Chapter 4 Procedures for Certification of Practitioners
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hapter 4 provides procedures and guidelines for developing and implementing a quality certification framework for PV installation and maintenance technicians.
Chapter Objectives ❚ Understand certification framework. ❚ Define the local implementation of the knowledge and skills evaluation process. ❚ Evaluate local certification maintenance procedures. ❚ Practice certification procedures
4.1 Knowledge Evaluation and Examination To ensure that practitioners certified under this framework have the knowledge necessary to properly, efficiently, and safely perform the installation and maintenance work for which they are certified, it is necessary that they demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the subject material by passing a standard examination and evaluation. The knowledge competency evaluation and examination questions are carefully developed and maintained to ensure that they accurately test an individual’s proficiency at the level of knowledge and skills appropriate to the level of certification for which they are candidates. The examination and evaluation are rigorous, but they are not designed or intended to fail candidates through trickery or needlessly difficult or obscure questions. The intent is to provide assurances in the market that those holding a certification are knowledgeable, professional, and capable. Without such assurances of quality, the certification has no value. Although the written examination is standardized in terms of the knowledge and understanding that the candidate must demonstrate for the minimum competencies for the level of certification sought, the examinations must be adapted for local use (for example, for language, code requirements, and social issues). The country’s administrative organization is responsible for adapting the examination, in consultation with industry and other relevant actors.
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4.2 Skills Evaluation To ensure that practitioners certified under this framework have the skills necessary to properly, efficiently, and safely perform the installation and maintenance work for which they are certified, it is necessary that the candidates demonstrate these skills and their understanding of the appropriate standards, practices, and safety issues through a skills competency evaluation by a qualified proctor or instructor. The skills competency evaluation and examination metrics are carefully developed and maintained to ensure that they accurately test an individual’s proficiency at the level of PV skills appropriate to the level of certification for which they are being trained and tested. Although more subjective than a written examination, the evaluation uses a standardized checklist of skills, installation and maintenance, and safety practices to measure the candidate’s skills competency. (See box 4.1, Sample Skills Evaluation Form.) The skills evaluation is rigorous, but it is not designed or intended to fail candidates through trickery or needlessly difficult or obscure presentation. The intent is to provide assurances in the market that those holding a certification are professional and capable. Without such assurances of quality, the certification has no value.
4.3 Receiving Certification Upon successful completion of the knowledge examination and skills evaluation, the candidate receives a provisional certification. The credential becomes a full certification once the candidate has demonstrated and documented their appropriate participation in three actual field installations within one year. The installations may have been performed prior to the training and examination. The candidate may present evidence of such systems experience at the time of examination and receive a full certification. Candidates without sufficient previous field experience would be upgraded from a provisional certification to a full certification upon presenting evidence of the required participation in qualified field installations. All certifications, however, would be probationary for one year after the initial approval of the certification (provisional or full certification).
4.4 Implementation of the Quality Certification Framework Once the administrative infrastructure is in place, the business systems are operating, the industry and interested actors have evaluated the framework, and the training materials have been adapted to the local market, the next step is to pilot-test the certification framework. To better control and evaluate the system, it is wise to identify a single training organization and Certification for the PV Installation and Maintenance Practitioner
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work through the process in the steps in figure 4.1, Certification Process. The framework is ready for full implementation once (a) the pilot test is completed and evaluated; (b) the process has been modified to accommodate issues and concerns that arose in the course of the pilot test; (c) the first organization has received at least a provisional accreditation, and (d) the first practitioners have received at least a provisional certification. Before proceeding, however, it would be necesBox 4.1: Sample Skills Evaluation Form sary to evaluate the immediate demand Skills Evaluation Form against the auditing and administrative Installer II: Large Stand-Alone Systems resources, to ensure that the process is implemented smoothly and that no Preliminary Tasks organization has an inappropriate ❚ Review safety issues, procedures, and equipment advantage in receiving an accreditation ❚ Review system plans and drawings too far in advance of its competition. ❚ Review equipment checklist ❚ Determine location of system components
4.5 Maintaining PV Practitioner Certification The certification is valid only for a period of three years, with annual requirements for continuing education (based on an approved number of credits successfully completed in accredited continuing education courses) and maintenance of skills through participation in field installations (for example, participated in, or managed, three installations per year, depending on the level of certification). The first certification would be probationary for one year. The Continuing Education policy requires the individual to earn and submit an annual average, over three years, of a minimum of 16 contact hours (for example, two days) of continuing education and to pay a maintenance fee each year. In addition, the practitioner must participate, at an appropriate level of responsibility, in a minimum of three PV installations each year and must submit appropriate documentation each year during a fixed three-year certification period. Failure to comply with this policy could result in suspension or revocation of an individual’s certification.
System Preparation ❚ Prewire array panels according to design ❚ Install bypass and blocking diodes as needed ❚ Inventory photovoltaic system equipment and supplies ❚ Determine sequence of system installation ❚ Verify procedure for mounting at chosen location ❚ Verify location, orientation, and inclination of array ❚ Review plans for issues overlooked in design System Installation ❚ Install PV array ❚ Install array wiring to DC combiner box ❚ Install wiring in DC combiner box ❚ Connect blocking diodes and fuses as necessary ❚ Connect PV modules and panels in parallel or series configuration per system design ❚ Check that system design specifies proper wire type and size for specific application ❚ Attach modules and panels to mounting brackets ❚ Attach mounting brackets to support structure ❚ Inspect and pretests modules and panels System Commissioning ❚ Instruct system owner on system operation, maintenance, and limitations ❚ Charge and discharge battery (if part of system) ❚ Inspect all system components to verify proper operation ❚ Complete final inspection ❚ Complete checklist to verify integrity of system installation ❚ Deliver all warranty information and component documentation to customer
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Maintaining a certification in good standing requires more than continuing education, field experience, and paying annual dues, though. It also requires continuing adherence to the Code of Ethics and acceptable business practices, documented through customer records and additional relevant information from Figure 4.1 appropriate sources. Certification Process If a certified practitioner fails to meet the minimum requirements for maintaining a certification in good standing at the end of three years, they must retake Accept accreditation application the knowledge examination and be reevaluated in a from one trainer or training body skills examination to attain a probationary certification. This probation would be for a period of one year, in which time the candidate would be required Perform audit cycle to address and relieve any deficiencies (for example, continuing education or field installations). If successful, the probationary certification would be reclassified as a full certification, good for an addiProvide provisional accreditation tional two years. If unsuccessful, certification would be revoked, and the candidate would have to repeat the certification process. In addition, any certification can be suspended or revoked for a failure of the canObserve initial training didate to meet the minimum requirements of the Code of Ethics and proper business practices. In the event of suspension or revocation of credentials, the individual would have recourse against such actions Pilot test the certification examination by bringing complaints and concerns to the country administrative organization; if that fails to bring satisfaction, the individual would bring their appeal to the regional administrative organization; and, as a Evaluate results of accreditation and final appeal, the matter could be passed from the certification with stakeholders and actors regional organization to the international authority (for example, the ISP Certification Committee, through the procedures outlined in the ISP Take corrective measures in an Accreditation Handbook). appropriate manner, if necessary
4.5 Day Four Review Understand the certification framework. In small groups, discuss the proposed design of the knowledge examination, the skills evaluation, the certification framework, and the maintenance of the certification.
Define the local implementation of the knowledge and skills evaluation process. 1. In small groups, work through the certification process and evaluate its applicability and implementation potential. 2. Is there an existing training and testing infrastructure with which this effort might collaborate? Certification for the PV Installation and Maintenance Practitioner
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Evaluate certification maintenance procedures in light of local needs. 1. Is three years too long for a certification? Too short? 2. What are your views on the requirement for continuing education? 3. What are your views on the requirement for a specified number of hands-on installations to maintain the certification?
Practice certification procedures. Working in pairs, each class participants will take turns as a student and as an instructor, using the framework presented in chapter 4.
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