Doug I have to agree with you on the dubious value of certification testing as any benchmark at all. Certification in any industry is a separate business, and as such, sooner or later, becomes mostly about itself, given that, fast-tracking installers is the next logical step into another useless layer of bureaucracy.
Unfortunately for all of us in this day and age, in all industries, the "certification industry" and the demands of the corporate world has given rise to very expensive Certification Boot Camps and the like, qualifying folks that don't know squat, and leaving really qualified folks out in the non-corporate cold. This is the next step, just wait until Lowes, Home Depot or Wal-Mart wants their installers to be "Certified". Don't think so? Just go into Wal-Mart's auto department and check out the "Certified Mechanics" working for seven bucks and hour. Sooner or later the Government steps in and says we all have to pony up the big bucks and get certified or don't work at all, because governmental agencies feel safe requiring folks to pass some sort of test. Next they'll want a bond too, and insurance which will drive up the costs to the point that we don't have to worry about anyone being qualified to design an off grid system, no one will be able to afford to buy one anyhow, at least not from the little non-corporate installer. Certification testing without real experience standards just proves someone can cram and pass a test. It in no way proves that they know their a** from a hole-in-the-ground. I usually don't get this crazy, but this subject really bothers me, my apologies Tom Duffy t...@thesolar.biz 575-539-2111 X 301 -----Original Message----- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Doug Wells Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:33 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP William, I agree that the value of NABCEP is mixed. I would like to think that it is still a benchmark. To me the importance of NABCEP has not been the test, but the prerequisites to take the test. A test is just a test and I have always felt that they have limited value. But experience is different. When I applied you had to have 3 years of experience installing(in my track). And the jobs that you used had to be lead installs. Not just, "yeah I was on a crew for a couple jobs. Or I have "some experience" installing. I feel it important to understand the job from beginning to end. Design, Safety, Installs and Commissioning. The more they water down the experience component to fast track eager installers, the less the certification will mean. Doug Wells The Solar Specialists Morrisville, VT 05661 (p) 802-223-7014 (c) 802-498-5856 www.thesolarspecialists.com _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
