Program Manual
For Students
Contents
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................1
PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE ...............................................................................................................................................2
TRAINING TIMELINE ..............................................................................................................................................2
GETTING STARTED .........................................................................................................................................................3
TRAINING .......................................................................................................................................................................4
FUNDAMENTALS REFRESHER TRAINING (RECOMMENDED) .....................................................................................4
PART 1: POWER SYSTEM OPERATION AND CONTROLS - PSOC (REQUIRED) .............................................................4
LOGGING IN ..........................................................................................................................................................5
PASSING CRITERIA .................................................................................................................................................6
COURSE PAGE .......................................................................................................................................................6
VIDEO LECTURES ...................................................................................................................................................7
LECTURE QUIZZES .................................................................................................................................................7
®
POWERSIMULATOR EXERCISES ...........................................................................................................................8
®
FINISHING THE POWERSIMULATOR COURSES ..................................................................................................10
PREPARATION FOR TRAINING PART 2 - NERC CERTIFICATION PREPARATION ...................................................10
PART 2: NERC CERTIFICATION PREPARATION (REQUIRED) .....................................................................................10
OBJECTIVES: ........................................................................................................................................................10
FINISHING PART 2 (NERC Certification Preparation) ..........................................................................................10
TAKING THE EXAM ..............................................................................................................................................11
PLACEMENT .................................................................................................................................................................11
THE INDUSTRY .....................................................................................................................................................11
VALUE OF NERC CERTIFICATION .........................................................................................................................11
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU ............................................................................................................12
PRIMARY PLACEMENT CONTACT: .......................................................................................................................12
1
Program Manual for Students
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Power4Vets™ training and placement program! As a Power4Vets student, you
will train towards an energy management career while our placement specialists help find the
right opportunity for you in the power industry.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) requires that most system
operators hold and maintain NERC certification. After completing two parts of self-paced
training, you will be ready to take the certification exam known as the NERC Exam. This
certification makes you a valuable candidate in an industry with a rapidly-retiring workforce.
The Power4Vets program was created by IncSys to match the human talent needs of North
America’s electric power organizations with the talent, experience, knowledge, and skills
available in United States Military Veterans. Though it is self-paced, this is an intensive program
that will require your active participation in web-based training over a period of approximately
2 - 4 months.
For 20 years, IncSys has worked closely with power companies nationwide to empower system
operators through training and simulation. Even while you are still training, our placement
specialists will help to connect you with the many employers that have confirmed their need for
qualified staff and agree that military veterans have the inherent qualities of the ideal system
operator.
By now you should have:
•
Reviewed the program online [see: www.incsys.com/power4vets] or spoken with an
IncSys representative about the program
•
Completed the Application Process by submitting the following documents:
 Application [download at www.incsys.com/power4vets/apply.htm]
 Resume
 DD-214 [If still on active duty, a copy of statement of service or email of your
application and resume using your active duty email address]
 Unofficial copies of Transcripts [if applicable]
•
Received a Username and Password to access the online IncSys Power Academy
If you have not completed these steps but want to start the program, please contact IncSys at
power4vets@incsys.com and we will get you signed up as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions throughout this training, please direct them to Power4Vets support:
Power4Vets Support
Michael Cabacungan
Application Engineer
Email: power4vets@incsys.com
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Program Manual for Students
PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE
While learning about a new industry (especially the power industry) can seem daunting at first,
hard work and careful study is the key to success in this program. This Power4Vets Program
Manual should be reviewed carefully by all new students. It contains important details and tips
for successfully completing the Power4Vets Program.
It is recommended that you refer to this manual and the Study Guide document as needed
throughout the training, and read this entire guide before you begin!
The rest of this guide will lead you through each step of the Power4Vets program:
TRAINING TIMELINE
•
•
•
•
•
•
Getting Started
Optional Electric Fundamentals Supplementary Materials
Part 1: Power System Operation and Control (PSOC)
o Online Lectures
o Quizzes and Reading Materials
o PowerSimulator Exercises
Part 2: NERC Certification Preparation
o Objectives
o Study Tools
o Passing Criteria
o Tips and Coaching
The NERC Certification Exam
o Registration
o Scores and Reporting
Placement
o Resume Preparation
o Goals Discussion
o Locations and Opportunities
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Program Manual for Students
GETTING STARTED
(1) Ensure all application materials have been submitted
(2) Ensure access to a computer with the following recommending specifications:
a. 1280x720 monitor (higher resolutions or multiple monitors are recommended)
b. 1 GB RAM
c. Intel Core 2 Duo Processor or equivalent
d. Internet Browser (Google Chrome recommended click here to download)
e. Adobe Flash installed
f. High speed Internet connection
(3) Ensure you have received an email including your username and password for the first
phase of training. This is the original username/password you have received from
IncSys. Record Here:
MY USERNAME: __________________
MY PASSWORD: __________________
(4) Download electronic guides (MANDATORY):
•
EPRI Power System Dynamic Tutorial link
Power4Vets™ downloads page (71mb) (Right-click and choose “Save link as…” to
save this PDF file onto your computer)
•
It is important to save this PDF file on your computer so that you can
have it open to assist you while you move through the modules.
(5) Join us on Linkedin on Facebook. IncSys will be using Linkedin to connect you with
potential employers, and enable you to connect with other vets in the power industry. It
is highly recommended that you create a Linkedin account and update it regularly. By
joining these groups you can also reach out to other vets in the program for questions or
advice.
Linkedin Power4Vets Group: link
Facebook IncSys Page: link
Facebook Power4Vets Page: link
© 2013 IncSys – Not Distributable Without Permission
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Program Manual for Students
TRAINING
The Core Power4Vets program has two main parts: 1) Power System Operation & Controls
Course (PSOC)/Power System Simulation Training, and 2) NERC Certification Preparation.
Part 1 is online, self-paced and available 24/7 from anywhere with a high-speed internet
connection.
FUNDAMENTALS REFRESHER TRAINING (RECOMMENDED)
A solid understanding of mathematics and electricity fundamentals is essential to grasping
some of the more advanced courses and scenarios in the program. The subjects that you
should understand are covered in these sections of the EPRI Power System Dynamics Tutorial:
•
•
•
•
•
2.2 Mathematics
2.3 DC Electricity Review
2.4 AC Electricity Review
2.6 Power System Equipment
3.1 - 3.2 Active and Reactive Power
The fundamentals topics are not graded, however, you should review them as needed. It is
extremely important that you have an understanding of the fundamentals in order to follow the
simulator training.
You may also wish to test your understanding of the fundamentals with the Fundamentals Study
Questions found on PowerAcademy. The questions are broken up into sections that directly
relate to the chapters of the EPRI Power System Dynamics Tutorial. There is an answer key at
the end to check your work.
If you have trouble with any section it is strongly recommended that you review the
corresponding section in the EPRI Power System Dynamics Tutorial .
PART 1: POWER SYSTEM OPERATION AND CONTROLS - PSOC (REQUIRED)
Objective 1: Orient yourself to power system operation from the perspective of a system
operator
Objective 2: Learn to operate the North American Power System reliably
The Power System Operation & Controls Course simulator exercises are a proving ground for
Power4Vets students. If you can achieve high scores throughout Power System Operation &
Controls Course (i.e. 75% or above on each activity), it is a good sign that you can perform well
on the NERC Exam.
The training provides the knowledge and simulation skillset which is needed to land a job in a
variety of different fields, including system operation.
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Program Manual for Students
LOGGING IN
The PSOC curriculum can be found on the IncSys Power Academy which is accessed by
opening a web browser and visiting: http://lms.incsys.com. You should bookmark this page for
quick reference in the future.
Click “LOGIN” and enter your username and password on the next screen. You will arrive to the
launch page with a list of courses available to you.
Format
The Power4Vets course is divided into a series of modules. Each module is made up of four
types of activities:
• Lecture videos
• Quizzes
• PowerSimulator scenarios
• Supplemental reading materials
Content is grouped together based on subject and application to power operation. Each module
is designed to build on the previous subjects. The course is designed to be taken in sequential
order, but you are also encouraged to explore ahead, retake quizzes (they are randomized and
will feature new questions on each attempt), run the scenarios multiple times, and experiment
with the PowerSimulator.
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Program Manual for Students
PASSING CRITERIA
On each quiz and exercise, you should achieve a score of 75% or higher. If you do not achieve
this score, you are encouraged to repeat the learning activity until you reach 75% or higher.
COURSE PAGE
Your first course will be PA1 – Introduction to Grid Management Systems. All content for this
module is accessed from the page shown below. Return to this page after viewing the video
lecture to access the quizzes and PowerSimulator scenarios. The Forum under Course
Communication can be accessed for help with quizzes and exercises, as well as to discuss
course content with other students.
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Program Manual for Students
VIDEO LECTURES
Clicking “Video Lecture” will begin the lecture. There is a rolling transcript window below the
video, and to the right are the lecture slides.
LECTURE QUIZZES
Back at the Course page, select the QUIZ to the test your knowledge of the video lecture subject.
After choosing to begin the graded quiz, you will see the screen below. Be sure to hit NEXT after
answering all of questions and then click SUBMIT.
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Program Manual for Students
POWERSIMULATOR® EXERCISES
Be sure to turn off your pop-up blockers before attempting PowerSimulator exercises.
In Google Chrome, do this by going to SETTINGS -> ADVANCED SETTINGS.
Under Privacy, click “CONTENT SETTINGS” and under pop-ups, click “MANAGE EXCEPTIONS”
Add “[*.]lms.incsys.com” without quotations to the list and click “DONE”
Back at the Course page, click on “PowerSimulator Exercise – Getting Started & Communicate
for Results”:
Clicking “Welcome to PowerSimulator” will open a simulation session in a separate window if
pop-up blockers have been turned off. If you forgot to do this, you can click on the pop-up
symbol in the address bar.
Depending on your Internet connection speed, the simulator may take a few moments to
appear. After the simulator loads up, follow the instructions in the course exercise and use the
PowerSimulator as requested in the exercise. The early exercises will get you acquainted with
the PowerSimulator.
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Program Manual for Students
HELPFUL TIPS
• Keep a log of your quiz and simulator grades, as we are implementing the Grade
statistics feature.
•
It is NORMAL that you will NOT understand everything in the PowerAcademy simulator
exercises at first, and the exercises are sometimes loosely related to the videos and
quizzes.
 PowerSimulator is currently being used to train system operators all over the
country.
 This means you should not be discouraged by any initial discomfort with the
simulator and the course material.
 Don’t worry. At some point during the training process, everything will click!
Don’t give up.
•
It is more important to attempt to understand the exercises than it is to blindly choose
the correct answer.
 The PowerAcademy training will not be effective if you do not understand why
answers are correct.
 It is possible to achieve passing scores while not understanding the content
completely – you must take it upon yourself to spend an adequate amount of time
on a topic.
 Contact Technical Support if at any time you feel lost or need help.
•
Use the EPRI Dynamic Power Systems Tutorial to assist you in learning the
concepts in the PowerAcademy exercises. Much of the PowerAcademy content was
based on the EPRI tutorial, so often you can find the same topic explained in more detail
in the EPRI tutorial. Also, the NERC test is based heavily upon the EPRI text.
 Keep the EPRI PDF open and refer to it often.
 Try using the find feature to look for words and concepts in the EPRI tutorial that
you aren’t sure of.
 Try out the test questions at the end of the EPRI tutorial to test your
understanding.
•
Repeat videos and exercises until you have a firm understanding of the concepts in each
learning activity. You will not be able to move on to the next phase of the training without
a passing score on each learning activity in PowerAcademy.
•
Take your time going through the tutorials and exercises. Speed is not as important as
getting a good understanding of the material.
•
Take time to PAUSE the videos to take good notes. Each video teaches a great deal of
information, so writing or typing actually speeds up the learning process.
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Program Manual for Students
FINISHING THE POWERSIMULATOR® COURSES
When you have finished all five courses with a satisfactory grade, email power4vets@incsys.com
with the following subject line: “Power4Vets Training Part 1 Complete”
This will notify us that you are ready to move on to Part 2 of the training program.
PREPARATION FOR TRAINING PART 2 - NERC CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
Once the Part 1 Evaluation is complete, and you have been contacted about the second part of
training, you will be sent the needed study materials for Part 2.
PART 2: NERC CERTIFICATION PREPARATION (REQUIRED)
The NERC Certification Preparation phase is designed to teach you the NERC Standards which
are like the rules of the road for power industry companies and entities. This phase of the
training is critical because System Operator is a certified profession and candidates must obtain
a NERC Certification to sit at the desk. In addition, NERC Certification is a highly valued
endorsement for a number of related jobs.
OBJECTIVES:
1. You will be sent the Power4Vets NERC Exam Preparation Manual and study materials
2. Follow the manual as a guide to the provided Exam Prep study materials
3. Email power4vets@incsys.com before signing up to take the "Reliability Coordinator
NERC Exam" to schedule and conduct a verbal review of your level of knowledge to
ensure that you are ready to take the exam.
FINISHING PART 2 - NERC CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
By combining operation and standards training, you will be prepared to take the NERC
Certification exam. At this point, you may wish to return to any topics in either training parts that
are still unclear. Notify IncSys that you are ready to move on to the test by emailing
power4vets@incsys.com with the subject: “Power4Vets NERC Cert Training Complete”.
The NERC Certification Exam is given throughout the country at authorized Prometric Testing
Centers. It currently costs $600, and in many cases it can be reimbursed through VA. You will
need to make your own arrangements through SOCCED to take the test when convenient for
you. Follow the instructions below to do this.
You will need to pay the test fee to NERC SOCCED up front. The reimbursement process can
take up to a month. Careful planning is therefore crucial for timing this right. If you do not have
$600, you should plan ahead so that there is not a long delay between study and exam, as you
might forget some of the hard-earned knowledge in that period. IncSys is unable to provide
advance fees for the test – you will need to make your own arrangements.
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Program Manual for Students
IMPORTANT: You will sign up for the RELIABILITY COORDINATOR EXAM. This exam offers the
highest degree of flexibility for system operators.
•
To apply for an exam or to learn more about the exam, please read the files in the
“NERC Exam Resources” Folder in the NERC Prep Folder.
•
It is important to use an Internet Explorer (IE) web browser when registering in SOCCED,
since there has been trouble in the past with using Google Chrome to register.
•
Students can file for reimbursement of cost ($600) for the NERC exam using either their
Navy COOL or their GI Bill
•
To learn how to get reimbursed for the exam by using the GI Bill, see the “Certification
VA Brochure for the Veteran as of Dec 8 2010” on the Power4Vets™ downloads page: link
TAKING THE EXAM
Once you have taken the exam, notify IncSys by sending an email power4vets@incsys.com and
include a breakdown of your score.
PLACEMENT
THE INDUSTRY
While the power industry is undergoing fundamental changes due to new technologies,
especially related with smart grid implementation and more emphasis on renewable energy,
the workforce needs are expanding. At the same time, an increasing number of seasoned
energy management personnel are leaving the industry due to retirement.
VALUE OF NERC CERTIFICATION
For Power4Vets graduates, the NERC Certification they have earned will give them a
competitive edge in a variety of professions in the power industry including: System Operator,
Power Marketer, Generation Operator, Substation Electrician, Substation Operator, and
Compliance Analyst. While the certification is directly needed to become a System Operator, it
can be used to secure other jobs in the industry. As always, in a situation where there is
competition over an employment opportunity, getting an edge on the competitors is crucial.
NERC Certification represents that eyebrow-raising edge on the resume and during the job
interview. We will seek to highlight your unique background and qualifications along with the
NERC certification to help you get a job.
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Program Manual for Students
WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU
1. When and where you want to work: Are you willing to travel?
2. When do plan to finish the program?
3. Who you are: Complete details of your work experience, educational experience, and
military experience
4. What do you want to do: Power4Vets training is applicable to many career paths within
the overarching energy industry so which career path is best for you?
5. Where have you applied before and where are you planning to apply? IncSys is
continuously building a network of employers and their hiring needs and practices. In
order to better place veterans, we need to know your experiences while applying and
interviewing.
Landing the job is going to be a competitive process where your edge is based on your prior
experiences as well as what you learn in Power4Vets. We are here to help make your case and
open up opportunities, so please communicate with us throughout this process.
PRIMARY PLACEMENT CONTACT:
David Miranda
Phone: 757.237.4083
Email: david.miranda@incsys.com
© 2013 IncSys – Not Distributable Without Permission