Jack Werner of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council discusses setting workforce standards through credentialing programs. This presentation was given December 4, 2009 at the Solar Energy Focus Conference: Fall 2009 hosted by the Maryland, DC, Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA) in Gaithersburg, MD. To learn more please visit: www.mdvseia.camp7.org

1. Making Sure the Green Economy
Doesn’t Get a Black Eye
Setting Standards through Credentialing Programs
Jack Werner
Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Power
Jackfwerner@aol.com
December4-5, 2009
Solar Energy Focus Conference: FALL 2009

2. Safeguards for the green economy
Standards
Credentialing programs
Licensure
Defining the green
(jobs, products, companies, practices)

3. Value of Certification
Protects the public
Establishes standards for professional
knowledge, skills and practice
Assures consumers that professionals
have met standards
Advances the profession

4. Each credentialing scheme – whether
for people, products or services –
requires a defensible, balanced and
transparent assessment and set of
criteria, requirements and standards

5. First, some definitions…
Credentialing - umbrella term that
includes the concepts of accreditation,
licensure, registration, and professional
certification.
Professional certification - voluntary
process by which a non-governmental
entity grants a time-limited recognition and
use of a credential to an individual after
verifying that he/she has met
predetermined and standardized criteria.
Source: The NOCA Guide to Understanding Credentialing Concepts, 2005

6. A curriculum-based certificate - issued
after an individual completes a course or
series of courses and passes an assessment
instrument. One-time look at an individual.
Accreditation - voluntary process by
which a nongovernmental agency grants a
time-limited recognition to an institution,
organization, business, or other entity after
verifying that it has met predetermined and
standardized criteria.

7. Setting Standards: The Task Analysis
The task (or job) analysis is a formal
process for determining what people do,
under what working conditions they do it,
what they must know to do it, and the skills
they must have to do it.
Tasks are classified as either cognitive or
psychomotor skills.
Skills are further categorized as Critical,
Very Important, and Important for job
performance.

8. Raising the bar for RE Installers
North American Board of Certified
Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
Offers third-party assessment of
renewable energy practitioners

9. NABCEP’s TAs
PV Installer Task Analysis
8 Main Tasks
58 Subtasks
Solar Thermal Installer Task Analysis
12 Main Tasks
129 Subtasks
Small Wind Installer Task Analysis
8 Main Tasks
101 Subtasks
All available at www.nabcep.org

10. Professional Credentials
Solar Electric (PV) Installer
Certification
Solar Thermal Installer Certification
Small Wind Installer Certification –
under development
Entry Level PV Certificate of Knowledge

11. As a credentialing body, NABCEP sends
a clear message to consumers,
financers, and public officials that the
Solar Industry stresses safe and
quality services, consumer protection
and ethical business practices

12. Practitioner Training
While NABCEP certifies practitioners, it
is the ISPQ process that accredits
training programs and certifies
instructors

13. While NABCEP certifies practitioners,
ISP is applying an international
framework of standards and metrics
to ensure legitimacy of what’s being
taught and by whom

14. Quality Assessment
for
Training Programs &
Instructors

15. The Institute for Sustainable Power
(ISP) Quality International Standard
offers a process of application and
audit for accreditation of renewable
energy training programs and
certification of instructors

16. ISPQ International
North America - Interstate Renewable
Energy Council in US
Europe – ISPQ Europe in UK
Asia-Pacific - Global Sustainable Energy
Solutions in Australia
China – ISPQ office under development

17. ISPQ Assessment
Ensures legitimacy of what’s being
taught and by whom
System of review and audit
Provides a means to compare
content, quality, and resources across
a broad range of training

18. ISPQ Accreditation
Sends signals to students, employers,
and government officials that training
standards have been met

19. Verifying content
The ISPQ process uses an
industry-approved Task Analysis to
verify, compare and approve course
content

21. IREC is the North American Licensee for
the ISPQ* International 01021
Standard for Renewable Energy
Training Accreditation and Instructor
Certification Programs
*ISPQ – Institute for Sustainable Power Quality Standard

22. IREC is responsible for the full ISPQ
accreditation and certification cycle in
NA including processing applications,
assigning registered auditors,
awarding the credential, and
maintaining all records of applicants,
candidates and certificants. Award Application
Audit

23. 5 ISPQ designations
1. Accreditation for Training Programs
2. Accreditation for Continuing
Education Providers
3. Certification for Independent Master
Trainers
4. Certification for Affiliated Master
Trainers
5. Certification for Instructors

24. ISPQ designation offers
The ISPQ mark is a signal to
students, employers, government
officials and funding sources that
standards for the curriculum, student
services, and trainers have been met.

25. Resources from IREC
Best Practices & Guidelines for Renewable
Energy Training
Occupational Profiles for the Solar Industry
Index of Job Trends and Labor Forecasts
Reports
www.irecusa.org
On-Line Training Catalog
www.irecusa.org/trainingCatalog