System Operator Certification Program

System Operator Certification Program Overview How to Receive Credential How to Renew Credential Suspension Transition Period

Overview Program Awards Certification Credentials Exam to Receive Initial Credential CEH’s to Renew Credential 5 Year Program to 3 Year Program

CEH’s Submit Learning Activity Application to NERC NERC Review & Approve Learning Activity Number CEH’s Operating Topics Emergency Operations Simulation NERC Reliability Standards CEH’s Awarded after NERC Approval

How to Receive Credential Register Exam ATT Number – 12 months Schedule Exam Pass Exam Prior 10/1/06: Credential 5 Years 10/1/06: Credential 3 Years

Pass Exam Operator Credential Reliability Operator 93/125 Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission Operator Balancing and Interchange Operator 76/100 Transmission Operator

How to Renew Credential Minimum Number CEH’s NERC Approved Learning Activity Specific Training Topics – Appendix A Within 36 Months of Certificate Expiration Date Submit Credential Maintenance Application After 10/1/09, cannot take Exam

CEH’s – 3 Years Operator Credential CEH/3 Yr Reliability Operator Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission Operator 160 CEH’s Balancing and Interchange Operator 140 CEH’s Transmission Operator

CEH’s – 3 Years Minimum 30 CEH’s NERC Reliability Standards Minimum 30 CEH’s Simulations ie, Table Top Exercises, Training Simulators, Emergency Drills, Practice Emergency Procedures, Restoration, Black Start

CEH’s – 3 Years Same CEH’s can count for both NERC Standards & Simulations Only count once for Total CEH’s Example 4 Hours System Restoration: 1 hour NERC Standard presentation 3 hours Training Simulator NERC Standard – 4 CEH’s Simulation – 3 CEH’s Total CEH’s – 4 CEH’s

CEH’s Earn CEH’s from a Learning Activity 1 time per 12 months Exception: Emergency Operations, 2 times per 12 months 12 months based on Expiration Date

Expiration Date – 10/1/09 10/1/06 -9/30/07 10/1/07 - 9/30/08 10/1/08 - 10/1/09 AGC, System Protection, System Restoration

CEH’s Expiration 10/1/09 Learning Activity 9999: AGC, 8 Hours, 11/1/08, 8/1/09 NO Learning Activity 9999: AGC, 8 Hours, 5/1/08, 8/1/09 YES

Expiration Date – 10/1/09 10/1/06 -9/30/07 10/1/07 - 9/30/08 10/1/08 - 10/1/09 AGC, System Protection, System Restoration

CEH’s - Instructors Earn 1 CEH for each CEH Taught Earn CEH’s for each Learning Activity Taught 1 time per 12 months Exception: Emergency Operations, Earn CEH’s for each Learning Activity Taught 2 times per 12 months

Changing Certificate Type Lower Credential Complete the Required CEH’s Mark new credential in Credential Maintenance Application Reliability Operator to Balancing, Interchange, & Transmission Operator Higher Credential Take an exam Balancing and Interchange Operator to Balancing, Interchange, & Transmission Operator

Certificate Suspension No Application Not enough CEH’s Suspension – Up to 12 Months Achieve CEH’s New Expiration Date, 36 months from old Expiration Date Revoked at 12 Months Take Exam Previous CEH’s forfeited

Certificate Suspension Balancing, Interchange, & Transmission Operator – 160 CEH’s Req’d Expiration Date – 10/1/09 10/1/09 - Accumulated 120 CEH’s Suspended 10/2/09, (No Longer Certified) 3/1/10 – Accumulated 160 CEH’s New Expiration Date – 10/1/12 Cannot reuse the CEH’s

Carry-Over CEH’s Up to 30 Hours 6 Months Prior to Expiration Date Not Used for Previous Renewal

Carry-Over CEH’s Balancing, Interchange, & Transmission Operator (BIT) – 160 Hours Expiration Date: 10/1/09 10/1/09 - 187 Hours January 2009 30 Hours May 2009 15 Hours June 2009 8 Hours 23 Hours Carry-Over Not applicable in transition period

Reporting CEH’s NERC System Operator Certificate Database Provider Submit CEH’s to DB Operator Retain Proof – Page 16, Manual Operator Review CEH’s at least 90 Days prior to Expiration Date Operator responsible for CEH’s

Transition Period Prevent Undue Burden to Operators whose Certificate expires shortly after 10/1/06 Give Operators options during Transition Promote Operator CEH’s as soon as practicable

Transition Period Certificate Expires Prior to 10/1/09 Take Exam Accumulate CEH’s up to 36 months prior to Certificate Expiration Date CEH’s begin counting 4/1/06 Certificate Expires 10/2/09 or later Accumulate CEH’s

Transition Period

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