System Operator

User Guide
System Operator Certification and
Continuing Education Database
October 2014

NERC | SOCCED System Operator User Guide | October 2014

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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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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 an
ATT 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 threeyear window to maintain his or her certificate. This is explained in detail in the System Operator Certification
Program Manual.1 The 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 Information
If you have any questions, please contact a SOCCED Administrator at SOCCEDSupport@nerc.net or 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
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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/PJM2 Certification 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. This
documentation 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

Reference to PJM certification exams pertains only to those system operators who operate within the PJM system and are subject to PJM
guidelines.
3 Not all CE providers will be listed; only those who have courses that are open to the public will be listed.
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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.

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Creating an Account
Pop-ups must be enabled.
Click on the System Operator Registration link, 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

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

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 In
Enter the User Name and password, then click Log In.

Password Recovery
Enter your username, then click Forgot Password.

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Creating an Account

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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Navigating SOCCED
Home Page
The 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

After an operator certificate has been issued, the main screen will have a section called My Credentials. This will
display below My Announcements.

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Account Management
My Account Information
Under 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

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

After editing the information, click Save.

My Status Details
Displays details of your account.

Change Password
Login to SOCCED, then click on My Account Information.

Click on Change My Password.

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Account Management

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 Questions
Provides a means of changing security question responses.

My Demographics
This 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

Course Listings
Displays 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

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 History
This 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 pop up. 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

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

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

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

Withdraw
The following menu is displayed when withdrawing. Please note that refunds cannot be requested directly from
SOCCED; they are processed via the SOCCED Administrator at SOCCEDsupport@NERC.net or (404) 446-9759.

Change Exam
Select 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.

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My Certificate and Transcript

My Certificate
Upon 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 Certificate
Click 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 Submit
Request.

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My Certificate and Transcript

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

Transcript
The 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 Versions
This menu displays the Status History for your certificate:

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My Certificate and Transcript

Transcript Activity Log

This 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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My Certificate and Transcript

Enter payment information, then click Submit.

Print/Save Certificate PDF

This 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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My Certificate and Transcript

Select open, which will cause the certificate to appear.

Change My Certificate Type

Change My Certificate Type allows an operator to become certified in a function that requires fewer CEHs.
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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My Certificate and Transcript

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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My Certificate and Transcript

The payment window will appear. The dropdown for Change Certificate will display the eligible certificates.
Select the appropriate certificate, enter payment information then, click Submit Request.

My Transcript Authorization Requests

This screen allows a user to give a provider the ability to view his or her transcript.
Click on the My Transcript Authorization Requests link under Contents.

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My Certificate and Transcript

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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My Certificate and Transcript

Revoke Transcript Authorization

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

The Transcript Authorizations screen 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 A System Emails

New Account Confirmation Email

Password Confirmation

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Appendix A System Emails

Temporary Password Email

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