In support of NERC’s mission, the System Operator Certification Program’s promotes reliability of the North American bulk power system by ensuring that employers have a workforce of system operators that meet minimum qualifications. NERC maintains the required credentials for over 6,000 system operators working in system control centers across North America. NERC’s system operator certification exam tests specific knowledge of job skills and Reliability Standards. It also prepares operators to handle the bulk power system during normal and emergency operations. Certification is maintained by completing NERC‐approved continuing education program courses and activities. These industry-accepted qualifications are set through internationally recognized processes and procedures for agencies that certify persons.
Governance
The Personnel Certification Governance Committee (PCGC) is a NERC standing committee that provides oversight to the policies and processes used to implement and maintain the integrity and independence of the NERC System Operator Certification program. The PCGC provides reports to the NERC Board of Trustees and NERC President regarding the governance and administration of the System Operator Certification Program.
Process
An extensive job analysis survey of certified operators across the industry provides the basis for the exams. The job analysis survey results in an exam content outline for each of the four exams. The exam content outline is the framework used to associate tasks to exam questions. NERC contracts with psychometric consultants who assist a working group of certified system operators in the development and maintenance of each exam. The exam working group consists of subject matter experts from all regions of North America.
The four available exams are the:
- Reliability examination;
- Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission examination;
- Transmission examination; and
- Balancing examination.
After initial certification is obtained, the credential is maintained by meeting the Continuing Education requirements every three years.
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