How to begin your solar career – NABCEP PV Associate Program
PV Week at the MREA—Earn your NABCEP PV Associate Credential in One week!
PV Week at MREA in Custer, WI
Come to our headquarters in Custer, WI, and earn your NABCEP PV Associate credential in just one week. Class starts at 9:00 and ends at 5:00 each day, and courses are taught by NABCEP-certified and experienced PV professionals.
- Monday: Basic Photovoltaics (PV 101)
- Tuesday: PV Site Assessment (PV 201)
- Wednesday & Thursday: PV System Design (PV 202)
- Friday: PV Exam Prep (PV 220) & NABCEP PV Associate Exam
Upon completion of this series, you’ll be qualified and ready to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam. When you pass the exam, you are a solar professional!
Package Details
Courses Included in this Package
You will be taking 4 in-person courses over one week (Monday – Friday). On Friday afternoon you will have the opportunity to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam.
Participants in this eight-hour course will study the fundamentals of electricity, learn how photovoltaic (PV) cells and systems work, explore the different sizes and types of PV systems, and identify the components and equipment needed for each type of system.
Course Details
This eight-hour course demonstrates how to perform a residential or small commercial PV site assessment. Participants will learn how to perform a load analysis and make energy efficiency recommendations, determine the best location for a PV array given the site’s solar resource and available mounting options, and identify a proper location for the balance of system components.
Course Details
This 16-hour course teaches the step-by-step process of designing a PV system. Participants will learn about system sizing strategies based on a number of variables, selecting appropriate equipment for each system type, analyzing data from a site assessment in the design process, planning the physical layout of the array, choosing a mounting method, applying relevant building and electrical code requirements, and calculating electrical values of system voltage, current, power, and energy production
Course Details
This four-hour course is for those who are ready to take the NABCEP PV Associate exam, or any entry-level exam in photovoltaics. We’ll discuss test-taking strategies, review the logistics of the NABCEP PV Associate exam, and use a practice exam to prepare you for test day.
Course Details
Upon completion of MREA’s PV Week, students will meet the requirements to sit for the NABCEP PV Associate Exam and earn their entry-level credential. The NABCEP PV Associate Program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation, and operation of Photovoltaic energy systems.
The NABCEP Associate Program is intended for individuals working or seeking employment in the renewable energy industry, including students in renewable energy programs, workers at an early stage in their renewable energy career, experienced professionals new to the renewable energy field, or those in renewable energy jobs for which there is no professional certification.
Obtaining this credential is most often the first step toward a NABCEP Board Certification or added recognition in a field with many career paths to pursue.
Continuing Education
This course package is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS).
Please Note:
*Continuing education credits are only available when this course is taught in-person by one of our state-approved instructors. Please check with the MREA to confirm approval by emailing us at courses@midwestrenew.org.
Please Note:
*Continuing education credits are only available when this course is taught in-person by one of our state-approved instructors. Please check with the MREA to confirm approval by emailing us at courses@midwestrenew.org.
What is the NABCEP PV Associate Credential?
The NABCEP PV Associate Program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation, and operation of Photovoltaic energy systems. Pursuing MREA’s entry-level solar training and obtaining your NABCEP PV Associate Credential opens doors to promising career opportunities in the rapidly growing solar industry while ensuring a recognized standard of expertise in renewable energy technologies. NABCEP’s Associate Program is beneficial for those new to the industry, installers, experienced workforce personnel, employers, and the public. Possessing a NABCEP Associate Credential signals your commitment to a career in renewables to potential employers.
