Solar Accreditation Australia, SAA, is the body that accredits installers for grid-connected solar and battery work. For anyone creating STCs from rooftop solar, accreditation is not optional. The Clean Energy Regulator expects the installer on the claim to hold the right accreditation at the date of installation.
What accreditation covers
SAA accreditation recognises that a licensed electrician has completed the required training and meets the standard for installing solar and, with additional requirements, batteries. It sits on top of your state electrical licence, not instead of it. The accredited person is responsible for the installation’s compliance with the relevant standards, and their details are recorded in the claim.
Why it matters to your claims
STC creation depends on the system being installed by an accredited person. If the accreditation has lapsed, or does not cover the work, the claim can be rejected, and you can lose the certificate value on a job you have already completed. For the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, the accredited installer requirement is explicit, and there are battery-specific requirements covered in SAA battery accreditation requirements.
What to keep current
- Your accreditation status and expiry date.
- Your underlying electrical licence.
- Training and development requirements set by SAA.
- Any extra endorsements needed for batteries.
Common problems
Accreditation lapses when renewal reminders are missed, and a job installed during a lapse is a problem even if you renew a week later. Another is a crew where the accredited installer on paper is not the person doing the work. Both attract audit attention. Our guide to how STC audits work explains what the regulator checks.
From the desk: diarise your expiry date, and check it before you accept a job that will be installed close to it.
What accreditation does not do
Accreditation does not replace compliance on every job. The installer still has to follow the standards, complete the safety paperwork and keep evidence for the claim. A great accreditation record does not rescue a job with missing photos or a mismatched serial number, which is why the day-to-day routine matters as much as the status.
What this means for installers
Treat accreditation like a licence to trade. If you are new, start with how to apply for solar accreditation. Once you are accredited and installing, the STC trading page explains how to turn certificates into cash, and the resources hub has the paperwork guides.