North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid.
System Operator Certification & Credential Maintenance Program
The System Operator Certification Program promotes skilled and qualified system operators to ensure the reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES).
The System Operator Certification Program provides the framework for operators to obtain initial certification in one of four NERC credentials: Reliability Coordinator Operator; Balancing, Interchange, and Transmission Operator; Transmission Operator; and Balancing and Interchange Operator. A system operator credential is a personal credential that NERC issues to a person for successfully passing a NERC System Operator Certification Exam. Each credential focuses on a specific functional area of system operations. Operators maintain each credential by accumulating a specified number of continuing education hours (CEH) within a specified period of time.
Before scheduling your exam with Pearson VUE, you must have already:
- Created an account in SOCCED (System Operator Certification Continuing Education Database)
- Registered and paid for the exam in SOCCED
To Register or Log in to the System Operator Certification Continuing Education Database (SOCCED), click here. (works best in Chrome)
Important: The first and last name used to create your SOCCED account must match the name on the primary and secondary identifications.
Non-Disclosure and Code of Conduct Agreement
Prior to the start of your exam, you must read and accept the terms of the NERC Non-Disclosure Agreement onscreen before continuing to the exam. If you select Decline, the system will prompt you to verify that you want to accept Decline. If you select Decline a second time, your exam will end and show as Refused and you will not be able to continue to the exam. Your exam fee will be forfeited. This attempt in your records will show as Refused. If you want to take another exam you will need to register/pay for the exam in SOCCED. Please review the terms of the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) now so you are fully prepared to either Accept or Decline the NDA.
Please also read the Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement
For Additional Program Information
See the System Operator Certification Program Manual and other program related documents on the One-Stop Shop (System Operators Certification and Credential Maintenance Program) (nerc.com) page located on the System Operator Certification & Credential Maintenance Program (nerc.com).
Submit a Request for SOCCED, System Operator Program, Credential Maintenance Program, and Provider Support questions.
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Contact us
Office hours
Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. CT; closed on local holidays.
Telephone numbers
- 888-736-0563 (toll-free)
Last updated: 2025-01-27