself to a 4-hour combined exam. The trick with the LEED AP combined exam is that you are expected to pass both parts of the exam. If you fail either part – Green Associate or AP – you walk away empty-handed. You then have to fill out a new application with USGBC to request that they honor the part of the exam that you did pass. Guess what? That’s $50, so if you end up going this route, you didn’t end up saving the $50 mentioned in the Pros section. Alternatively, you can just retake the part of the exam that you failed (which would be a new exam fee paid to USGBC).
You work in a non-technical field of practice. That’s literally who the LEED Green Associate role was designed for. Typically, LEED APs hold leadership roles on LEED building projects and therefore have to have the depth of knowledge to complete project documentation, set goals, delegate responsibilities, etc. But if you work in an administrative or communications role that would benefit from understanding the LEED jargon, you might be satisfied with just taking and passing the LEED Green Associate exam. If your responsibilities at work change down the line, or you set your eyes on a promotion, you can always go after the LEED AP credential when you’re ready.

If you’re like me, you like to celebrate small victories. What I mean by that is, I’m quite happy to celebrate my LEED Green Associate achievement. For my role at Everblue, it’s not necessary that I become a LEED AP. So for now, I’m satisfied with being a LEED Green Associate. If I go on to take & pass the LEED AP exam, that’ll just be another thing to celebrate!

Another benefit to taking the LEED Green Associate exam on its own is the fact that we offer a Pass Guarantee. If you take the LEED Green Associate exam within 30 days of completing our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep package and fail the exam, we will pay for your exam retake. We’re encouraging you to dip your toes in the water without fear. We will be there to help you along the way and set you on the path to success.

NABCEP PV Associate Training Program Includes Cost of Exam

Welcome to Everblue Training! We’re an approved training provider for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), a nonprofit organization that certifies solar-industry professionals. NABCEP offers three entry-level solar credentials and eight advanced certifications. If you’re looking to transition into the solar industry, NABCEP PV Associate training is a strong starting point.

To earn one of the advanced NABCEP certifications, you’ll have to pass an exam, which requires a two-part fee paid directly to NABCEP. Part one is the application fee ($125), where you prove that you’ve met the education and work experience prerequisites. Part two is the actual exam fee ($375).

Before you even get to that point, however, you should first consider pursuing the NABCEP PV Associate credential. What’s great about the NABCEP PV Associate training package is that it includes everything you need to earn the credential, in one fee. Unlike the advanced NABCEP certifications, you can pay one time for the package, which includes the training hours AND the exam fee.

Keep reading to learn how that’s possible…

What is the NABCEP PV Associate credential?

The NABCEP Associate program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation, and operation of photovoltaic (PV), solar heating, or small wind energy systems.

NABCEP PV Associate, then, is the entry-level credential for a solar practitioner who specializes in photovoltaics. The NABCEP PV Associate Job Task Analysis (JTA) includes five knowledge content domains:

Application
Sales and Economics
Design
Installation
Operation and Maintenance

Who should become a NABCEP PV Associate?

NABCEP PV Associates fill a wide range of entry-level positions within the solar industry, and the extent of their duties may vary considerably.

Most often, those working or seeking employment in the renewable energy industry start with the NABCEP PV Associate training. That includes:

students in renewable energy programs
workers at an early stage in their renewable energy career
experienced professionals (electricians, roofers, firefighters) who are new to the renewable energy field
those in renewable energy jobs for which there is no professional certification

Why become a NABCEP PV Associate?

The top reasons why you should earn the NABCEP PV Associate credential include:

adding a marketable credential to your resume
showing employers that you’ve committed to the solar industry
highlighting your proficiency and understanding of fundamental solar principles
becoming a safer hiring choice for employers because you’ve already been trained

In addition, your passing score on the NABCEP PV Associate exam (and the accompanying NABCEP PV Associate training) can both be used as prerequisites if you decide to upgrade to advanced NABCEP solar installer certification.

How to Qualify for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam

To earn the NABCEP PV Associate credential, you must qualify through one of these two pathways:

Education = taking an approved course (like ours) that covers the NABCEP Associate JTA, or
Work = 6 months of documented full-time work experience in a role related to the NABCEP Associate JTA

Start Today with NABCEP PV Associate Training from Everblue

As we mentioned earlier, Everblue is an approved NABCEP training provider. So when you take our NABCEP PV Associate training package, you are well on your way to qualifying for the NABCEP PV Associate exam using the Education pathway.

Because we are a “NABCEP Associate Registered Training Provider,” we are responsible for verifying your participation and completion of the NABCEP PV Associate training program.

As this relates to the NABCEP Associate exam, we work directly with NABCEP to confirm your completion of the program, which is to say that we initiate the exam process on your behalf. When you’re ready to take the exam, you can be proctored in person at a Scantron testing center or by using the live online proctoring option. The NABCEP Certification exam is available internationally.

Since we get the exam process started for you, we include the cost of the exam in the NABCEP PV Associate training program. That way, it’s a one-stop-shop experience for you, and we’re able to seamlessly transition you into the exam process without tacking on any unexpected costs.

In a recent webinar with NABCEP, they shared that about 10,000 people have the NABCEP PV Associate credential. While that may sound like a lot, let’s look at the big picture. Forbes and the E2 Clean Jobs America report found that nearly 335,000 people work in the solar industry. So only about 3% of solar professionals currently have the NABCEP PV Associate credential. By earning this designation, you can quickly stand out from the crowd!

What’s holding you back from beginning your career in solar? Simply start today with the NABCEP PV Associate training program, and we will walk you through every step in the journey!

If you have any questions, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.

Solar Technician Training is the First Step to a Career in Solar

Welcome! Here at Everblue, we offer solar technician training that cover the fundamentals of solar installation, design, and sales. Head on over to our Solar Course Catalog to see our full list of offerings.

Here, I’m going to explain exactly what solar technician training is. To do so, we first have to get on the same page about what a solar technician is.

What is a Solar Technician?

By definition, a technician is a person employed to look after technical equipment or do practical work. A solar technician, then, is a person who is skilled with wires, circuits, solar panels, inverters, and similar technical equipment.

Oftentimes, the word “solar technician” is used interchangeably with “solar installer,” but it’s reasonable to equate other professions in the solar workforce to a technician, such as solar salespeople, solar PV system designers, and solar project managers. At the end of the day, each of these occupations requires a proficient level of ability to handle the solar equipment and practically apply solar energy principles to make it all work together.

Types of Solar Technician Training

First you’ll want to understand all the different career pathways in the solar workforce to see if you can narrow in on a specific skillset or role. Otherwise, saying that you want solar technician training can actually be a bit vague – what exact position are you aiming for?

The solar industry began with solar technicians that I’d describe as a “jack of all trades.” In other words, the early adopters of solar really had to understand all the different aspects of a solar PV system because there were few others who knew enough to help with the project. It was a one-man job.

As the solar industry has grown, the workforce has expanded to accommodate many more careers. You’re less likely to find a job that requires a solar technician who does all the work by himself from start to finish (unless you work for a small startup company). Nowadays, you’re more likely to join a team of solar professionals who each specialize in their own part of the project.

solar technician training industries map

So let’s think a little more specific than “solar technician training.” What exactly do you want to do?

Solar Course Options

Our IREC-accredited solar technician training courses prepare you for a specific role in the solar workforce.

If you’re brand new to solar – we recommend that you start with our PV101 Solar PV Associate course, where you’ll learn about DC to AC power conversions, PV system sizing, PV system components, and safety.

To take a deeper dive into the solar job of your dreams, you’ll then want to consider one (or more) of our advanced solar technician training classes. These courses are labeled PV2XX to show that they are a second-level course.

PV201 Solar Installer – this course covers grid-tied and off-grid installation technique, including grounding, wiring, mounting, labeling, commissioning, and troubleshooting
PV202 Solar Design – this course covers the strategy behind a successful solar installation, including customer expectations, project criteria, mechanical & electrical design, system monitoring, project documentation, permits, and approvals
PV203 Solar Sales – this course covers more of the business side of solar, including customer motivations, client energy analysis, tax incentives, solar renewable energy credits, grants, net metering, return on investment, and common customer questions

If you want to be a real rockstar in the solar workforce, or are that lone wolf at your small solar startup, you might be best-served with bundling these courses together for a master solar technician training experience. You can bundle any of these solar courses and get 5% off each course! No coupon code required. You’ll automatically see savings in your shopping cart when you bundle.

If you have any questions about solar technician training, you’re in the right spot! Here at Everblue, we’ve been helping people like you join the solar workforce and improve their skills for over 10 years. Give us a call at (800) 460-2575 if you have any questions about solar training.

LEED Certification Study Materials Save You Time & Stress

Welcome to Everblue, where we offer best-in-class LEED certification study materials and LEED exam prep!

Why do you need LEED certification study materials?

Simple. The LEED Green Associate exam highlights 100+ topics in green building and pulls from the U.S. Green Building Council’s pool of 1000+ questions. No two LEED exams are alike, and the USGBC does not publicize its test questions. They’re trying to gauge whether you have a broad understanding of how LEED certification works, and they’re not going to spoon-feed the information to you.

How could you possibly know it all? This is why LEED certification study materials will be your greatest asset to earning a LEED professional credential.

We’ve been a USGBC Education Partner from the start, and we’ve helped thousands of people pass their LEED exams for over 10 years. We’ve got this down to a science, literally. The USGBC will not spoon-feed the LEED testable knowledge to you, but we will!

The benefit of taking the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep is that we cut out all the fluff that you would have otherwise spent time on and only focus on the important, testable knowledge.

Which LEED certification study materials do you need?

Here’s the thing – LEED certification study materials are great, but too much of a good thing can be overwhelming.

Realistically, will you be spending the next month reading a 600+ page book, listening to an 8-hour MP3 podcast, reading and answering 1000+ practice questions, reviewing 500+ flashcards, etc? No, you won’t. That’s insane and will literally make the process of studying for your LEED exam way more complicated and stressful.

LEED Certification study materials graphic

Tip: Stick to 1-3 LEED certification study materials that have reasonable expectations of your time.

Buying every single study aid you find will do no good if you don’t use them. Commit to a few strategies that you can reasonably fit into your work/life schedule.

Here are the LEED certification study materials that we offer:

We provide an all-inclusive LEED exam prep package that comes with an instructor-led training course and the following study aids…

Study Pacing Guide – an outline that helps organize your thoughts in terms of planning how you will study, how many days to study, how long to study each day, exactly what concept you should be studying, and when to give yourself a break
250 LEED GA Practice Questions – multiple-choice questions (broken down by LEED credit category) that reinforce knowledge presented in our accompanying course. You’ll receive feedback after every question, explaining why each answer choice was incorrect and why the right answer was in fact correct.
3 LEED GA Practice Tests – multiple-choice questions modeled after the LEED Green Associate exam format. Just like the real exam, you will not receive feedback after every question. This is the true test of knowing whether you are ready to schedule and take your LEED exam or if you need to go back and review the course/practice questions.

These LEED certification study materials are available in a digital format for every person who registers for our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep – whether you purchase the online (self-paced) package or the live package.

Are study aids enough to prepare for the LEED exam?

It may be tempting to try a shortcut, such as only studying from practice questions, but let’s think critically about this…

Practice questions are inherently designed to reinforce knowledge that you’ve already been introduced to.

If you rely solely on practice questions to learn the material, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not being introduced to the content in the proper way.

By design, practice questions offer a snippet, or fun fact, about a concept. You only get part of the picture from the practice question alone. You’ll be far more successful if you take the time to follow along with a presentation or webinar that guides you through the who/what/where/why/how of a concept. Then, when you’re faced with the corresponding practice question, you pull from your database of knowledge and have a better contextual understanding of what the question is actually asking.

Over the last decade, we’ve found that people are most successful when they pair training and study aids in their LEED exam preparation efforts. For this reason, we include the LEED certification study materials with our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep packages.

If you have any questions on how to prepare for the LEED exam, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.