INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION & TRAINING

In many industries, certification is considered proof of professional status and is often required for particular jobs. Below, you'll find information about the various certifications that individuals working in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields may have. We hope that you find it helpful as you consider contractors for your energy efficiency projects.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industries – Certification and Training

Industry	Job(s)	Certification	About the Certification
Energy Efficient Construction	HVAC Service Technician Maintains and repairs all types of air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems	EPA HVAC Certification	EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Type I Certification – Can only work on small appliances (5 lbs. or less of refrigerant) Type II Certification – Can only work on medium, high and very-high pressure appliances Type III Certification – Can only work on low-pressure appliances Universal Certification – Someone who possesses Type I, Type II and Type III certifications Courses in the HVAC/R program include Refrigeration Fundamentals/Brazing, Heating I and Split Systems, Commercial Refrigeration, Chiller Systems and Hydronic Heating.
	Residential Energy Field Auditor Commercial Energy Field Auditor	HERS Certification	Home Energy Ratings (HERS ratings) in the U.S. are managed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). RESNET performs three distinct tasks within the industry: 1) defining and testing the knowledge that is required of HERS Raters, 2) specifying the requirements for software that is used to perform HERS ratings; and 3) performing quality assurance evaluations of the work performed by HERS raters.
	Residential Green Building Retrofit and Architect Industrial Green Systems & Retrofit Commercial Green Building & Retrofit	Designer LEED-Certified Builder	LEED is a rating system for buildings, equivalent to a gas mileage rating for cars. Under LEED, buildings accumulate points for things such as saving energy, having accessible mass transit, and mitigating storm water runoff. Once the points are tallied, the building earns a LEED rating. The higher the tally, the more sustainable a building is. An internationally recognized green building certification system, LEED provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at increasing performance, reducing waste, and improving quality of life. The LEED rating systems, created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), are internationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. Since its inception in 1998, LEED has grown to encompass more than 20,000 projects in 50 U.S. states and 30 countries. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health. The LEED rating and certification system is the industry's gold standard for environmentally sustainable building and is recognized industry-wide by architects, engineers, developers, and other building professionals, many of which have been designated "LEED Accredited Professional." The LEED AP designation is a highly sought-after credential by professionals in environmental sustainability roles, as well as law, real estate and other areas.
	Water System Designer & Engineer Senior HVAC Engineer Electrical Engineer Structural Design Engineer	Professional Engineer (PE)	Professional Engineer is the term for registered or licensed engineers who are permitted to offer their professional services directly to the public. The term Professional Engineer and the actual practice of professional engineering is legally defined and protected by a government body. In some jurisdictions only registered or licensed Professional Engineers are permitted to use the title, or to practice Professional Engineering. The earmark that distinguishes a licensed/registered Professional Engineer is the authority to sign and seal or "stamp" engineering documents (reports, drawings, and calculations) for a study, estimate, design or analysis, thus taking legal responsibility for it.
	Energy Engineer	Certified Energy Manager (CEM)	Certified Energy Managers must pass the Certified Energy Manager Exam, a certification examination written and administered by the Certified Energy Manager Board. It provides an in-depth knowledge of the laws, standards, common practices, and concerns associated with energy management. This exam also assesses the individual's knowledge of general energy topics such as energy codes and standards, indoor air quality, energy accounting, energy economics, energy audits, and energy instrumentation.
Wind Power	Wind Turbine Electrical Engineer Wind Turbine Mechanical Engineer	Professional Engineer (PE)	See the description of Professional Engineer above.
Solar Power	Solar Energy System Installer Solar Residential Installation Electrician Solar Commercial Installation Electrician Foreman Solar Commercial Installation Engineer Solar Commercial Installation Electrician	Solar Thermal Certification or NABCEP Solar PV Installer Certification	NABCEP, the National Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, offers certifications and certificate programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America. NABCEP began that work by creating a certification program for solar electric installers—referred to as the NABCEP™ Solar PV Installer Certification. Learn more. The NABCEP process has been developed and designed carefully following professional credentialing guidelines. Standards, developed by subject matter experts, have been set and the eligibility requirements are reasonably achievable being based on extensive input from stakeholders and deliberation among installers. NABCEP has built a transparent, non-discriminatory program implemented with fair procedures and due process. The benefits of NABCEP certification include: For installers Identifies installers as professionals, instilling consumer confidence in their work Validates extra resources spent on training and gaining experience Allows for installer mobility as the market moves from state to state Allows installers to distinguish their skills and experience in the field For consumers Provides a means to identify qualified installers, promoting confidence in the work performed Preserves consumer choice, maintaining access to both certified and uncertified installers COSIEA, the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, ratings allow consumers to easily identify solar contractors who have proven up-to-date qualifications in the areas of active solar hot water and photovoltaic solar energy systems. To obtain the "CoSEIA Certified" rating, individuals must pass a comprehensive test for active, and/or photovoltaic solar system maintenance, repair, and installation. Additionally, the "CoSEIA Certified" individual must take a minimum of 12 hours of CoSEIA sponsored or approved class work each year to maintain his/her certification. For more information, see the CoSEIA website.
	Solar Energy Engineer	Professional Engineer (PE) Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Engineer-In-Training (EIT)	See descriptions of Professional Engineer and Certified Energy Manager above. Certification as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) is the first step required under State law towards becoming licensed as a professional engineer.
	Solar Thermoelectric Plant Project Manager	Professional Engineer	See description of Professional Engineer above.
Recycling & Waste Management	Solid Waste Engineer Manager	Engineer-In-Training (EIT)	Certification as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) is the first step required under State law towards becoming licensed as a professional engineer.
	Operations Maintenance Worker	Grade II Distribution Certificate	Distribution Certificates are by individual states, following US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. In 1998, the EPA released Guidelines for the Certification and Recertification of Operators of Community and Nontransient Noncommunity Public Water Systems. Based on these guidelines, state regulations governing the certification of potable water treatment operators were revised to include distribution operators at five grade levels, effective January 2001. For more information, see the California Operator Certification Program Annual Report (2005)(PDF) http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/occupations/Pages/dwopcert.aspx
	Waste Water Plant Civil Engineer	Professional Engineer	See description of Professional Engineer above.
Advancing New Solutions	Power System Operator and Instructor	NERC Reliability Authority or System Operator Certification	NERC, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, has four options for certification. A system operator can be certified as a: Transmission Operator Balancing & Interchange Operator Balancing, Interchange & Transmission Operator Reliability Authority Operator All four of the NERC Certification tests address essentially the same technical material. However, the different tests each have their own emphasis. For example, the Transmission Operator test emphasizes transmission issues such as voltage control and protection. The Balancing & Interchange Operator test emphasizes generation and interchange issues such as AGC and reserves, etc. If you are a contractor interested in learning more, go to the NERC website, select Programs in the drop down menu on the far right and select System Operator Certification.
	Energy Infrastructure Engineer	Professional Engineer (PE) Certified Energy Manager (CEM)	See descriptions of Professional Engineer and Certified Energy Manager above.
Geothermal Energy	Geothermal Engineer Geothermal Power Plant Structural Engineer Geothermal Operational Engineer	Professional Engineer (PE)	See descriptions of Professional Engineer above.