The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners is organizing its 12th annual NABCEP Continuing Education Conference to be held from March 27 to 30 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Missouri.

NABCEP CE is a conference built around the organization’s certification program, giving attendees the opportunity to earn credits toward solar installation certificates. NABCEP is a prominent certifying body in U.S. solar, and attendees can leave the event with approximately 80% of the credits required to be NABCEP-certified.

“The design of the conference was multi-purpose in the sense that it’s a good way to get people who are interested in solar together. It’s one of those ‘catch up with your friends’ type of social events,” said Eric Filante, project coordinator at NABCEP. “At the same time, we do want to implement a schedule of rigorous training.”

Founded in 2011, the conference features training sessions from industry experts, social events, product demonstrations, a show floor of exhibiting manufacturers and an opportunity for solar installers to connect in person. Unlike a manufacturer-centered trade show, NABCEP CE focuses on the practice of solar installation, with sessions on solar + storage, sales, system design, operations and maintenance and system inspection. There are breakout sessions, keynote speakers, awards, scholarships and social events.

Following pandemic restrictions, NABCEP’s in-person industry conference is back in full swing, and the organization is pursuing projects it put on hold through that time. Solar installers can expect updates to existing certifications at the show and new installation certifications later this year. The organization is also anticipating record numbers for attendance this year in St. Charles.

“The relationships we built with certain companies and with certain training providers and other businesses like ours, seeing that all come together is really the draw,” Filante said. “It’s a rewarding experience to them, because they’re not only seeing the company grow, but they’re seeing the validity of their certifications grow.”