photovoltaic systems are electrical systems covered by national electrical code.In most juristictions it is required by governing agency that the berson performing electrical work is qualified to do this work. in order for an electrician tobe qualified he must first work as an apprentice. apprentices are "helpers" they are there to learn Apperntices go to school 4 hours per week for 5 years while working for low wages in return for superior training. these apprenticeship programs are monitored by dept of labor to insure compliance. After 5 years of apprenticeship and testing the apprentice is promoted to journeyman.A journeyman is permitted to work independently as long as he is supervised by a Master electrician. After a journeyman has completed 7 years in the field he can sit for the Master elect exam. if he passes he is awarded a certificate of competency. so far the unions have the only bonified apprenticeship programs. therefore the prevailing rate for electricians in the area is based on the union scale. if i was going to hire an electrician to work in my house i would want one of these guys. not some gypsy who claims to be qualifed because he has wired some things in the past.As solar contractors we should strive to be the best qualified trained professionals we can.be. as it stands right now any ME can do pv work. we should use the nabcep certification as the requirement for a any Master electrician who wants to do solar. NYSERDA already requires this. requiring a nabcep certified Master electrician on all pv jobs would insure that the contractors who do pv work are committed and invested in the industry.and they are using superior labor,paying a fair wage, and installing a quality job.Would you go to a doctor who is not board certified? Contractors that have nabcep cert and licensed elect on staff really are the blue ribbon companies. the contractors who do not have nabcep should push themselves in this direction. if lipa goes back to nyserda they will need nabcep anyway