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NERC CEH Courses

EXPANDED NERC SYSTEM OPERATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

ONERC's System Operator Certification Program has been expanded to allow continuing education hours (CEH) earned through NERC-approved Continuing Education Program learning activities to be used to maintain a NERC system operator credential. The new information is contained in the new System Operator Certification Program Manual, which is available for downloading from our Web site: https://soc.nerc.net/ . System Operator Certification Program Manual

The program provides that:

System operators seeking to obtain a credential will have to pass an examination to earn a credential.

A certificate, valid for three years, will be issued to successful candidates.

A certified system operator must accumulate a minimum number of CEH, in specific training topics, before their certificate expires to maintain their credential. The minimum number of CEH is based on each credential:

  • a. 200 CEH for Reliability Operator
  • b. 160 CEH for Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission Operator
  • c. 140 CEH for Balancing and Interchange Operator
  • d. 140 CEH for Transmission Operator

A minimum of 30 CEH must focus on content and/or implementation of NERC Standards.

A minimum of 30 CEH must be in simulations (i.e., table-top exercises, training simulators, emergency drills, practice emergency procedures, restoration, black start, etc.).

CEH can concurrently count for both NERC Standards and simulations but will only be counted once for the total CEH requirement.

  • a. For example: A one-hour simulation learning activity that focuses on NERC Standards can count towards the requirements for both NERC Standards and simulation. However, the credential holder will only be awarded a total of one CEH toward the total CEH requirement. In other words, the CEH will not be double counted.

The expansion of the System Operator Certification Program was approved by the Personnel Certification Governance Program (PCGC), and is pending endorsement by the NERC Board of Trustees. This expansion will be effective October 1, 2006. The expanded program allows certified system operators to maintain their credential by accumulating CEH on specific topics by participating in NERC-approved learning activities.

Continuing education hours earned through NERC-approved learning activities attended on or after April 1, 2006 may be used to maintain a system operator credential IF those learning activities have been approved under the revised Continuing Education Program criteria.

Program Highlights:

The expanded program will be effective October 1, 2006.

NERC will continue to offer four system operator credentials:

  • Reliability Operator
  • Combined Transmission/Balancing and Interchange Operator
  • Transmission Operator
  • Balancing and Interchange Operator.

The initial credential will still be earned by passing one of the exams.

System operators whose certificate expires prior to October 1, 2006 will have to pass an exam to become recertified.

Certificates issued for passing an exam on or before September 30, 2006 will be valid for five years.

Certificates issued for passing an exam on or after October 1, 2006 will be valid for three years.

"L&K International Training LK-Intl_001 is recognized by the North American Electric Reliability Council as a continuing education provider who adheres to NERC Continuing Education Program Criteria." L&K has over 150 NERC CE approved courses in the areas of Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution. These interactive modules are available in web based or CD-Rom formats. Let L&K save you time and money by setting up your own private branded virtual university of selected courses. This virtual university enables your company administrator to keep track of student enrollment and course completion. L&K reports pass scores to NERC on your behalf. For a complete listing of NERC CE approved courses, please click here