Reliability Operator Certification (RC)
Credential: Reliability Operator Certification (RC)
Credentialing Agency: North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
Renewal Period: 3 years
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Reliability Operator Certification (RC) is an intermediate-level credential for professionals who operate bulk electric systems. RCs are knowledgeable in resource and demand balancing, transmission, emergency preparedness, contingency analysis and reliability, and managing communications and data. There are no eligibility requirements for the RC certification. Candidates must pass a written exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Reliability Operator Certification (RC)
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Attainability:
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite
- Experience
- Education
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
Exam Administration (View Details)
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 3 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
3353 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 600 North Tower
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404-446-2560
Fax: 404-446-2595
Contact Page
Eligibility REQUIREMENTS
NREC does not require any specific education or experience, however it is recommended that each candidate for the RC be knowledgeable in the areas addressed in the certification exam.
Written Exam
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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
-
Transmission
- Protection and Control
- Voltage and Reactive
- Electrical Current
- Reconfiguration and Switching
- Operating Limits
- Transmission Equipment
-
Emergency Preparedness
- Current and Next-Day Planning
- Severe 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
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Reliability Operator Certification (RC) examination:
- Best Sources
- General References
An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.
Testing Information
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Exam Administration
Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Reliability Operator Certification (RC) credential where checked:
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
For more information on the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) testing process, visit the agency website.
-
Third-Party Test Vendor Information
Testing for this credential is handled by the following vendor:
PSI
The test centers are located in the U.S.
To find out more, use the following links on the PSI website:
RECERTIFICATION
Reliability Operator Certification (RC)
Renewal Period: 3 years