System Operator Certification DL SOCCED System Operator User Guide Oct2014 Final

8/10/2019 System Operator Certification DL SOCCED System Operator User Guide Oct2014 Final

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NERC | SOCCED System Operator User Guide | October 2014

I

System Operator

User GuideSystem Operator Certification and

Continuing Education Database

October 2014


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i

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ ii

Overview .....................................................................................................................................................................1

Accessing SOCCED ......................................................................................................................................................2

Creating an Account ...................................................................................................................................................3

Navigating SOCCED .....................................................................................................................................................7

Account Management ................................................................................................................................................9

Apply for an Exam .................................................................................................................................................... 15

My Certificate and Transcript .................................................................................................................................. 19

Appendix A System Emails .................................................................................................................................... 28


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ii

Introduction

The NERC System Operator Certification and Continuing Education Database (SOCCED) application enables System

Operators to become certified as well as track and maintain their certification through Continuing Education Hours

(CEHs). SOCCED is used by both Certified System Operators and trainers.

To begin the certification process, candidates request an Authorization to Test (ATT) through SOCCED. Once anATT has been obtained, candidates have one year to schedule and complete an exam. Exams are conducted at the

approved testing center, PSI Services (PSI). Once PSI notifies NERC that a candidate has passed an exam, SOCCED

issues a certificate number based on the exam and the date. NERC then issues an official certificate to the

individual that is valid for three years.

The System Operator must maintain his or her certificate by earning CEHs and cannot re-certify through

examination. The System Operator must earn a minimum number of CEHs in specific categories within the three-

year window to maintain his or her certificate. This is explained in detail in the System Operator Certification

Program Manual.1The System Operator earns CEHs by participating in NERC-approved learning activities. These

learning activities are offered by both in-house and commercial providers. The provider of the learning activity

uploads the CEHs earned by the Certified System Operators into their personal SOCCED accounts. SOCCED tracks

these CEHs and, as minimum criteria are met, allows the Certified System Operator to maintain his or her

credential.

Contact InformationIf you have any questions, please contact a SOCCED Administrator [email protected] via phone at

(404) 446-9759 between the hours of 8:30 a.m.5:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday.

1http://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%

202012%20Final.pdf
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%202012%20Final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%202012%20Final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%202012%20Final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%202012%20Final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%202012%20Final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Train/SysOpCert/System%20Operator%20Certification%20DL/SOC%20Program%20Manual%20February%202012%20Final.pdfmailto:[email protected]


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1

Overview

This guide will help you create and manage your personal NERC Certified System Operator account. Because

personal information is stored in the system, it is not advised that you give others access to your account.

Furthermore, your account access and information will not be released to others.

SOCCED can be used to:

Register and open an account (for first time users)

Verify account information

Apply for and pay to take a NERC Certification Exam/PJM2Certification Exam

Review and verify CEH transcripts

Renew/Reprint certificates

View available CE courses listed by providers3

Users are responsible for retaining appropriate hard-copy documentation for proof of earned CEHs. Thisdocumentation may include:

Name and contact information of the training provider

Title and identification number of the learning activity with description of the content

Date of the learning activity

Location (if applicable)

Number and type of CEHs

NERC certificate number

2Reference to PJM certification exams pertains only to those system operators who operate within the PJM system and are subject to PJM

guidelines.3Not all CE providers will be listed; only those who have courses that are open to the public will be listed.


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2

Accessing SOCCED

SOCCED can be accessed at:https://nerc.socced2.mcgware.com/Login.aspx. Because SOCCED utilizes pop-up

features, it is recommended that this browser feature be enabled.
https://nerc.socced2.mcgware.com/Login.aspxhttps://nerc.socced2.mcgware.com/Login.aspxhttps://nerc.socced2.mcgware.com/Login.aspxhttps://nerc.socced2.mcgware.com/Login.aspx


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3

Creating an Account

Pop-ups must be enabled.

Click on the System Operator Registrationlink, as shown.

Complete all the required (*) information. Note that the SOCCED system will send out email notifications and

confirmations, so please provide an active email address. Answers to demographics questions are required.

Passwords are case sensitive and must contain a minimum of six characters with at least one alpha and one

numeric character.


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Creating an Account


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Once the registration form has been completed, click Save to submit.

Select a minimum of two security questions from the dropdown list. These questions will be used to identify a

user if the password has been forgotten.

Select the first question, then click Add to List. Once the questions have been selected, enter the answers,

then click Save. A message box will pop up to confirm the questions and answers have been saved successfully

and the Answered column changes from NO to YES. Click OK on the message box then Done on the

security box.


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Creating an Account


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Once your account has been activated, you will receive two emails from SOCCED Support. We suggest you save

both emails for future reference. The first email will contain your Login ID; the second will have your password.

See Appendix A for a sample of the emails.

Logging InEnter the User Name and password, then click Log In.

Password RecoveryEnter your username, then click Forgot Password.


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Creating an Account


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One of the two security questions will appear. After answering the question, click Submit.

A pop-up window will appear. Click OK in the Message box.

SOCCED Support will then email the account password to the user.

The welcome screen appears upon successful login.


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7

Navigating SOCCED

Home PageThe Home (Full Name) tab is located at the top-left corner of the screen. This tab will bring you back to the

welcome screen from anywhere in the application. To log out of the system, click on the Log Out (Full Name)

tab located at top-right corner of your screen.

A list of menu options are located to the left directly below the Welcome within the Contents Section.When

selected, each option will display its own content options. To return to the main welcome screen, click on the

Home tab.

All important announcements will be displayed in the My Announcements section. Please be sure to read the

information that appears in this section.


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Navigating SOCCED


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After an operator certificate has been issued, the main screen will have a sectioncalled My Credentials.This will

display below My Announcements.


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Account Management

My Account InformationUnder this menu option, personal information can be updated, account status obtained, password changed, and

security questions reset.

Edit My Personal Information

Select My Account Information from the content list on the welcome screen.


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Account Management


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The My Personal Information page will appear with the current information grayed out.To edit the

information, click on the Edit Button.The information will change from gray to black, and the Edit button

becomes Save.


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Account Management


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Enter your new password, then click Update.

The Change My Password box will close, indicating that the new password has been saved.

Reset My Password QuestionsProvides a means of changing security question responses.

My DemographicsThis section allows users to update their demographic information.

From the welcome page, select My Demographics from the contents section.


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Account Management


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Course ListingsDisplays the current list of approved courses by various providers.

Select the desired provider from drop-down list, then click Search.


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Account Management


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The available courses will appear on the screen. Click on the course for additional information.

A box will appear with the course contact information, course category, and total CEHs for the course.

My Transaction HistoryThis section displays your payment history.


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Apply for an Exam

An Authorization to Test (ATT) must be obtained in order to schedule an exam.

From the welcome screen, click on Request Eligibility Number.

A Request Eligibility Number box will popup. Confirm the information is correct, then click Verify.

A message box will pop up to confirm the information has been saved. Click OK.


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Apply for an Exam


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A payment window will appear. The billing address is editable and does not change your account information.

Select the appropriate exam, and the price for the exam will auto-populate. Select your method of payment.

Please Note: Eligibility numbers paid for by check will not be processed until funds have been verified by NERC.

Click Submit Payment.

A message box confirming that your payment has been saved will appear. Click OK.

A transaction invoice will appear and may be printed or emailed from this screen.


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Apply for an Exam


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PSI emails instructions for scheduling an exam directly to the candidate.

Withdraw or Change an ExamIf the wrong exam is received or if it is necessary to withdraw entirely from an exam, select the My Eligibility

Number List fromthe welcome screen.

The next screen will display all of the eligibility numbers as well as associated exams requested.

Choose the exam to be withdrawn. The following screen will pop up:


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Apply for an Exam


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WithdrawThe following menu is displayed when withdrawing. Please note that refunds cannot be requested directly from

SOCCED; they are processed via the SOCCED Administrator [email protected] (404) 446-9759.

Change ExamSelect Change exam to,then select the new exam from the drop-down list and click Save.

Exam status will change to pending. Note: Do not attempt to change an exam again until the previous request

has been processed.All exam changes are approved manually.

Once a SOCCED Administrator has reviewed and approved the request to change exams, the status will change to

Approved.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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My Certificate and Transcript

My CertificateUpon successful completion of a NERC exam, a certificate information link will appear on the welcome screen,

and an official certificate and card are mailed to the System Operator.

To view the menu options associated with your transcript, click on the certificate number.

Renew CertificateClick on the certificate you wish to renew as shown above.

From the contents menu on the left, click on Renew My Certificate.

The payment box for renewing the certificate will pop up. Enter the payment information, then click SubmitRequest.


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A message box confirming your payment has been saved will appear. Click OK.

TranscriptThe Transcript page displays a users continuing education status. Available information includes: certificate

expiration date, NERC CEH requirements, and the number of earned, rolled over, total, and remaining hours.

Transcript page options:

Transcript VersionsThis menu displays the Status History for your certificate:


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Transcript Activity LogThis menu allows a user to view completed courses.

My Certificate Reprint

This option allows a System Operator to request an official certificate reprint.

From the welcome screen, click on the certificate number.

From the Transcript Content menu, select My Certificate Reprint.


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Enter payment information, then click Submit.

Print/Save Certificate PDFThis menu option allows users to download a PDF to print a certificate.

The following message box will appear asking to open or save as certificate.pdf.


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Select open, which will cause the certificate to appear.

Change My Certificate TypeChange My Certificate Type allows an operator to become certified in a function that requires fewerCEHs.

Once the proper number of hours are completed, a Change My Certificate Type Link appears as a transcript

content menu option.


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A Change Certificate window will pop up, requesting demographic information that must be provided to proceed.

After entering the information, click Save.


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Select the provider to grant viewing and printing privileges from the drop-down list. Click Find Contact.

Provider contact information will auto-populate. Click Authorize.


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Revoke Transcript AuthorizationFrom the welcome page, click on the My Transcript Authorization Requests link under Contents.

The Transcript Authorizationsscreen displays a list of providers with authorization to view your transcript. To

remove a providers ability to view transcripts, click the Revoke link next to the provider.

A Revoke Authorization window will pop up. Enter a reason in the Revoke Reason section, then click Revoke.


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Appendix ASystem Emails

Temporary Password Email

Documents

System Operator Certification DL SOCCED System Operator User Guide Oct2014 Final