How to Get a NERC Certification
The energy sector literally helps power our world. Recognizing the importance of guaranteeing its reliability and security, NERC has implemented standards to uphold the integrity of the electric grid.
If you're looking to get your NERC certification, you might have a lot of questions. Below, you’ll find a complete guide. We’ll discuss what NERC is, why it’s important, and how to navigate the NERC certification process.
Introduction to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
NERC is the acronym for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. It’s a not-for-profit international regulatory authority,officially designated as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) in the U.S.
NERC’s mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to power grid security and reliability. They do so by:
- Developing and enforcing grid reliability standards
- Assessing the grid’s seasonal and long-term reliability each year
- Monitoring the bulk power system through system awareness
- Educating, training, and certifying industry personnel.
Their area of responsibility spans Canada, the contiguous U.S., and the northern part of Baja Mexico, regulating nearly 2,000 owners and operators and helping ensure the supply of reliable electricity to nearly 400 million people.
The Importance of NERC Certification in Grid Reliability
Dependable power production relies on the regulation of bulk power systems.
A bulk power system (BPS) is an interconnected electrical system made up of generation facilities, transmission facilities, and control systems. Facilities used in the local distribution of electricity are not considered part of the BPS.
As a result, any disruption to the BPS can affect multiple locations across a large area, including essential services like hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and grocery stores. The reliability of a BPS is a critical responsibility.
NERC certification is important to grid reliability because it ensures that both individuals and the organizations responsible for bulk power systems have the knowledge and skills they need to maintain a reliable and secure network.
NERC Standards and Compliance Requirements
NERC maintains and enforces around 100 standards across 14 disciplines.
These grid reliability standards create requirements across areas of the business such as:
- Facility planning
- Emergency preparedness
- Voltage and balancing
- Interconnectivity
- Physical security
- Cybersecurity
- Personnel, communication, and training
NERC’s Standards Committee focuses on results-based standards, looking at the end result rather than process or technology.
How Does NERC Ensure Compliance?
NERC was given the authority to enforce its grid reliability standards on all bulk power system owners, operators, and users by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) through the Federal Power Act.
Enforcement of NERC compliance is handled by NERC’s Regional Entities (REs). REs are geographically divided teams of people that monitor locally registered organizations, ensure adherence to NERC compliance requirements, approve mitigation plans for those that fall short, and assess penalties for noncompliance.
NERC compliance requirements focus on three areas:
- Measurable Performance
- Risk Mitigation Strategies
- Entity Capabilities
NERC Certification Explanation
NERC has two certification systems – one for organizations and one for individuals. Typically, when people say “NERC certification,” they’re talking about NERC’s System Operator Certification System, which is an individual credential.
This type of NERC certification establishes minimum levels of knowledge mastery for the system operators who work in power plant control rooms handling the BPS during normal and emergency operations.
There are four NERC certification exams that target specific roles and responsibilities. They are:
- Reliability Coordinator Operator
- Transmission Operator
- Balancing and Interchange Operator
- Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission Operator
Holding NERC certification proves that a system operator understands the principles of power system operations and has sufficient knowledge of the NERC Reliability Standards.
How Do You Get Your NERC Certification?
To earn NERC certification, you have to pass the exam that matches your role.
To register for the exam, you apply and pay a fee. Your exam application is valid for one year. Within that year, you have to pass the exam or forfeit the fee.
We’ll discuss how you prepare for the NERC certification exam below, but once you feel prepared, you can schedule your exam with any PSI testing center. The exact length of the test depends on which role you’re testing for, but you’ll need to answer between 120 and 140 multiple-choice questions on a computer. You’ll be given three hours to complete it.
You’ll know the results immediately. If you fail, you’ll need to wait 42 calendar days, pay the exam fee again, and make another attempt.
Once you’re NERC certified, your certificate is valid for 3 years. You maintain your certification by submitting proof that you’ve completed the required NERC‐approved continuing education (CE) credits. If you fail to meet your CE before the three-year mark, you can choose to retake the certification exam instead.
What Is On The NERC Certification Exam?
NERC’s system operator certification exam is based on job analysis surveys of certified operators across the industry.
Each of the role-specific exams will test major knowledge areas, including:
- Resource and Demand Balancing
- Interchange Scheduling and Coordination
- Reserves (Spinning and Non-Spinning)
- Automatic Generation Control (AGC)
- Area Control Error (ACE)
- Frequency
- Load Forecasting
- Generation Equipment
- Energy Sources (e.g., hydroelectric, solar, thermal)
- Transmission
- Protection and Control
- Voltage and Reactive
- Electrical Fundamentals
- Reconfiguration and Switching
- Operating Limits
- Transmission Equipment
- Emergency Preparedness
- Same-Day and Next-Day Planning
- Weather, Natural Disasters, and Geomagnetic Disturbances
- Anticipated Capacity Deficiency
- Emergency Response
- System Restoration
- Response to System Disturbances
- Response to Capacity Emergencies
- Response to Loss of Control Center
- Response to Loss of Analysis and Monitoring Tools
- Contingency Analysis and Reliability
- Contingency Analysis
- Network Analysis Tools (e.g., State Estimators)
- Response to Results of Contingency Analysis
- System Operating Limits (SOL)
- Interconnection Reliability Operating Limits (IROL)
- Communications and Data
- Reporting Requirements
- Communication Methods (e.g. Three-Part Communication, RCIS)
- Data Validity and Verification
- Telemetry and Communications Equipment
How Do You Prepare for the NERC Certification Exam?
There is no particular education requirement that you have to meet before you register for the exam, but there are preparatory classes you can take to cover the necessary knowledge.
NERC doesn’t approve or endorse any specific coursework. They recommend that you study using the NERC certification exam content outlines in conjunction with a copy of the NERC Reliability Standards and power system operation reference books and materials.
However, this kind of self-directed study isn’t practical for everyone. It can be helpful to sign up for a NERC certification exam prep program from a reputable provider like us. Ours is an online course that the major subjects you’ll be tested on in the four NERC exams. You can use it to guide your study from the comfort of your own home (or anywhere with an internet connection).
