Shift to a higher gear clean energy new training guarantees aligned with jobs

Welcome you at the confusing and somewhat chaotic world of credentialing! In the past month result a marathon undertaking, the Interstate Council for renewable energy (IREC) two national milestones in our commitment to the credentialing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our goal - standardized quality training with employer demand - training results that result in marketable professional skills matched.

Together, these services offer new guarantees for consumers of energy, industry, students, and Government. We released IRECs new standard for training programs that offer certificates in the renewable energy and energy efficiency space, and we started the accreditation program, together with our partner of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to demonstrate compliance with these requirements.

After 24 months of working with a vocal and balanced Committee of experts; ask the public for three rounds of comments on the standard; Development of a rating system with ANSI through holes up on several elements required; keep a pilot study; and clarifying definitions - we now use a standard and an accreditation process exists. We were damn sure that this epic effort had the highest priority value in building a working with training for safety and quality. We not afraid, for one minute. We enjoyed the lively discussions. We added the tedious details in attack. And we pushed the envelope further. Here is the reason.

Growth in the area see clean energy we sometimes not so quickly, like us, but in any case growth would like. Grid tied photovoltaic systems continue their rise, as U.S. wind capacity does. Expected doubling is spending on energy efficiency programs in the next 12 years. All of this leads to more employment. We have a lot of training around tuned for industry needed skills and some not-so-good training leading country - a good education to unclear learning outcomes. We still facing the misrepresentation certificates as a mark of professional certification. There is a lack of consistency and a variety of confusion.

IREC 14732 training standard offers a clear way through this confusion by laying down the rules for the program management, educational processes (instructional design and evaluation) and technical content (skills and knowledge taught), with the result, leading to a market value of certificate.

What is the market value? Spent hours discussing this. Basically, we want to see someone who has gone through the training learned marketable and job-related skills. If you go through training, and provide you with a "Go to certificate" has to mean something. A certificate of attendance cut not when we are talking about job readiness and market value. IREC standard 14732 and the ANSI-IREC accreditation program is a step up from IRECs ISPQ 01022 standard and regulation. This new standard and assessment that process that offer IREC ISPQ program does and much more. Both credentials are a hard-earned seal of approval by a third party, but to further raised the bar with this next chapter in IRECs commitment to quality assurance.

For more information about IRECs, visit unique credentialing program that accredited educational institutions and certified instructor in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields, www.irecusa.org.

Written by the annual workforce development Institute Conference / American Association of community colleges

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Energy Department offers online training for residential PV inspectors

The SunShot initiative free online tool helps skills learn code inspectors to ensure recommendations needed.
Credit card: Craig Miller Productions

The Department of energy announced on October 1, a free online training program for building and electrical code officials, inspections for residential photovoltaic (PV)-solar energy systems perform. This training program helps a consistent and optimized PV test process in jurisdictions across the country, to establish cost reduction and time savings for consumers.

The photovoltaic-online training (PVOT) program is used a learning tool to illustrate the video and photos to the correct techniques for safe solar systems that meet all relevant building and electrical codes. It includes seven online modules, offers classes in subjects such as roof and ground mounted PV arrays, electrical requirements, equipment reviews, and accelerated allows. The first six lessons contain sequential material, while the last module offers a virtual stroll along a roof line, which looks similar to an inspector in a real situation. The PVOT program tracks each participant progress and test results and meet professional licensing requirements for ongoing training in most cities and States. The curriculum complies with current national electrical code requirements and industry standards that are referenced in the modules.

Although the program is designed the code officials, it is suitable solar installers, architects, and students for consumers who are interested in this growing area. While participation in the course is free of charge, there is a nominal fee for obtaining continuing education units by International Association of electrical inspectors (IAEI). The Interstate Renewable Energy Council developed the PVOT program for the Energy Department as part of the SunShot initiative solar instructor training network, to strengthen the quality and the capacity of the solar-PV vocational training in the country. The Department of energy progress warning message displayed.

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