Progress Report: CSA-NETCO Solar PV Certification
(May 3, 2011)

The National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO), in partnership with CSA Standards (CSA), is moving towards its goal of introducing a national personnel certification program for qualified Construction Electricians (NOC 7241) installing solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment in Canada.  (Note that Construction Electrician is the official Red Seal occupational title which may vary by province/territory.)  This Made-in-Canada program will be launched this summer and marketed nation-wide.   It is being developed in accordance with accordance with the ISO/IEC 17024 standard for bodies operating certification of persons.  “The CSA  Personnel Certification is an excellent fit with CSA’s growing portfolio of personnel certification programs in the area of safety and sustainability,” says Stephen Brown, Director, Energy, CSA Standards.  

The official title of this leading-edge personnel certification program is Construction Electrician-Solar PV Systems Certified. “It is the mechanism through which CSA Standards—serving as a third-party certifying body—assesses and formally recognizes a qualified Construction Electrician’s ability to meet national standards related to the installation of solar PV systems,” explains NETCO Treasurer Eryl Roberts (CECA Executive Secretary).  These national standards are articulated in a task analysis developed by NETCO in 2010 as a companion piece to the Red Seal Program’s NOA for Construction Electricians and subsequently validated by CSA Standards earlier this year in consultation with subject-matter experts from the electrical industry across Canada.  The National Occupational Analysis:  Construction Electrician-Solar PV Systems Certified (April 2011) is posted on the NETCO web site at www.ceca.org/netco. 

Steps accomplished in the program development to date include forming an oversight Scheme Committee, conducting a job/task analysis to validate the occupational standard and develop a test blueprint, validating the test blueprint through a national survey and developing an item bank of 240 questions for the knowledge examination.  In May 2011 the item bank is being beta tested and a standard-setting meeting sponsored to make the cut score decision. 

In April 2011, NETCO used its annual meeting as an opportunity to build awareness of the forthcoming personnel certification program.  NETCO’s Board of Directors met with representatives from the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) and the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.  “This was an important first step in lobbying to influence government policies that impact demand for solar PV installation and regulatory frameworks that link to qualification and inspection interests, “says NETCO President Phil Flemming (IBEW International Vice President, First District, Canada).