PV2 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Number: 75% on 100 Questions

The Photovoltaic Installer/Designer (PV2) credential from ETA International is graded against a single published threshold: 75%. ETA's current Renewable Energy Certifications listing describes the written exam as 100 questions with a two-hour limit. The cut score is a flat percentage rather than a scaled number, so the arithmetic is simple, and you can plan around it directly.

Here is the headline data in one place:

If you want the wider difficulty picture, see our breakdown of how hard the PV2 exam is. For what the available data can and cannot say about outcomes, read PV2 pass rate: what the data shows.

What 75% Actually Means in Practice

On a 100-question exam, a 75% cut score translates to answering at least 75 questions correctly, assuming each question carries equal weight. ETA's listing does not describe weighted items or scaled scoring, so the straightforward reading is the working assumption. Treat that as a planning model rather than a guarantee, and confirm scoring details with your ETA Certification Administrator when you schedule.

That leaves a margin of roughly 25 questions you can miss. Two hours for 100 questions averages out to about 72 seconds per question. That is comfortable for recall items and tight for multi-step calculations such as string sizing or conductor ampacity, so the right pacing strategy is to bank easy points quickly and reserve time for the math.

The Score Is Only One Gate

Many candidates fixate on the exam and underestimate the paperwork. For PV2, the written test is one requirement among several. According to the ETA PV2 process and experience checklist, you must also:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Complete 60 contact hours of ETA-approved or equivalent photovoltaic training. Current PVI1 certification credits 40 of those 60 hours.
• Complete OSHA 10 construction safety or an equivalent jurisdictional course.
• Obtain ETA Customer Service Specialist (CSS) certification.
• Document at least 150 attested experience points, including every compulsory task and at least two reference contacts.
• Agree to ETA's Code of Conduct.

The compulsory installation experience includes at least three systems of 2 kW or larger. The overview lists no separate hands-on examination, but that does not waive the documented installation experience on the checklist. In other words, scoring 75% or higher gets you through the written component only. Review the full list in PV2 requirements: eligibility, prerequisites and how to qualify before you spend money on a test seat.

Fees, Retakes, and the One-Year Window

The examination fee listed by ETA is $155. Importantly, ETA allows one free retake within one year of the first examination. That policy changes how you should think about a first attempt: a miss is not a financial catastrophe, but it does start a clock. Use the interval to diagnose which competency areas cost you points, close those gaps, and return before the one-year window closes.

Note that the $155 figure is the exam fee only. Training hours, OSHA 10, and CSS certification have their own costs and are outside that number. For a complete budget, see PV2 certification cost: complete pricing breakdown.

Testing is arranged through an ETA Certification Administrator, using either Trapeza online testing or paper, per ETA's test-site information. For timing and logistics, our guide to PV2 exam dates and scheduling covers what to ask your administrator.

Where the Points Come From: The 15 Competency Areas

ETA states that exam questions derive from the certification competencies. The published PV2 competency document lists 15 numbered headings. Critically, these are unweighted objectives. ETA does not publish a percentage-based blueprint, so nobody can honestly tell you that a given domain is worth a fixed share of the 100 questions. What you can do is group the 15 areas by the kind of thinking they demand.

The remaining area, History and Background of Photovoltaics (PV), is the lightest in terms of calculation, but do not assume it is free points. Because ETA does not weight domains, give it a short, efficient review rather than skipping it. For a deeper look at all 15, read PV2 exam domains: complete guide to all 15 content areas.

Question Style and Format

ETA's listing specifies the length, time limit, and passing score, but not a detailed description of item types, so avoid relying on anyone who claims to know the exact mix. What the competency structure does suggest is a blend of conceptual recall (codes, safety, grid basics) and applied problems (sizing, wiring, troubleshooting). Practice accordingly: do not only read, also work problems where you derive an answer and check it.

Because the exam is a written test delivered either online or on paper through an administrator, you should rehearse under timed conditions. A realistic two-hour, 100-question run shows you whether your pacing holds up. You can do this with the PV2 practice tests on our main site, which let you simulate the full-length experience and review misses by competency area.

Calculators and Reference Materials

ETA's general testing FAQ permits a nonprogrammable calculator. It does not establish PV2-specific book permissions. That distinction matters: do not assume you can bring a code book or notes into the exam. Ask your ETA Certification Administrator in advance what reference materials, if any, are allowed for your sitting, and train as though you will have only a basic calculator and your own knowledge.

Practically, that means you should be fluent with the calculator you will bring, and you should be able to navigate the underlying code concepts from memory rather than by looking things up. Candidates who rely on flipping through a reference during practice tend to run short on time when the reference is not available.

Building a Plan Around the Cut Score

Since 75% is the target and domains are unweighted, the strongest approach is to make every area at least competent and then push the calculation-heavy areas toward mastery. One compact way to sequence your preparation, tied to PV2 content rather than generic habits:

That schedule front-loads the foundational material so the math chapters build on it, and saves the end-of-lifecycle topics for when you can tie them back to design decisions. For a fuller preparation roadmap, see the PV2 study guide, and keep the PV2 cheat sheet handy for last-week review.

After You Pass: Term and Maintenance

A passing score and a completed file earn a certification term of four years. Renewal is where ETA's own materials do not line up, and you should not paper over that. The PV2 checklist specifies 24 continuing-education hours over four years and $25 annual maintenance. ETA's general maintenance policy, however, distinguishes standard maintenance (40 hours over four years or employer verification) from hands-on maintenance (24 hours plus employer verification), and both general routes carry $25 annual maintenance. The overview also marks hands-on as not required.

Because those sources conflict, confirm the correct PV2 route directly with ETA rather than assuming one. ETA's general maintenance page is at etai.org/maintenance.html.

If you are weighing whether the whole process pays off, our PV2 ROI analysis and salary guide cover the career side, and PV2 jobs looks at who tends to hire for the credential.

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