STC to offer NABCEP Certification for solar energy installers

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College been accepted as a Certified Testing Agency for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), http://www.nabcep.org meaning that the College can now offer testing for solar energy systems installers seeking to obtain a nationally-accepted endorsement of their skills. Says Department Head and Photovoltaic Systems Installation and Repair Instructor Lester Wiggins, “We’ll encourage all of the students in our solar energy installation program to test for accreditation. When they’re working in the field, consumers will want to have the confidence that their installer has the skills and knowledge to do the job well.”

According to the NABCEP website, standards, developed by subject matter experts, have been set and the eligibility requirements are reasonably achievable being based on extensive input from stakeholders and deliberation among installers.

For installers, the certification:

Identifies installers as professionals, instilling consumer confidence in their work
Validates extra resources spent on training and gaining experience
Allows for installer mobility as the market moves from state to state
Allows installers to distinguish their skills and experience in the field

For consumers:

Provides a means to identify qualified installers, promoting confidence in the work performed
Preserves consumer choice, maintaining access to both certified and uncertified installers

Savannah Technical College was the first technical college in Georgia to offer a solar energy installation program. Since its inception, more than 45 graduates have completed the program. This fall, the college will be adding wind technology classes and is currently working on a new green building technology program to begin next year.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.