Power Plant Operator looking to get NERC certified

[bigdadchad]

I was wondering if anyone on here is a power plant operator that has gotten NERC certified?

First let me start by telling you a little about myself: I didn't go to college I am not an engineer, I have worked my way up from the bottom at a power plant. I am 43 and now I would like to get NERC certified. I have been reading EPRI and SOS online training, But I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to prepare for the NERC exam? Thanks in advance.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

The information & links on the NERC website will be of help:

NERC System Operator Certification

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[bacon4life]

Be sure you have an extra 55 hours a year for the ongoing training requirements. For one of my coworkers, the continuing education each year takes more time than he initially spent studying for the exam.

 

[crshears]

I did go to college, sort of, but it was only for one year, and that was to cover off all the theory needed to become a Third Class Stationary Engineer...and real engineers sometimes resent that I get to use that word as part of my steam ticket ... I guess that makes me a power plant operator who has become NERC certified...

What kind of NERC certification are you looking to get? Generation operator? Transmission operator? Reliability co-ordinator? What you want to be certified as will make a difference; I'm sure glad my employer sees to ensuring I get all the training needed annually [ ~ 200 hours of it over three years] to keep me certified as an RC, as it'd be a pain to have to do all that myself...

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[bigdadchad]

Not sure what level My employer is going to pay for. I would assume since I am a generation operator and also do some transmission stuff that they would let me get transmission operator. I was told by another NERC certified guy that I should test for the highest level possible even if my employer will only pay for the up keep of what is needed for my current job. I want to open doors and be able to maybe go to another job. Not much incentive to stay at my current job when I can get certified and make more and maybe retire sooner.

 

[crshears]

There are no guarantees, of course, but depending on your aspirations getting NERC certified as a Reliability Coordinator [which according to my information is the highest level possible] should open more doors for you than "merely" [casting no aspersions] being certified as a transmission or generation operator. For its own inscrutable reasons, my employer has chosen to certify all of us power system controllers as RC's, even though all we would officially require for our job function is to be T/OPs.

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]