Designer Qualifications and Resources

The Designer Qualification Program for Applicant Design and Contract Design (AD/CD)  pre-qualifies non-SDG&E designers to perform SDG&E gas and/or electric design. The program also provides no-cost access to SDG&E design tools and systems. 

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About the Designer Qualification Program

Applicant Design (AD)

 Applicants may select a pre-qualified design contractor to perform distribution line extensions in accordance with the utility's design and construction standards as specified under Rule 15 Gas and Electric Tariffs. 

Contract Design (CD)

The utility may choose to hire an external contract firm who has pre-qualified designers to perform gas and electric design normally performed by the utility.  The contracted firm may also subcontract with firms having pre-qualified designers. 

Interested applicants may enroll in one or more of the four design disciplines:

  • Overhead Electric
  • Underground Electric
  • Gas
  • Transformer Vault 

How to Become a Qualified Designer (AD/CD) 

  • Schedule and take an exam within one of the four design disciplines.

Note: It is the responsibility of the designer’s company to provide training for the exam. The Designer Qualification Program will provide information needed for the exam such as manuals, standards, and calculators.

  • Pass an exam within one of the four disciplines. 
  • Once you meet the minimum approved design hour requirements within each discipline, you'll become a Qualified Designer within the given discipline.

If you're interested in learning more about the Designer Qualification Program, please review the fact sheet

How to Register for the Exam

There are two ways to register for an exam. Please read the following carefully.  

  1. If you have an active SDG&E contractor email ([email protected] or [email protected]), register as an  "Internal Applicant" using the Internal Applicant Instructions below. 

  2. If you do not have an active SDG&E contractor email ([email protected] or [email protected]), register as a "Guest" using the Guest Applicant Instructions below. 

Internal Applicant Instructions 
Guest Applicant Instructions 

Please note exam registration closes 72 hours prior to exam.

Resources

We've created a self-service hub for all the information and resources you'll need to pass the exams. 

Electric Manuals

View our electric manuals

Design Tools

425.00 KB
XLS
Demand3 New Version_gs 3.13.2019
Demand3 New Version_gs 3.13.2019
186.00 KB
XLS
Gas Load
Gas Load
288.00 KB
XLS
PMLite Alternate VDF Program
PMLite Alternate VDF Program
54.97 KB
XLSM
Pulcalc5
Pulcalc5
2.73 MB
XLS
Voltdrop
Voltdrop

Training Material

103.19 MB
MP4
DQP Remote Testing Video
DQP Remote Testing Video
2.17 MB
PPTX
Alternate VDF Examples
Alternate VDF Examples
21.11 MB
MP4
Underground Flicker Calculation Using the Alternate VDF Calculator Video
Underground Flicker Calculation Using the Alternate VDF Calculator Video
21.56 MB
ZIP
Underground Voltage Drop Calculation Using the Alternate VDF Calculator Video
Underground Voltage Drop Calculation Using the Alternate VDF Calculator Video
13.24 MB
MP4
ProctorFree Guide Video
ProctorFree Guide Video
532.49 KB
PDF
Lexicon
Lexicon
8.38 MB
PDF
Work Order Guidelines
Work Order Guidelines

Firms interested in Contract Design work with SDG&E 

To be eligible for contract design work with SDG&E, your firm must: 

  • Be a signatory to a design contract with SDG&E  
  • Have at least one qualified designer or enrollee on staff 

Please note: If your firm is interested in performing contract work, please coordinate with Supply Management and the business units you wish to support.

  • Subcontractors may not be onboarded under the prime. 

Looking for a Qualified Applicant Designer? 

View the SDG&E Qualified Applicant Designer List

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Register for the Exam

    There are two ways to register for an exam. Please read the following carefully.  

    1. If you have an active SDG&E contractor email ([email protected] or [email protected]), register as an  "Internal Applicant" using the Internal Applicant Instructions below. 

    2. If you do not have an active SDG&E contractor email ([email protected] or [email protected]), register as a "Guest" using the Guest Applicant Instructions below. 

    Internal Applicant Instructions 
    Guest Applicant Instructions 

    DQP exams take place online through virtual proctoring. For more information, check out our DQP Remote Testing Video and our ProctorFree Guide Video.

    Hours are accumulated by performing Contract Design work and are tracked via RUBRICs. Once approved and graded by an SDG&E design reviewer, the recorded hours may be added to the qualifying designer’s profile.

    See our the Fact Sheet for details.

     

    Yes, you must have passed a test for at least one of the disciplines; overhead electric, underground electric, gas or transformer vault. You can then perform SDG&E design work for the disciplines you've passed.

    Email the Designer Qualification Program at [email protected]