Weatherization Workers Could Gain New Mobility

Those who work in construction upgrading or retrofitting homes for increased energy efficiency, could soon be able to make use of new certification programs. This June, the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will kick off four new Home Energy Professional certifications for weatherization and home performance.

The BPI sets standards for residential energy efficiency and weatherization retrofit work. It’s new certifications include: energy auditor, retrofit installer, crew leader and quality control inspector. The new credentials will meet international benchmarks set for personal certifications across all industries. The certifications are not meant to replace or interfere with professional certifications in the building trades, such as HVAC, plumbing or remodeling, but rather are intended to support the four most common whole-house home performance job roles.

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“The weatherization and home performance industry has long seen the need for nationally recognized, transferable certifications for workers employed by the Weatherization Assistance Program and the broader home performance industry,” Larry Zarker, CEO of the Building Performance Institute, said in a statement . “A successful candidate from one geographic region will be verified as having the same knowledge and skills as a successful candidate from the other side of the country. This mobility allows certified professionals to go wherever the work is. The development of a single, consistent set of national certifications for home performance professionals will help to remove any existing confusion in the marketplace.”

A pilot round of written and field practical exams will be held during the month of June. The results of those tests will be used to set passing scores for the national exams. Individuals who take the exams and meet passing requirements will be among the first group of professionals to earn the new certifications. BPI expects to roll the exams on the national level in fall of 2012.

Scheduling of pilot exams will begin in May 2012. Registration for the pilot certification exams is now open online at: www.bpi.org/pilot.