We previously wrote about BPI Certification changes back in 2020, but of course the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the pilot and launch of those changes. Three years later, and the Building Performance Institute (BPI) is ready to talk seriously about BPI Certification 2023 changes once again.
Background
BPI’s home energy auditor certifications have been highly regarded in the industry for over 20 years. Because building science and energy auditing practices are continuously evolving, BPI likewise updates its certifications now and then to keep pace with industry advances.
The aforementioned talk of changes fell under this cycle. BPI established a Scheme Committee composed of Subject Matter Experts to evaluate the BPI Building Analyst and BPI Envelope certifications against the current state of the industry. Their mission was to compare the existing Job Task Analysis (JTA) for Building Analyst to those of the HEP Energy Auditor and BPI Envelope Professional, to eliminate redundancy.
BPI Certification 2023 Summary of Changes
The Scheme Committee determined the following about the BPI Building Analyst:
It should absorb the BPI Envelope.
It should include energy modeling and work scope development.
It should be broken into two certifications.
It should have BPI Building Science Principles (BPI BSP) as a prerequisite.
Let’s discuss these BPI Certification 2023 changes in greater detail…
Similar to this update, BPI had a big update in 2014 to Building Analyst, which beefed up the JTA to almost match Envelope. For the last eight years, Building Analyst and Envelope were nearly identical. So by sunsetting the BPI Envelope designation, BPI will be removing a choice that has long caused confusion anyway.
Ironically, however, by once again beefing up Building Analyst, BPI realized that the new JTA was lengthy and broad in scope. This necessitated dividing the JTA into two certifications once again. The BPI Certification 2023 names are BPI Building Analyst Technician and BPI Building Analyst Professional.
BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) covers data collection and diagnostic testing. Candidates must first earn the BPI Building Science Principles certificate of knowledge before they can attempt the BA-T certification. To earn the BA-T certification, candidates must pass a field exam (no written exam).
BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) covers the principles of using computer software to model the energy upgrade potential of a home and developing a scope of work. A passing score on the BA-T field exam is a prerequisite before a candidate can pursue this certification; and to earn the BA-P certification, candidates must pass a written exam only.
Thus, BPI Certification 2023 will require the following (mandatory) progression:
BPI announced these changes in October and stated that the exams for the updated certifications would be available at BPI Test Centers on January 1, 2023.
Given the massive lift for BPI Test Centers, training providers, and the industry at large to understand these changes, we asked BPI about the potential overlap of legacy BPI certifications and BPI Certification 2023 credentials.
In response, BPI agreed to extend the opportunity for participants to earn the legacy BPI certifications through May 31, 2023. They want to still advertise the BPI Certification 2023 credentials but understand that all the stakeholders need time to make the necessary changes to appropriately deliver the new programs. As a result, we anticipate a hard cutover from the old scheme to the new scheme on June 1, 2023.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law in August 2022, invests $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create good-paying jobs in clean energy, and improve household energy efficiency across the U.S. It is the most significant federal climate investment in U.S. history. These residential and commercial energy efficiency-focused investments are divided between rebates, training grants, and federal tax credits — explained more in depth below.
Tax Credits
Some Inflation Reduction Act funding is not yet available, as federal guidance is pending, and states are still designing their programs to meet federal guidelines. However, homeowners and building developers can take advantage of federal tax credits immediately!
The IRA expanded and extended several energy efficiency tax credits for homeowners as well as residential and commercial building developers. In particular, the IRA revitalizes tax credits found in Internal Revenue Code Sections 25C, 25D, and 45L.
25C – the Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Tax Credit
The Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit offers homeowners an annual tax credit for energy efficiency home improvements.
It replaced the Non-business Energy Property Credit, which was previously a lifetime credit of just $500. The IRA updated this credit to provide annual credits of up to $1,200 per year plus an additional $2,000 for heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. The shift from a lifetime credit to an annual credit provides significantly more flexibility to homeowners, who will now be able to spread out their home energy improvement projects over the 10-year life of the 25C credit.
Key takeaways:
Starting in 2023, credit increases to 30% of total installation costs through 2032.
Lifetime cap of $500 will be replaced by annual $1,200 total limit (plus an additional $2,000 for electric heat pumps).
25C credits be combined with rebates offered through DOE’s $8.8 billion Home Energy Rebates Program, an IRA program not yet available to the public.
Eligible services and home improvements include:
Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters ($2,000 credit)
Insulation and air sealing ($1,200 credit, installation costs not covered)
Energy audits ($150 credit)
Energy-efficient HVAC systems, incl. furnaces, boilers, and central AC ($600 credit)
Electrical panel upgrades ($600 credit)
Energy-efficient windows and doors ($500 credit for doors, $600 credit for windows, installation costs not covered)
Roofs are no longer eligible
A separate $2,000 annual limit for heat pumps and heat pump hot water heaters
45L – New Energy Efficient Home Credit
IRC Section 45L, the New Energy Efficient Home Credit, offers tax credits to single-family and multi-family home builders for new (or substantially reconstructed) energy efficient homes.
45L provides two tiers of tax credits depending on which standards eligible construction or re-construction projects meet. Single-family home projects (including manufactured homes) that meet ENERGY STAR standards are eligible to receive a $2,500 tax credit, while new multi-family dwelling units can receive $500 per unit. The higher tier of credits created by the IRA is available to homes that meet DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program requirements, which are more stringent than ENERGY STAR. For projects that qualify for this higher tier, builders can receive $5,000 per single-family home and $1,000 per multi-family dwelling unit.
Key Takeaways:
Credit revived and made retroactive for 2022 (at original $2,000)
Starting in 2023, credit increases to $5,000 for single-family, multifamily, and manufactured homes through 2032
Energy-efficiency standards are higher in the IRA-version of 45L than before
No limits on the number of single family or multi-family units that can qualify for a 45L credit
Credits are boosted for projects where workers are paid “prevailing wages.”
25D – Residential Clean Energy Property Credit
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, taxpayers can receive a tax credit to cover 30% of the costs of installing solar energy property on their homes, in addition to other clean energy improvements. For example, this credit also applies to solar systems that are paired with battery storage. Starting on January 1, 2023, this credit will also apply to standalone battery storage installed without solar. For a full list of upgrades that are eligible for this tax credit, click here.
Key Takeaways:
Raises credit from 26% to 30% through 2032; will step down in 2033 and be eliminated for residential in 2035.
Credit is retroactive to solar systems installed during the 2022 tax year.
There is no maximum dollar amount that can be claimed.
Starting in 2023, stand-alone battery storage qualifies for a credit.
Rebates & Training Grants
In addition to tax credits, the Inflation Reduction Act also sets aside $9 billion in funding for residential energy efficiency upgrades as well as training for home energy performance contractors!
$8.8 Billion Home Energy Rebates Program
The IRA created two new programs that will provide households with $8.8 billion in rebates for high efficiency electric appliance upgrades and whole-home energy retrofits. Collectively, they are known as the Home Energy Rebate Programs. Individually, they are referred to as the Home Efficiency Program and the Home Electrification Program. Home Energy Rebate funding will be distributed to state energy offices and subsequently flow to program implementers – who will vary from state to state based on each states’ unique program design and guidelines. Rebates are expected to be available to the public in early 2024.
$4.3 billion for DOE Home Efficiency Program
Formerly referred to as the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings or “HOMES” Program.
Rebates amounts are performance-based: the more energy you save, the more you earn.
Up to $2,000 for energy efficiency retrofits with modeled energy savings of 20-34%.
Up to $4,000 for energy efficiency retrofits with modeled energy savings of 35% or more.
Upgrades can include HVAC and other electric appliances as well as weatherization measures (e.g. insulation, air sealing, windows/ doors, etc.)
Low-moderate income households are eligible for additional rebates up to $8,000.
Home Efficiency rebates cannot be combined with other federal grants or rebates, but CAN be combined with state/utility rebates and federal tax credits.
$4.5 Billion for DOE Home Electrification Program
Rebates targeted towards low-moderate income households for high-efficiency electric appliances and equipment
Maximum rebate of $14,000 per household
Eligible upgrades and their rebate amounts are as follows:
Heat pump water heaters: $1,750
Heat pump for space heating and cooling: $8,000
Electric stoves: $840
Heat pump clothes dryers: $840
Electrical panel upgrades: $4,000
Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation: $1,600
Electric wiring: $2,500
Installation: $500
Home Electrification rebates cannot be combined with other federal grants or rebates, but CAN be combined with state/utility rebates and federal tax credits.
$200 Million for Residential Energy Contractor Training
Officially known as DOE’s Training for Residential Energy Contractors or “TREC,” this grant program sets aside $200 million for state energy offices to fund their own workforce development activities specifically for residential home energy performance contractors. DOE expects to distribute these funds to states as early as 2023, and will be available to states through September 2031.
Some say that the climate bill could create up to 1,000 new companies. Its passage will be huge for startups as well as the big venture capital firms that back them. In other words, it’s a great time to start a solar company and get in on the influx of cash coming from this legislation.
Perhaps the biggest impact is that government investment in climate initiatives will give private investors and consumers much more confidence in the climate space. This could reveal itself by way of utilities offering rebates for solar panel installation and home energy audits, which in turn drives up homeowner demand and CREATES MORE WORK in the industry.
Are you prepared for the new business coming your way? Start honing your skills now so that you can take full advantage of this funding!
The biggest chunk of money from this legislation goes to clean energy, such as solar. Browse Our Solar Courses and learn how to sell, design & install solar panel systems!
The bill also includes rebates for people who invest in energy-efficient home improvements, which means a lot of homeowners are going to be wanting home energy audits. This just screams BPI Building Analyst – register today so you’ll be certified and ready to get that business!
The utility will reward existing HEIP and HEEAP Program Contractors with a financial incentive toward BPI training and certification.
Everblue Training, a nationally recognized provider of sustainability and energy efficiency courses, has entered into an agreement with Georgia Power, the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, to provide discounted BPI Building Analyst training to its contractors.
Participants of Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) and Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (HEEAP) may apply for the opportunity to receive a monetary credit toward online BPI Building Analyst training through Everblue.
The BPI Building Analyst training prepares home performance contractors to become certified home energy auditors. BPI-certified professionals analyze whole-house energy use by performing a series of diagnostic tests using specialized equipment. Through combustion safety testing and air leakage testing, a BPI Building Analyst professional can identify heating and cooling problems that lead to high energy costs, health problems, and occupant discomfort.
“The BPI Building Analyst Certification is a natural fit for Georgia Power’s HEIP and HEEAP contractors,” said Sean Gray, Everblue’s BPI Program Manager. “Both the HEIP and HEEAP programs require technicians to use building science principles during a home energy assessment, and the educated recommendations that they provide to homeowners result in lower energy bills, greater thermal comfort, and sometimes life-saving home improvements. Here at Everblue, we’re honored to play a role in that knowledge-sharing. Together with Georgia Power, we are empowering contractors and home occupants alike.”
The online BPI Building Analyst program provides a quick and convenient format for getting BPI certified, by including self-paced video modules and both the written and field certification exams.
“This is such a great professional development opportunity for participating contractors,” Gray said. “In addition to the valuable knowledge gained, they’ll also be able to add a nationally recognized industry certification to their resume. That level of credibility will help them stand out from competitors and help instill confidence in their homeowner clients.”
Everblue has been an approved BPI Test Center for over 10 years and has trained tens of thousands of home performance professionals across the country.
Existing HEIP and HEEAP program contractors may apply for this opportunity by emailing Erica White at [email protected].
For more information about BPI Certification, call Everblue at (800) 460-2575 or visit the company website at everbluetraining.com.
About Everblue
Everblue helps professionals and organizations achieve success by offering a comprehensive suite of professional training programs and certification management solutions. Its curriculum includes short-term courses focused on emerging technology fields, such as energy efficiency and cybersecurity. In addition to training courses, Everblue also helps its organizational clients with digital test administration, online exam hosting, proctoring, badging, and association membership management.
Everblue, a nationally recognized education company, will work with the Florida Association for Community Action (FACA) to train and certify weatherization contractors across the state in home performance and energy efficiency concepts.
As the state’s official training partner, Everblue will develop curriculum, train, and provide technical assistance to participants on the following topics:
Whole-House Energy Auditing
Quality Control Inspections
Combustion Safety
Health and Safety in accordance with ASHRAE 62.2 2016
These courses will enable Florida weatherization contractors to earn the esteemed HEP Energy Auditor and HEP Quality Control Inspector certifications, which represent the home performance industry’s highest levels of technical understanding and achievement.
This knowledge contributes to FACA’s mission of increasing the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, improving occupant health and safety, and providing career advancement opportunities for weatherization contractors.
Everblue has been offering building science training since 2008 and maintains a close relationship with the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the non-profit organization that created the professional certification standards for home energy auditors and weatherization contractors.
As an approved BPI Test Center, Everblue’s instructors provide BPI training classes and administer corresponding BPI certification exams, allowing for a one-stop-shop certification solution for candidates.
In addition to meeting BPI’s quality standards, Everblue’s training curriculum is aligned with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s job task analyses and accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. The organization also has more than ten years of experience preparing participants for in-demand energy efficiency careers.
“Since inception, we have regularly trained students from weatherization agencies across the country as part of the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program,” said Chris Boggiano, co-founder of Everblue. “The vast majority of our BPI training students pass their written and field certification exams on their first attempt. Our instructors have both deep real-world experience and a passion for educating others that make our classes second to none.”
FACA will host Everblue’s BPI training courses at its state-of-the-art weatherization training center in Tampa, FL, in Spring 2021. Everblue will also conduct training at the FACA Annual Training Conference in May 2021 to all 18 weatherization agencies in Florida.
For more information about Everblue’s BPI Certification programs, or to view its 2021 training schedule, please visit https://everbluetraining.com/ or call (800) 460-2575.
About Everblue Everblue helps professionals and organizations achieve success by offering a comprehensive suite of professional training programs and certification management solutions. Its curriculum includes short-term courses focused on emerging technology fields, such as energy efficiency and cybersecurity. In addition to training courses, Everblue also helps its organizational clients with digital test administration, online exam hosting, proctoring, badging, and association membership management.
Everblue, a nationally recognized and accredited education company, will work with the Louisiana Housing Corporation to train and certify weatherization contractors across the state in home performance and energy efficiency concepts.
As Louisiana’s Weatherization Training Center Partner, Everblue will develop curriculum, train, and provide technical assistance to participants seeking the following certifications:
Everblue has been offering building science training since 2008 and maintains a close relationship with the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the non-profit organization that created the professional certification standards for home energy auditors and weatherization contractors.
As an approved BPI Test Center, Everblue’s authorized instructors provide BPI training classes and administer corresponding BPI certification exams, allowing for a one-stop-shop certification solution for candidates.
In addition to meeting BPI’s quality standards, Everblue’s training curriculum is also aligned with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s job task analyses and accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. The organization likewise has more than ten years of experience preparing participants for in-demand energy efficiency careers.
“Since inception, we have regularly trained students from weatherization agencies across the country as part of the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program,” said Chris Boggiano, co-founder of Everblue. “The vast majority of our BPI training students pass their written and field certification exams on their first attempt. Our instructors have both deep real-world experience and a passion for educating others that make our classes second to none.”
The LHC will host Everblue’s BPI training courses at its state-of-the-art Weatherization Training Center in Baton Rouge, LA.
For more information about Everblue’s BPI Certification programs, or to view the training schedule, please visit https://everbluetraining.com/ or call (800) 460-2575.
About Everblue
Everblue helps professionals and organizations achieve success by offering a comprehensive suite of professional training programs and certification management solutions. Its curriculum includes short-term courses focused on emerging technology fields, such as energy efficiency and cybersecurity. In addition to training courses, Everblue also helps its organizational clients with digital test administration, online exam hosting, proctoring, badging, and association membership management.
About LHC
The Louisiana Housing Corporation’s mission is to ensure that every Louisiana resident is granted an opportunity to obtain safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing. The organization administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of energy-efficient and affordable housing for working families, drive housing policy for Louisiana, and oversee the state’s Disaster Housing Task Force. For more information, visit https://www.lhc.la.gov/.
For those of you who are thinking about adding home energy audits and blower door testing to your skills, you’ve likely come across BPI Certification in your research. It’s a nationally recognized certification program for home energy professionals and contractors. So, how much is BPI Certification?
Well, it depends on which BPI certification you want to pursue. There are 14 certifications to choose from.
Quick background: What is BPI? What is Everblue?
BPI stands for the Building Performance Institute, a nonprofit organization that created ANSI-accredited standards for home energy auditing.
BPI relies on a network of partners, like Everblue, to provide BPI training courses and to administer the BPI certification exams.
There are some organizations out there that only provide training but are not approved to offer the exams. As an approved BPI Test Center, we at Everblue do provide all necessary BPI training & testing in one package, making for an easy one-stop-shop experience for you.
So as you ask “How much is BPI Certification?” remember to keep in mind that there are costs associated with training and exams. Best case scenario, as is here at Everblue, you register for a program that includes both – because you need both.
How to Get BPI Certification
Most of the BPI certifications require that you pass a written exam and a field exam.
The written exam is a computer-based test comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions.
The field exam is a one-on-one proctored experience where candidates demonstrate proper use of the energy auditing equipment and knowledge of how to correctly perform the corresponding diagnostic test.
As a BPI Test Center, Everblue staff is responsible for proctoring all certification exams. And the exam fees paid by participants are actually hard fees that we then pay to BPI.
Typically, a written exam will cost about $400 and a field exam will cost about $700. Note that these fees are per designation.
The bulk of the expense is in those exam fees…and you can’t really avoid that! If you need to be certified, then you need to take and pass the certification exams.
Although many of the BPI certifications have a similar process of training + written exam + field exam, the question of “How much is BPI Certification?” then depends on which – and how many – BPI certifications you intend to pursue. After all, you might choose to get certified in 1, 2 or 3+ areas, which means that you have to pass multiple written exams and multiple field exams. Each of those exams has a cost associated with it.
Which BPI Certification should I get?
Excellent question! As I mentioned above, there are 14 professional certifications from BPI that you can pursue.
The most popular BPI certifications are:
BPI Infiltration & Duct Leakage – meant for technicians who need to get certified in blower door and duct leakage testing (typically for state energy code compliance reasons)
BPI Building Analyst – meant for professionals who want to offer whole-house energy audits, blower door testing, air quality testing, combustion safety testing, and retrofit improvement recommendations
There are natural overlaps in subject matter among these three certifications, so we’ve packaged our BPI training program in such a way that participants can pursue 2 or 3 designations at once. This ultimately saves you time and money.
For more detailed information about all of the various BPI certifications, view our BPI Certification Explained page.
Now, how much is BPI Certification?
As I mentioned earlier, the cost of BPI Certification first takes into account training + written exam + field exam.
Then, you have to factor in which – and how many – BPI certification(s) you want to pursue.
Please visit our course pages below to see current pricing rates:
While it’s important to set the expectation of how much you’ll be spending to earn BPI Certification, remember that the expense is an investment in your future and your success.
We’ve trained many experienced industry professionals who came out of BPI training saying, “Wow, I’ve been doing this work for years…but I actually learned a lot of new skills and equations during this course.” Check it out for yourself! Visit our Everblue Training Reviews page to see what past participants have said.
More often than not, those who take a BPI certification course typically work in related fields, such as HVAC or insulation, and need to learn specifically about building science principles and blower door testing to capitalize on new business opportunities. Experienced industry professionals get BPI certified because they want to go into business for themselves and/or obtain the necessary certification required by their state to continue doing business.
Not sure if BPI certification is right for you? Give us a call at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll talk you through the options that make the most sense for you.
E4TheFuture and E2 have released their latest energy efficiency jobs report, which highlights the fact that energy efficiency has historically proven to be a job growth catalyst in the aftermath of economic meltdown.
The 12-page report cites the Recovery Act investments after the 2009 financial collapse that led to the weatherization of more than 1 million homes. “Electricians, HVAC technicians and other construction workers – as well as manufacturers of building supplies and ENERGY STAR® appliances – quickly returned to work. Consumers and businesses saved billions of dollars, our environment benefitted, and our nation became more energy secure. Now with the right stimulus policies, we can do it again, but better.”
Energy Efficiency Jobs in 2020 – Prior & During COVID-19
Energy efficiency has historically been a job-creation powerhouse, growing two times faster than overall nationwide employment since 2017 to reach nearly 2.4 million workers at the end of 2019.
For the last four years, the energy efficiency sector became one of the biggest, fastest-growing, and most beneficial sectors for both our economy and our environment.
The energy efficiency workforce was projected to grow 3% in 2020. Of course no one could have predicted the pandemic.
Instead of growing as expected, there was a loss of 13.5% energy efficiency jobs in the U.S. In addition, there was an increase in utility and energy costs due to more people working from home. Ordinarily, efficiency and weatherization would reduce energy costs by 25%, but as one weatherization consultant noted, the pandemic shut down service for over 120 days and resulted in hundreds of delayed home service deliveries.
Instead of focusing on the negatives, the “Energy Efficiency Jobs in America” report aims to learn from lessons of the past and create a game plan for future success.
Workforce development is vital to future economic health, and federal stimulus money has proven to be a fast way to get unemployed and transitioning people back to work quickly with new, relevant skills.
The report notes that “Energy efficiency jobs are a great option for those previously employed by contracting energy sectors and those in industries struggling to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. These are high quality jobs offering above average wages and, in many cases, benefits for young people and mid-career individuals entering the workforce.”
If you are a contractor in need of energy efficiency training, visit our Course Catalog or call (800) 460-2575 for guidance on how to proceed.
Local Job Support & Appreciation
What’s great about energy efficiency jobs is that they are inherently local; the vast majority cannot be off-shored. With on-site work required to improve homes and buildings, it’s likely you know energy efficiency professionals in your community.
Stimulus money can get the ball rolling on the training front, but communities can also help support homegrown small businesses by using locally made products and hiring professionals to do home energy audits and weatherization work.
Where can you find trained professionals in your community?
Energy efficiency is a proven catalyst for broad economic recovery that can create solid careers in every state and county for years to come.
A model of a robust stimulus package for retrofits of existing buildings illustrates how such a stimulus would create jobs, save money, reduce energy dependence and spur economic growth, all while reducing pollution and climate emissions.
Federal policy leadership is essential to ensure that both indoor air quality and energy efficiency are addressed to benefit property owners, occupants, and the country.
We need to…
Continue funding for federal energy efficiency programs with a proven track record.
State energy programs
Weatherization programs
Energy efficiency and conservation grants
Support initiatives that incentivize existing building owners to make smart indoor air quality and energy efficiency upgrades to their properties.
Commercial and residential building tax credits
Residential energy efficiency rebate programs to drive job creation for local contractors
Programs to encourage greater efficiency and sustainability in the U.S. housing supply
Programs focused on resilience, energy efficiency, and air quality in public buildings
Support programs that move the country forward on indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
Strengthen building and appliance efficiency standards with training and enforcement
Direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure rebuilding projects after natural disasters meet the most current international building codes
Fund energy audits, technical assistance, and financing options for large manufacturers
Advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in federal energy efficiency programs.
Strengthen workforce development and apprenticeship programs for the energy efficiency sector while prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion
Create a workforce grant program to help organizations and small businesses hire and train new energy efficiency employees with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion
In conclusion…
State and local leaders can keep energy efficiency jobs growing by:
Adopting efficiency and indoor air quality standards for new construction and existing buildings
Adopting energy benchmarking and reporting requirements for existing buildings
Incorporating broader use of performance contracting in public buildings
Advancing commercial and residential property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs
Modernizing regulation to align utilities’ incentives with energy efficiency investments and assure transparent and comprehensive cost-effectiveness evaluation
Investing in related infrastructure to enable interval data analytics and efficiency building upgrades to boost resilience
We interviewed Stephen Cowell, the founder of E4TheFuture, several month ago about his thoughts on the future of energy efficiency industry. He reiterated the importance of stimulus money, incentives, and support at that time and was likewise optimistic about the future bounce-back of the industry.
Should You Get an Energy Efficiency Job?
Despite how unsettling things appear, now is actually a great time to begin researching energy efficiency jobs.
There are advocates at the local, state, and federal levels who are working diligently to ensure that people get back to work with high-paying, in-demand energy efficiency jobs.
Now is the time to begin training and preparing, so that when the stimulus money and incentives go into effect, you can hit the ground running.
We want to be part of your success journey. We helped thousands of people earn BPI Certification in 2009-2011 during the time of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, and we’re ready to do it again.
This time, we now have the ability to offer online BPI training and testing. For those who are still living their lives predominantly from home, you can take the next steps for your career with online training.
For more information about online & in-person training, visit our BPI Training Catalog or call us at (800) 460-2575.
If you’re browsing job listings on Indeed.com, you might come across a position that lists LEED Certification as a qualification. Likewise, if you work for a construction company or contractor that bids on building projects, you might also see LEED Certification as a requirement to apply or participate in the project. In this post, we’ll dissect what these scenarios actually mean for you and cover how to obtain LEED Certification.
Whether you’re searching for a new job opportunity or looking to grow your skills in an existing role, you’ll find that LEED Certification can be an excellent way to differentiate yourself from other candidates and to gain modern job skills in the building industry. Your ability to obtain LEED Certification will reap these benefits, at a minimum. Of course the more tangible benefit is whether or not you actually win the job!
Before plunging into these two scenarios, let’s get this out of the way: A person cannot obtain LEED Certification. The correct term is LEED Accreditation.
What is LEED Certification? It’s a term to describe BUILDINGS that have sustainable, energy-efficient characteristics designed and built into them.
LEED Accreditation, however, is a term to describe PEOPLE who understand the LEED Certification process.
So think about that when you are browsing job listings and project bids. If the document says you must obtain LEED Certification to qualify… then a few things should go through your head:
“Ok, clearly they mean that I should get LEED Accredited. I need to research that process.”
“Wow, this organization focuses on LEED and can’t even get the terminology right…that’s odd.”
“If I get LEED Accredited, not only will I have the skills they require, but I’ll impress them by actually using the correct terminology. Look at just how proficient I am with LEED!”
Scenario 1: Job Listings That Require LEED Certification
Here’s an example job listing I found on Indeed.com for an architecture and engineering design firm.
Notice how LEED-AP Certification is listed under the Qualifications section.
As we listed above, LEED Certification is not technically a designation for people. Whoever wrote this job listing should have said LEED AP Accreditation.
But wait, there’s more to dissect here!
You’re probably wondering what LEED AP stands for. LEED AP = LEED Accredited Professional.
QUICK history lesson…
Part 1: When the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards, their intent was to design, build, and operate better buildings. So a building earned LEED Certification when it effectively implemented the standards into these different construction phases. Later, USGBC thought, “Hey, people might want to showcase the fact that they understand LEED…but shucks, LEED Certification already exists as a term for buildings. Let’s create a different term for people so that it’s clear….ok, LEED Accreditation.”
Part 2: Prior to 2009, people could earn the LEED AP Accreditation. Great. After 2009, USGBC changed its LEED Credentials process and created a new hierarchy for professionals. Under the newer version, all candidates would earn the title of LEED Green Associate. After passing the LEED Green Associate exam, a candidate could progress to the LEED AP Specialty level. The word “Specialty” is key here. The pre-2009 LEED AP accreditation was phased out and considered inactive. The new “LEED AP Specialty” accreditation represents a person under the latest LEED credentialing process who has not only passed the first and second tier LEED exams (Green Associate and AP Specialty) but has chosen to focus on a specialty area of buildings.
Part 3: There are five LEED AP specialties available: Building Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, Interior Design + Construction, Homes, and Neighborhood Development.
Now let’s go back to that Indeed.com job listing. The company requires LEED-AP Certification. Given what you know now, you should be saying to yourself:
“Ok, I need to get LEED Accredited.”
“I need to earn the LEED AP accreditation.”
“Gee, the listing doesn’t indicate exactly which LEED AP specialty is required…”
“There are a few questions at play here… did whoever wrote the job listing not know the intricacies of this requirement? Given what the role/company is, should I assume that LEED AP BD+C is the best specialty to earn? Maybe it doesn’t matter exactly which LEED AP Specialty I earn as long as I have one…?”
I promised that we would cover how to obtain LEED Certification, so here we go. Of course now we’re looking at how to obtain LEED Accreditation, right?
Whether you pursue the entry-level LEED Green Associate or the advanced LEED AP Specialty, the process is get LEED accredited is the same: get LEED training + buy exam + schedule exam.
The USGBC offers the option to take the LEED Green Associate exam and LEED AP Specialty exams on their own or in a combined format. The combined option saves you $50 overall and is literally the 2-hour LEED Green Associate exam immediately followed by the 2-hour LEED AP Specialty exam.
Given the context of this specific job listing, where you know that your end goal is LEED AP Specialty, I would recommend the combined exam format – especially since the job listing wants you to get to the LEED AP Specialty level in the next 6 months.
So here’s what you need to do:
Learn about LEED. You’ll start with the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep and then proceed to the LEED AP Specialty Exam Prep. With our LEED Training Bundles product, you can register for both LEED training courses and instantly save 10% on your order.
Buy the LEED AP Combined exam. You’ll do this at usgbc.org/credentials after you create a free account.
Schedule your LEED AP Combined exam. You’ll do this at prometric.com/gbci
And voila! You’re well on your way toward qualifying for this job.
Scenario 2: Project Bids That Require LEED Certification
If you skipped over scenario 1 above, let me give you a quick Cliff Notes version of the conversation: people cannot obtain LEED Certification. The proper term for people is LEED Accreditation.
So if you are viewing a Request for Proposal that asks you, as the contractor or sub-contractor, to obtain LEED Certification, you should go ahead and assume that they are actually asking you to earn LEED Accreditation.
There are different levels of LEED Accreditation.
The first step for all people – regardless of education, occupation, or experience – is LEED Green Associate. At this level, you’ll learn how LEED Certification (for buildings) works and exactly which building strategies make up the LEED Rating System. If you work in a secondary or adjacent industry to construction, such as waste removal or commercial janitorial services, the LEED Green Associate level may be sufficient.
The next step is LEED AP Specialty, where you take the foundation you’ve learned in LEED Green Associate and take a deeper dive into a specialty area such as homes or interior design. Typically, those who earn the LEED AP Specialty accreditation work on LEED building projects regularly and in a leadership role. Therefore, they need to understand the intricacies of LEED project documentation, goal setting, hiring & delegation of responsibilities, etc. Architects, engineers, construction managers, and facility managers usually earn the LEED AP Specialty designation.
If you see LEED Certification phrasing throughout the project bid, it’s likely that the building structure in question will be seeking LEED Certification. Thus, it’s important to have LEED-accredited people working on the project so they know exactly what strategies to implement and prioritize to increase the chances that the project will obtain LEED Certification.
There are different levels of LEED Certification.
Without diving too deep into how LEED Certification works, let’s just say that each building strategy equals a certain number of points. The more points a building has, the higher the level of LEED Certification.
The levels of LEED Certification are: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
So if you see these colors/terms listed in the request for proposal, it’s very likely that they are referring to the building there and not you. For more information about what I mean here, check out our related post on becoming a “LEED Silver Certified Contractor.” Hint: That designation does not exist!
At the end of the day, if a project is looking to obtain LEED Certification and thus hire LEED-accredited contractors, you will need to take the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep and related LEED Green Associate exam, at a minimum.
Even if you decide to pass on the Indeed.com job or on the request for proposal, hopefully now you have a better understanding of what it takes to obtain LEED certification and/or LEED accreditation!
If you’re still confused about LEED terminology, give us a call at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll help you determine your next steps.
If you’re thinking about changing careers and working in the growing solar industry, it’s best to research the steps and major milestones along the way. Solar career planning will save you time and money and will also help set expectations on how long it’ll take to get started.
Here are my top 5 solar career planning tips:
Read about all the different jobs and career pathways in the solar industry
Research employers and expected salary for your desired solar career
Research state solar licensing and certification requirements
Make a list of your short-and long-term goals
Make a list of actionable steps you can take to achieve your goals
I’ll go into more detail about these solar career planning tips now…
#1 Learn about all of the Solar Career Pathways
At this stage, it’s important to keep an open mind. Solar is more than just installation.
There was a time when the solar industry was so small that being a solar panel installer typically meant being a one-man-show who had to know how to do every aspect of the job. But now, the solar industry is so large that there’s enough work to go around; there are clearly established job roles for all the different aspects that contribute to a successful solar installation.
Aside from solar installation, there are opportunities in manufacturing, system design, project development, operations, inspections, and sales.
The leading resource for solar career planning is the IREC Solar Career Map, which specifically highlights career tracks in manufacturing, system design, project development, and installation/operations. Within those four tracks, the map includes milestones that represent entry-level careers, mid-level careers, and advanced careers.
There are so many different solar careers to analyze. To best focus your efforts, think about which track is more appealing to you and begin reading about the different careers in that track.
#2 Research employers and salary expectations
Once you zero in on the type of solar career you’d like to have, you should start to think about whether it’s practical and realistic for you to have that job. Are there solar companies locally who are hiring for that type of position? Will you be able to maintain your current quality of life with the expected salary from that position?
As part of this solar career planning step, you should browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There you’ll find information on the job outlook over the next 10 years, the number of jobs available, an idea of median pay, and and overview of the education and work experience requirements needed to earn your desired job.
To supplement the salary information found on OOH, you might also look at job posting sites such as Indeed, OwlGuru, Payscale, and Recruiter.com. In addition to viewing actual job postings with expected salary figures, these sites often compile the information into research papers and aggregate a summary of what you can expect if you get a job as X occupation. For those of you who are interested in becoming a solar panel installer, we’ve done this part for you. See our post on Solar Installer Salary.
While we’re at it, you might be wondering how to find a solar job in general. Are the job posting sites listed above enough? Sure, but there are also job sites specifically related to solar. You might as well spend time browsing those sites as well, since they focus directly on solar jobs.
Now that you’re armed with some high-level information on where you want your career in solar to go, you need to see what it’ll take to make this dream a reality. This is when we get to solar licensing and certification.
#3 Do you need to be licensed or certified?
Because solar projects can impact the health and safety of your clients, oftentimes those working in the industry have a legal responsibility to be licensed or certified.
There’s no hard and fast rule about this, however. Since solar is still a relatively new occupation, states are playing catch-up and are slowly rolling out formal requirements. That means that some states have no licensing and certification requirements, others only have a solar licensing requirement, and others may require both a license and a certification. You need to find out what’s required in your state. There’s typically a state contractor licensing board that will make this decision. Simply google your state and “contractor licensing board” and see if you dig further into what’s required near you.
I know, it’s confusing. License… certification… how are these terms different? See our related post on getting a solar license to learn more.
Put simply, licensure is mandated by the state to legally perform work, whereas certification is (typically) a voluntary achievement that highlights trade-specific knowledge by way of passing a technical exam. Because licensure is tied to your state, it may not be reciprocated (or recognized) by other states if you move. Certification, however, is generally nationally (or internationally) recognized because the certification itself creates a standard for all professionals regardless of where they live and work.
In the solar industry, NABCEP Certification is the most respected and most well-known program. NABCEP, or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, offers several different designations that align with specific job roles in solar. It can take 3-6 months and between $800-$2000 of an upfront time and money investment in solar training to be qualified to sit for a NABCEP Certification exam.
Researching licensing and certification is a crucial step in your solar career planning because it can literally be the difference between you legally working in solar and not.
#4 List out your short- and long-term goals
Do you need to get a solar job fast, or can you afford to take your solar career planning to the next level by focusing on a long-term career?
Here’s the difference:
Short-term – get a job fast. Given everything you’ve learned about the solar industry thus far, you might decide that it makes the most sense for you to start with the PV101 Solar PV Associate training ($599, 40 hours). This online training is relatively inexpensive and may only take a few weeks to complete. It’ll introduce you to how solar energy works, different types of solar energy systems, how to convert DC and AC electricity, and more – all the information you need to speak intelligently about solar and land an entry-level job in a non-technical role.
Long-term – get certified to install solar panels and/or own a solar business. The keyword here is “get certified.” At this point in your solar career planning journey, you should start thinking about NABCEP Certification – which credential you want and how you will qualify for it. For this specific long-term goal, the NABCEP PV Installation Professional package is most appropriate because it’ll teach you about solar energy principles, installation, design, commissioning, operations, and troubleshooting. With this comprehensive range of skills, you’ll be well suited to own a solar business. However, to qualify for this exam, you’ll need a combination of solar installation work experience and education / training (including the aforementioned PV101 training). So if this is your ultimate goal, it makes more sense to go straight to the NABCEP PV Installation Professional training package ($1899, 58 hours) than to start with just PV101 because the NABCEP PV Installation Professional package includes the PV101 training content and more. Save yourself time and money by going straight for your long-term goal.
Here’s a real-life example. I spoke with a guy yesterday who wants to install solar panels in Rhode Island. He didn’t have any electrical background and didn’t have a contractor’s license. Rhode Island has a solar PV contractor license called the Renewable Energy Professional (REP), which is meant for solar professionals who have no electrical experience (like my guy yesterday). To earn the REP license, he can take Everblue’s NABCEP PV Installation Professional training. The state of Rhode Island literally lists our course as a prerequisite for the state license. But, naturally, as someone new to the industry, he was sort of hoping to dip his toes in the water with the fast and inexpensive option of PV101 training. Sure, PV101 is a great place to start. It will give you immediate job opportunities. But looking at the big picture, as his goal was to get certified as a solar installer and own a business, the NABCEP PV Installation Professional makes more sense. It’s more of an upfront time and money investment, but it’ll get you to your long-term goal less painfully (aka piecemealing multiple courses together over time). So… as part of your solar career planning, you need to decide whether you want to prioritize your short-term goal or your long-term goal. That answer directly affects your next steps.
#5 Next Steps
You’ve researched the industry. You’ve identified local opportunities. You know what’s required in your state to legally work in your desired profession. And you should have an idea of what you want out of this whole solar career planning exercise. Now how are you going to get there?
You will very likely need to start with solar training. Here at Everblue, we offer IREC-accredited and NABCEP-approved courses that focus on solar skills and prepare candidates for NABCEP Certification.
Among our 10 solar training packages, we have a solution that will meet your short- and long-term needs.
Still want to talk through your career goals before making a time and money investment? No problem! Call us at (800) 460-2575 and we’ll guide you to the most appropriate training package.
Changing careers can be overwhelming, but if you follow these 5 solar career planning steps, you’ll be much closer to your end goal. Start broad and slowly narrow in on the parts that will most impact you.
We’re here to help! We want you to be successful – before, during, and after your solar training. Contact us if you have any questions along the way.
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the most well-known organization for creating workplace standards and certifications for solar energy professionals. To qualify for many of NABCEP’s designations, candidates must complete training and/or show proof of work experience. The NABCEP Certification training requirement varies from 24 hours to 60 hours, depending on which credential you choose to pursue.
NABCEP currently offers three entry-level “Associate” credentials and eight “Board” certifications.
Associate
NABCEP PV Associate
NABCEP Solar Heating Associate
NABCEP Small Wind Associate
Board Certifications
NABCEP PV Design Specialist
NABCEP PV Installer Specialist
NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist
NABCEP PV Installation Professional
NABCEP PV Technical Sales
NABCEP PV System Inspector
NABCEP Solar Heating Installer
NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector
Because the Associate credentials are entry-level, you can qualify EITHER by completing an education pathway OR by documenting work experience.
The Board certifications, however, are more advanced and therefore require education / training AND work experience.
Please note: A candidate for any NABCEP certification should be at least 18 years of age. Neither the NABCEP Associate Handbook nor the NABCEP Certification Handbook identify any other requirements related to K-12 schooling, GED, or high school diploma. Instead, the NABCEP Certification training requirement relies on a network of approved training providers (like Everblue) who offer accredited solar training programs. We’ll discuss these requirements in greater detail below.
Qualifying for NABCEP Associate Using the Education Pathway
To qualify through the Education Pathway, an individual must successfully complete a course or program that covers the full NABCEP Associate Job Task Analysis (JTA) from a Registered NABCEP Associate Provider for the specific technology they intend to pursue – photovoltaics, solar heating, or small wind.
NABCEP allows each Registered Provider to develop their own curriculum to cover the JTA and recommends that such courses include a minimum of 40 hours of content instruction.
Here at Everblue, we are a Registered NABCEP Associate Provider, and our NABCEP PV Associate course is 40 hours in duration. This package also includes the cost of the NABCEP PV Associate exam.
At the end of the program, students receive an Everblue certificate of completion as well as a NABCEP Associate Candidate Eligibility form. We will submit these documents to NABCEP on the student’s behalf, to vouch for their full participation and completion of the course.
NABCEP Certification Training Requirement for Board Certifications
The full scope of requirements are listed, in detail, in the NABCEP Certification Handbook, but for a brief overview of the NABCEP Certification training requirement for the various designations, continue reading…
NABCEP PV Design Specialist (PVDS)
Minimum of OSHA 10 Training
24 hours of training from an accredited institution, where 18 hours cover advanced PV design principles as outlined in the NABCEP PV Design Specialist JTA and 6 hours cover National Electric Code
24 hours of training from an accredited institution, where 18 hours cover advanced PV installation principles as outlined in the NABCEP PVIS JTA and 6 hours cover National Electric Code
24 hours of training from an accredited institution, where 18 hours cover advanced PV commissioning/maintenance principles as outlined in the NABCEP PV Commissioning Specialist JTA and 6 hours cover National Electric Code
NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP)
Minimum of OSHA 10 Training
58 hours of training, where 40 must come from an accredited institution and cover advanced PV installation principles as outlined in the NABCEP PV Installation Professional JTA. The remaining 18 hours may include Associate-level coursework through a Registered NABCEP Associate Provider but only if candidate also passes the NABCEP Associate exam
NABCEP PV Technical Sales
This is where things get very tricky. NABCEP offers eight “qualifying categories” for this certification. Depending on which category you choose, you will have specific education / training and work experience requirements. These requirements vary from category to category, and you must stay within one lane to fully be eligible.
Specific to NABCEP Certification training requirements, you’ll want to note that:
Category A requires a minimum of 60 hours of advanced training directly related to the PV Technical Sales JTA
Category B requires a minimum of 32 hours of advanced training directly related to the PV Technical Sales JTA
Category C lists as associate’s degree from an accredited educational institution in renewable energy technology or related field of study
Category D lists a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution
NABCEP PV System Inspector
There are no specific prerequisites to take the NABCEP PV System Inspector exam. However, the exams are intended to test the knowledge of someone who is familiar with PV systems, code, and labeling. To be successful on this exam, candidates should complete a minimum of 40 hours of NABCEP PV System Inspector training.
NABCEP Solar Heating Installer
Much like the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification, the Solar Heating Installer Certification also has “qualifying categories” that specifically address education / training requirements and work experience requirements.
Category A2 lists 16 hours of advanced training
Category B lists 40 hours of advanced training
Category F lists a 2-year degree from an accredited educational institution in a construction-related, engineering technology, or renewable energy technology field
Category G lists a 4-year degree from an accredited educational institution
Category H lists NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification (which is 58 hours in its own right, plus OSHA 10 training) AND 16 hours of advanced training
NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector
There are no specific prerequisites to take the NABCEP Solar Heating System Inspector exam. However, the exams are intended to test the knowledge of someone who is familiar with solar thermal systems. To be successful on this exam, candidates should complete a minimum of 40 hours of training.
Please note that each of these certifications also has a work experience prerequisite that must be met before a candidate is eligible to sit for the exam.
Because the NABCEP Certification training requirement varies by credential, it’s important to read the NABCEP Certification Handbook fully and make a plan for which certification(s) you choose to pursue.
For more information about NABCEP Certification and which designation is right for you, call (800) 460-2575.
