Instructor: Sean White        Subjects: Solar: Design and Installation, Solar: NABCEP, Solar: Certification Prep         Length: 6 modules

STUDENT RATING

Rating: 9.2/10
1,381 students have taken this course

LEARNING ONLINE
PRICE $795

DESCRIPTION
Pass your NABCEP exam the first time - Guaranteed We specialize in preparing students for the NABCEP PV Associate exam and our 98% student success rate proves how valuable this course is in helping you pass on your first try. In fact, we guarantee that you'll pass on the first try and if you don't we will refund your exam fee or let you take the exam again at no charge.

REGISTER NOW!

Electricians, contractors, or career-changers: learn the fundamentals of solar PV systems and get expert help prepping for and passing the NABCEP Photovoltaic (PV) Associate Exam. You'll have access to an expert instructor, lecture videos, useful resources and practice quizzes to help you pass the NABCEP PV Associate exam and earn this well recognized industry credential.

The instructor for this course, Sean White, is one of HeatSpring's most popular and highest rated instructors. He is available to answer questions on the discussion board while you work through the course materials. He is extremely responsive and answers questions in great detail. He is an IREC Master Trainer, was named 2014 Clean Energy Trainer of the Year, travels around the world to teach seminars on solar technology, served on the NABCEP technical committee, and recently published two books on solar design and installation.

HeatSpring is an Accredited NABCEP Provider and a NABCEP PV Associate Exam provider.

When you finish this course, you will be eligible to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. The exam can now be taken at home via Live Online Proctoring on your own computer or at any of the 1,350 Scantron testing centers in the world. Learn more about NABCEP Exams.

Not Included - Exam Fee
The NABCEP PV Associate Exam fee is a separate fee charged by NABCEP when scheduling your exam after you have completed the course. After completing the course and earning a certificate of completion, students can optionally submit a NABCEP application and $150 exam fee in the last module of the course. We guarantee that you will pass the exam on your first try, if you don't we will refund the $150 exam fee or let you take the exam again at no charge.

To earn 18 Advanced NABCEP credits, you will need to complete the course AND pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam.
This only applies you are planning to sit for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification exam or other NABCEP PV Certification exams, AND you need the 18 hours of Advanced PV Training credit for this course. If that is the case then you must pass the PV Associate Exam in order for the 18 hours to be valid with NABCEP.

To get the most out of this course, you should also buy a copy of Sean White's book: Solar Photovoltaic Basics: A Study Guide for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. The book covers the basics of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and focuses on preparation for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. You can buy the book online for about $35, we provide a link in the course for some options.

Get your NABCEP credential the easy way.

The sooner you get your NABCEP credential, the sooner you are on your way to a lucrative career. We can help you pass the NABCEP PV Associate and get you on your way to a NABCEP PV Certification. Not to mention delivering to you the important professional grade knowledge you need to be successful in the industry.

PREVIEW THE COURSE MATERIAL
Foundational Course For Solar Installers
We packed this course with detailed information that will enable you to begin designing and installing solar systems.

Earn 18 Advanced NABCEP Credits
In order to claim their 18 advanced NABCEP credits, students MUST pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam after completing this course.

NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Credential
After you complete the course, you can schedule your NABCEP PV Associate Exam by submitting an application and paying the $150 exam fee. You can schedule your exam for whenever you feel adequately prepared and have time available. The exam can now be taken at home via Live Online Proctoring on your own computer or you can take it any of the 1,350 Scantron testing centers worldwide.

We Guarantee You Will Pass the NABCEP PV Associate Exam and Our Students Have 98% Success Rate
Over 98% of HeatSpring students who take the NABCEP PV Associate exam pass! We are so confident you will pass that if you don't we will refund the $150 exam fee or let you take the exam again at no additional charge. The NABCEP PV Associate credential is recognized throughout the solar industry.

Self Paced Online Course
This online course is self-paced. You can begin instantly upon enrollment.

Access Information and Build Your Training Library
After enrolling, the course materials will remain in your account and be accessible 12 months (1 year) after enrollment. Access can be extended beyond 1 year with a monthly membership. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world.

Earn A Certificate of Completion
When you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.

INSTRUCTOR

Sean White
2014 IREC Trainer of the Year

Sean White was the 2014 Interstate Renewable Energy Council Trainer of the Year. He is an ISPQ Certified Solar PV Master Trainer and has authored several books on solar. He contributed to the development of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Job Task Analysis and has been a member of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Technical Committee. Sean is a highly-experienced PV educator with thousands of hours teaching entry level, intermediate, and advanced PV classes at solar training centers throughout the world. Many thousands of his students are employed at both startup and leading solar companies. Sean also designs commercial and residential PV systems.

COURSE OUTLINE
Welcome - Orientation Materials
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

• Introduction to HeatSpring (Video - 01:25 minutes) PREVIEW
• Purchase the book for this course: "Solar Photovoltaic Basics: A Study Guide for the NABCEP Associate Exam 2nd Edition" (Resource)
• NABCEP PV Associate Candidate Eligibility Form (Download .pdf)
• Important Note on 18 Advanced NABCEP Credits (Text)
• Corona Announcement: All NABCEP Exams can be taken at home (Text)
• Set up email notifications and your student profile (Text)
• Connect with your instructor Sean on LinkedIn (Resource)
• Audio versions of lectures are located in: Optional Materials (Text)
• Introduce yourself on the discussion board (Text)
• Discussion Board Request from Sean (Text)
• 2017 NEC Free Download (Resource)
• Solar Market Report Summary (Download .pdf)
• Go-At-Your-Own-Pace (Text)
• Live Online Proctoring (LOP) for All NABCEP Exams! (Text)
• PV Boot Camp Presentation Slides (Resource)

Module 1 - History of Solar, Markets and Applications for Solar PV, and Safety Basics
This week you'll learn about the beginnings of solar PV technology, current markets and applications for the technology, and the basic safety considerations and requirements for solar PV installers. Topics include: different types of PV systems, OSHA, National Electrical Code (NEC), arc flashes, overcurrent protection devices, fall protection, and lockout-tagout (LOTO).

• Review: NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Exam Job Task Analysis (JTA) (Resource)
• Read Chapter 1 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV Markets and Applications (Text)
• History of Solar PV (Video - 13:56 minutes) PREVIEW
• PV Markets and Applications Part 1 (Video - 14:46 minutes) PREVIEW
• PV Markets and Applications Part 2 (Video - 19:03 minutes)
• PV Markets and Applications Part 3 (Video - 20:00 minutes) PREVIEW
• Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
• PV Price Per Watt (Text)
• Read Chapter 2 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Safety Basics (Text)
• Safety Basics Part 1 (Video - 22:58 minutes)
• Safety Basics Part 2 (Video - 24:37 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
• Week 1 Quiz (Quiz)

Module 2 - Electricity Basics + Solar Energy Fundamentals
This week covers concepts, definitions, terminology, and formulas related to electricity. It also lays out the science, data, and principles you must understand to grasp how solar energy is collected. Topics include: Ohm's Law, power, energy, voltage, current, batteries, multimeters, measurement, types of DC connections, transmission, insolation data, solar time, sun paths, shading, and solar radiation.

• Read Chapter 3 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Electricity Basics (Text)
• Electricity Basics Video 1 (Video - 29:46 minutes)
• Electricity Basics Video 2 (Video - 21:20 minutes)
• PV Math Quiz (20 questions) (Quiz)
• Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
• Read Chapter 4 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Solar Energy Fundamentals (Text)
• Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 1 (Video - 27:29 minutes)
• Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 2 (Video - 29:43 minutes)
• Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 3 (Video - 21:42 minutes)
• Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 4 (Video - 28:47 minutes) PREVIEW
• Solar Energy Fundamentals Video 5 (Video - 30:49 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
• Solar Energy Fundamentals Quiz (Quiz)

Module 3 - PV Module Fundamentals and System Components
This week covers how solar photovoltaic (PV) technology works, the materials used to make PV modules, module efficiency, important formulas, temperature and voltage considerations, and how to test a PV system. It also provides definitions for the primary components that comprise a solar PV system.

• Read Chapter 5 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV Module Fundamentals (Text)
• PV Module Fundamentals - Part 1 (Video - 30:08 minutes)
• PV Module Fundamentals - Part 2 (Video - 51:15 minutes)
• PV Module Fundamentals - Part 3 (Video - 29:18 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
• Read Chapter 6 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - System Components (Text)
• System Components - Part 1 (Video - 55:11 minutes)
• System Components - Part 2 (Video - 27:36 minutes)
• System Components - Part 3 (Video - 44:05 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
• Week 3 Quiz PV Module Fundamentals and System Components (Quiz)

Module 4 - PV System Sizing and Electrical Design
This week covers the factors to consider when sizing a grid-tied or off-grid system, system losses, tilt, factors that increase or decrease PV system output, single-line diagrams, ampacity, Ohm's Law, voltage drop, charge controllers, AC- and DC-coupled battery systems, battery charging stages, overcurrent protection devices, and determining voltage ranges.

• Read Chapter 7 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV System Sizing Principles (Text)
• PV System Sizing - Part 1 (Video - 38:10 minutes)
• PV System Sizing - Part 2 (Video - 38:56 minutes)
• PV System Sizing - Part 3 (Video - 36:24 minutes)
• PV System Sizing - PVWatts Part 1 (Video - 40:13 minutes)
• PV System Sizing - PV Watts Part 2 (Video - 25:49 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
• Read Chapter 8 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV System Electrical Design (Text)
• PV System Electrical Design Part 1 (Video - 38:41 minutes)
• PV System Electrical Design Part 2 (Video - 40:20 minutes)
• PV System Electrical Design Part 3 (Video - 50:30 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
• Week 4 Quiz (Quiz)

Module 5 - Solar PV Components and Complete Systems
Beginning with a close-up look at each element of grid-tied and off-grid systems, including: modules, inverters, charge controllers, batteries and more, these elements are then configured into complete systems. We'll also cover series and parallel wiring for batteries, and interaction between charge controllers and batteries.

• Read Chapter 9 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - PV System Mechanical Design (Text)
• PV System Mechanical Design - Part 1 (1 of 3) (Video - 39:33 minutes)
• PV System Mechanical Design - Part 1 (2 of 3) (Video - 43:32 minutes)
• PV System Mechanical Design - Part 1 (3 of 3) (Video - 20:44 minutes)
• PV System Mechanical Design - Part 2 (1 of 2) (Video - 38:06 minutes)
• PV System Mechanical Design - Part 2 (2 of 2) (Video - 37:24 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #1 (Text)
• Read Chapter 10 in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" - Performance Analysis, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting (Text)
• Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting (Video - 54:05 minutes)
• Required Discussion Board Post #2 (Text)
• Quiz Week 5 (Quiz)

Module 6 - Voltage Temperature Calculations + Practice Exams
This week, you'll learn about voltage temperature calculations, review some useful resources and take exams to see how well you've mastered the material presented during the course. These exams can be repeated here as many times as you want and are highly recommended to be used to prepare for the NABCEP PVA exam! Note: Since 2019, NABCEP has not had any voltage temperature calculations on their PVA exams.

• Read Special Section - Voltage Temperature Calculations in "Solar Photovoltaic Basics" (Text)
• String Sizing no longer on NABCEP PVA exam (Text)
• String Sizing - Voltage Temperature Calculations Part 1 (Video - 35:41 minutes)
• String Sizing - Voltage Temperature Calculations Part 2 (Video - 01:05:36 hours)
• String Sizing Quiz (Quiz)
• Resource: SolSmart Permitting (Resource)
• Exam 1 70 questions (Quiz)
• Exam 1 Answers with detailed explanations (Download .pdf)
• Exam 2 75 Questions (Quiz)
• Exam 2 Answers with detailed explanations (Download .pdf)
• Exam 3 74 Questions (Quiz)
• Exam 3 Answers with detailed explanations (Download .pdf)

Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

• Corona Announcement: All NABCEP Exams can be taken at home (Text)
• NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Exam Candidate Information Form (Download .pdf)
• Submit Your NABCEP PV Associate Application and Schedule Your Exam (Text)
• Lots of additional optional videos and audio recordings (Resource)
• Important Reminder on 18 Advanced NABCEP Credits (Text)
• List of Scantron Worldwide Test Site Cities (Resource)
• NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Exam Learning Objectives (Resource)
• Associate Exam New Material (Text)
• Passing score on a NABCEP Associate Examination (Text)
• Introducing Bill Brooks! (Video - 14:40 minutes)
• 1 Year of Access to Course Materials (Text)
• Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey (Survey)
• Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member (Resource)
• Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate (Certificate)

CONTACT US

Mr. Jun Yin
Tel: +86-021-33683167*810
Email: office@snec.org.cn