Heatspring Review: Are Their NABCEP Courses Worth it in 2026?
If you are looking to break into the solar industry or advance your career with a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification, you have likely come across HeatSpring. As one of the most prominent online training platforms for renewable energy professionals, HeatSpring offers a massive catalog of courses. But are their courses the best way to prepare for your NABCEP exams?
In this comprehensive HeatSpring review, we will break down their training platform, analyze their most popular NABCEP courses, look at their instructor quality, and help you decide if their programs are worth the investment.
(Note: We offer an exclusive 20% discount on HeatSpring courses for our readers. Look for the discount button at the bottom of this review!)
What is HeatSpring?
Founded in 2007, HeatSpring is an online educational platform dedicated to upskilling professionals in the clean energy sector. Over the years, they have grown to serve a community of over 168,000 professionals, offering more than 400 courses covering solar PV, energy storage, heat pumps, and green building .
What sets HeatSpring apart from generic online learning platforms is their deep integration with industry standards. They are a certified B Corporation, meaning they balance profit with purpose, and more importantly for solar professionals, they are a NABCEP Registered Provider. In fact, HeatSpring is the official NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) training partner for the 2026 NABCEP CE Conference .
HeatSpring’s NABCEP Course Catalog
HeatSpring currently offers 61 courses that are officially approved in the NABCEP course catalog. These courses provide the Accredited Advanced PV Training hours required to sit for NABCEP Certification exams, as well as Continuing Education Units (CEUs) needed for recertification.
Let’s look at their two flagship programs for solar professionals.
1. Solar PV Boot Camp + NABCEP PV Associate Exam Prep
This is HeatSpring’s most popular entry-level course, designed for contractors, electricians, and business professionals who want to enter the solar PV industry.
•Instructor: Sean White (2014 IREC Trainer of the Year)
•Cost: $895 (Just $716 with our 20% off CODE!)
•Time Commitment: 18 – 24 hours
•The Guarantee: HeatSpring boasts an 88% student success rate for this course. They are so confident in the curriculum that they offer a “Guaranteed Pass”—if you do not pass the NABCEP PV Associate exam on your first try, they will cover your exam retake fee .
The course covers everything from the history of solar and electricity basics to PV system sizing, mechanical design, and troubleshooting. It includes 6 modules and multiple practice exams to ensure you are ready for the real thing.
2. 40-Hour NABCEP Advanced PV Certification Training
For experienced solar professionals looking to take the NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification exam, this is the gold standard course.
•Instructors: Sean White and Bill Brooks (Principal, Brooks Engineering)
•Cost: $1,095
•Time Commitment: 40 hours
•What it covers: This intensive course dives deep into the National Electrical Code (NEC), specifically Article 690, along with safety, wire sizing, building codes, and fire codes. It provides the exact 40 hours of advanced training required by NABCEP to sit for the PVIP exam .
Pros and Cons of HeatSpring
To give you a balanced review, here is a breakdown of the advantages and drawbacks of using HeatSpring for your solar education.
The Pros
•Industry-Leading Instructors: You are learning from absolute legends in the solar industry. Instructors like Sean White and Bill Brooks literally helped write the NABCEP exams and the National Electrical Code requirements for solar.
•The Pass Guarantee: The guaranteed pass on the PV Associate exam removes a massive amount of financial risk for students.
•Long-Term Access: When you purchase a course, you get unlimited access to the materials for a full year (365 days). This allows you to review the content as the industry advances.
•Direct Instructor Access: Unlike some platforms where you just watch static videos, HeatSpring courses are “instructor-led.” You can ask questions on the discussion boards, and instructors like Sean White are known for replying quickly and in great detail.
The Cons
•Premium Pricing: HeatSpring is not the cheapest option on the market. At $895 for the Boot Camp and $1,095 for the Advanced Training, it is a significant investment. (However, you can use our 20% discount code to soften this blow).
•Exam Fees Not Included: It is important to note that the course price does not include the actual NABCEP exam fee (typically $150), which must be paid directly to NABCEP when you schedule your test.
•Intensive Curriculum: These are not easy, breeze-through courses. They are highly technical and require serious study time. If you are not committed to putting in the hours, you will struggle.
Final Verdict: Is HeatSpring Worth It?
If you are serious about building a long-term career in the solar industry, HeatSpring is absolutely worth the investment.
While there are cheaper courses available online, HeatSpring provides a level of technical depth, instructor expertise, and industry recognition that is hard to match. The fact that they are an official NABCEP partner and offer a guaranteed pass on their PV Associate exam makes them the safest and most reliable choice for your certification journey.
Ready to start your NABCEP journey?
Do not pay full price! As a partner, we offer our readers an exclusive 20% discount on all HeatSpring courses.
References
[1] HeatSpring. “About HeatSpring.” Retrieved from heatspring.com/about.
[2] HeatSpring. “NABCEP PV Certifications and Credentials.” Retrieved from heatspring.com/nabcep.