Hi Helen,

Thanks for your question regarding training and credentialing options for lighting and solar energy. There are numerous options out there that will increase your knowledge of sustainable lighting and solar energy as well as help you differentiate yourself from the competition.

Professional certification is an impartial, third-party endorsement of an individual's professional knowledge and experience and assures employers, customers, and the public that the certificate holder is competent in field. Certification shows your clients that you are committed to your profession and are well trained, and gives you that competitive edge that is so needed in these economic times.

For solar energy, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) (http://www.nabcep.org/) offers various certifications. They begin with the PV Entry level certification. According to NABCEP, "The NABCEP PV Entry Level Program is designed for those individuals wanting to get into the solar field; achievement of the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam is a way for candidates to demonstrate that they have achieved a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of grid-tied and stand-alone PV Systems."

For more experienced solar professionals, the NABCEP also offers certifications in solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and solar thermal installation.

For lighting, there are two certifications that might be applicable. The National Association of Lighting Management Companies (NALMCO) (http://www.nalmco.org/CLMC.aspx) offers a credential as a Certified Lighting Management Consultant (CLMC). According to NALMCO, "The CLMC® designation is the oldest nationally recognized program in the nation, and the first certification accepted by Federal EPA Energy Star®."

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) (http://www.aeecenter.org) also offers a similar credential called the Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP). According to the AEE, the "Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP) program is designed to provide recognition for professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the field of lighting efficiency."

Also, the AEE offers the Certified Renewable Energy Professional credential, which may assist in both categories.

There are various requirements for each of these credentials, so I recommend you research each one to see if you are first eligible for the credential, and then weight the pros and cons of each one to see which credential most fits what you are hoping to achieve.

Good Luck!
Dave

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