MALTA, N.Y. — Building Performance Institute Inc. (BPI) announced it has earned ISO 17024 accreditation of its advanced Home Energy Professional (HEP) certifications by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the categories of energy auditor, retrofit installer, crew leader, and quality control inspector.
ISO 17024 is a highly recognized benchmark for personnel certifications across all industries, designed to ensure that certifications are developed in a consistent, comparable, and impartial manner.
“ISO 17024-accredited certifications provide an important measure of quality assurance to employers, to programs, and to consumers by verifying competency of the worker to do the job right,” said Dr. Richard Knaub, project leader specializing in workforce development at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The four HEP certifications demonstrate advanced competency through work experience prerequisites, as well as rigorous written and field exams administered by participating BPI test centers.
“Industry experts from across the nation, all selected for their knowledge of multiple regional best practices, came together through a consensus process defined by ANSI to determine competency for these certifications,” said Larry Zarker, BPI CEO. “The knowledge, skills, and abilities specified represent best practices for energy auditing, retrofit installation, quality control inspection, and crew leadership across all regions of the U.S.”
ISO 17024 accreditation was based on analysis of exam results from BPI and NREL’s pilot exam program launched in June 2012. A network of 38 BPI test centers and weatherization training centers administered the pilot exams to qualified candidates.
Last March the U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program communicated its intent to require that all work performed with program funds be inspected by a certified quality control inspector beginning in program year 2015.
The four HEP certifications provide advanced certification options and will not replace BPI’s existing certifications in the industry. These new credentials complement and build upon BPI’s existing certifications in the home-performance career ladder, where increased knowledge and skills lead to advancement. They are designed to allow professionals in the home energy upgrade industry to build both a stackable and lateral career lattice.
Publication date: 12/2/2013
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