ImagineSolar First in Nation to Pilot NABCEP's Alternative Experience Pathway for their PV Exam

ImagineSolar, Texas's premier solar and smart grid training organization, is pleased to announce that it is the first in the nation selected to pilot the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners' (NABCEP) Skilled Electrician Alternative PV Installation Experience Pathway.

Austin, TX - ImagineSolar, Texas's premier solar and smart grid training organization, is pleased to announce that it is the first in the nation selected to pilot the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners' (NABCEP) Skilled Electrician Alternative PV Installation Experience Pathway.


"The reason that this training program was selected as our first Alternative Experience Pathway pilot in North America was because of the ability of the AEJATC and its IBEW and NECA partners to cooperate with the well-established and recognized solar training organization, ImagineSolar," stated Ezra Auerbach, NABCEP's Executive Director, "This program is bringing well-qualified journeyman electricians into the solar economy."

ImagineSolar's workshop, PV 330: Project Field Experience Workshop consists of both classroom time and field work in which participants lead the design and installation of grid-interactive solar electric systems.

"We are building a qualified workforce that the public can trust has the expertise to design and install safe, code-compliant solar electric systems" said Michael Kuhn, ImagineSolar's President and CEO. "We are honored that NABCEP has chosen us to lead this ground-breaking program. Our electrical contractors completed an extensive, tough, training curriculum where they installed a total of five solar electric systems within 120 hours of training based on NABCEP task analysis and ISPQ workforce education best practices."

To date, 24 journeyman electricians have completed the full training roadmap and 18 sat for the September NABCEP PV Installer Certification exam in Texas. Wherever these graduates install solar electric systems, their customers can be confident that they will be provided safe, high quality system designs and workmanship.

"We are proud that the solar training roadmap and the state-of-the-art Solar Field Lab, designed by ImagineSolar, have enabled our members to be approved to sit for the NABCEP Certified PV Installer Exam," stated Gilbert Ferrales, Training Director for the AEJATC. "None of this would have been possible if not for the Department of Labor Green Jobs Training Grant we were awarded earlier this year. The grant award was the result of our close working partnership with the local workforce investment board, Workforce Solutions Capitol Area, and ImagineSolar."

Providing journeyman electricians with means to gain NABCEP certification is one way that ImagineSolar is doing its part to build the renewable energy workforce.

"ImagineSolar provided not only a pathway to the NABCEP Certification Exam but also in-depth installation experience on cutting edge solar technology including AC-coupled bimodal systems, micro-inverters, dual-axis trackers, and cylindrical CIGS modules as well as traditional solar technology," said Jack Payne, Owner, B.J. Electric, and a member of the AEJATC Board of Trustees.

About ImagineSolar
ImagineSolar, your solar intelligence company, is engaged in catalyzing the rapid growth of the clean/smart/renewable energy industries through PV system projects, workforce training programs, advocacy, and consulting. ImagineSolar clients include commercial accounts, contractors, project developers, new ventures, utilities, investors, government agencies and non-profits. For more information about ImagineSolar, please visit www.imaginesolar.com.

About Austin Electric Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee
The Austin Electric JATC is jointly sponsored by the Central Texas Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association and IBEW Local Union #520. The AEJATC leads the Comprehensive-National Electrician Solar Training (C-NEST) Initiative that combines utility-scale and commercial solar installation training. For more information about the AEJATC, please visit http://www.ibew520.org/page/page/1058543.htm.

About NABCEP
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives that includes representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certificants, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades. Each member of the board was chosen because of his or her experience and involvement in the solar energy industry. NABCEP's mission - to support, and work with, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholders-is intended to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners.

NABCEP's goal is to develop voluntary national certification programs that will:
* Promote renewable energy;
* Provide value to practitioners;
* Promote worker safety and skill; and
* Promote consumer confidence
NABCEP is committed to providing a certification program of quality and integrity for the professionals and consumer/public it is designed to serve. Professionals who choose to become certified demonstrate their competence in the field and their commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice. For more information about NABCEP, please visit www.nabcep.org.

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