The new policy eliminates field exam requirements in certain circumstances according to verified work experience. The change is expected to benefit those who maintain continuous certification and remain active in home performance roles.

BPI is allowing a one-time exception for individuals whose certifications expired no more than six months before the policy is enacted (that is, going back to Aug. 28, 2012). All eligible individuals whose certification expires after Aug. 28, 2012 and before April 15 have until April 15 to apply for certification renewal under these new rules. If exams are required based on the new policy, they must be taken by June 15.

After April 15, all individuals who wish to renew under this policy must do so before their certification expires; otherwise, they must retake the relevant written and field exams for each certification they wish to renew.

Individuals renewing their certifications for the first or second time are subject to field-exam waivers if they are a practitioner with a minimum of 3,000 provable hours of relevant experience in the past three years, are BPI proctors who remain in good standing during the entire certification cycle, or are trainers whose primary function involves training with content relevant to the house as a system.

Individuals renewing certifications for the third time or anytime thereafter are not required to take a field exam, nor are recognized industry experts who demonstrate experience and knowledge in the home-performance industry.

Publication date: 3/25/2013