jump to section:
Where to Start
How to Get BPI Certified
Training
Testing
Continuing Education
What Next?
Where to Start
BPI offers several certifications and you may need one or more depending on your situation. Most people begin with Building Analyst and Shell/Envelope certifications and then get AC/Heat Pump, Heating, etc. as needed. Other people may only need an Installer or Crew Chief certification. Still others may choose Manufactured Housing Certification or one of the Multi-Family certifications. Some people get them all! Incentive programs may require that certain work be performed by appropriately certified individuals. For example, furnace work might require a Heating Specialist.
Once BPI Certified, individuals may have their company BPI Accredited with a minimum of two different BPI certifications held by at least one full-time employee or two differently certified full-time employees. Individuals get Certified, companies get Accredited. BPI Certification and Accreditation is increasingly a requirement for many incentive programs across the country. For more information, please visit BPI's website.
If you are ready to order training or testing right now, please click here. You may use a credit card and you do not need a PayPal account unless you order more than $2000 or the maximum per PayPal whichever is greater.
How to Get BPI Certified
Fill out some forms and pass some tests. Training is optional, but highly recommended
- Study and understand the BPI Small Homes Certification Policies & Procedures, and the applicable Testable Knowledge List, BPI National Standards, and the Field Guides. Highlight anything that doesn't make sense and find the answers or get help with formal training.
- Study and understand most of Residential Energy (an industry-standard book by Krigger and Dorsi), Owner's Manuals for required equipment (such as the Minneapolis or Retrotec blower door, a combustion analyzer, combustible gas detector, smoke pen, psychrometer, duct testers, etc. depending on the certification),
- Schedule your exam(s) through our website, directly with BPI, or with another BPI Affiliate in your area.
- Fill out the Application for BPI Certification and bring it with you to the online or field exam.
- Take a 100-question (2-hour) online exam and a field exam (2-hour) that covers certain fundamentals of building science and knowledge specific to the designation being attempted.
- For additional BPI Certifications, you would also take 50-question (1.5-hour) exams for each of the certification designations (i.e., Envelope, Heating, etc.) plus complete the 2-hour field exams.
- Field tests for multiple certifications may be combined so that only one blower door test and one CAZ test, etc. is required; you still get two hours per certification.
- Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Raters, may take a 50-question initial exam (versus a 100-questions exam) with proof of certificate sent to certification@bpi.org at least one week prior to the exam.
- For the Air Conditioning / Heat Pump exam, proof of the CFR 608 Card must to certification@bpi.org at least one week prior to the exam. - Score 70% or higher overall on the online exams. Results are available immediately and through the BPI Candidate Portal the following day, and
- Score 70% or higher overall and 85% or higher for Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) sections. on the field exams. Results are available in three to six weeks and will be sent from BPI directly. BPI, not the BPI Proctor, grades the test and determines the score.
- Receive your certification via email or regular mail and verify.
- Recertify every three years by retaking a field test for each certification and, unless you earn enough BPI CEU's total during the three years, an online test for each certification. For more information, see Continuing Education below.
Training
Many options are available for training including any combination of on-the-job experience, classroom training, online training, field training, and self-guided study. Most online and classroom trainings are structured presentations of the information listed above and even the most experienced contractor can benefit from taking formal training. Field training with the equipment, if only for a few hours, should be mandatory and is highly recommended.
Refresh Homes offers training and testing packages as well as hourly training and individual tests . There are many options available from other BPI Affiliates and companies across the country and online. Research your options carefully as prices, terms, availability, and quality vary widely.
Testing
Options for BPI Certification testing are more limited than for training. Some companies offer complete training and testing packages, though many will only sell you a package-deal versus the testing alone. Most online training companies are not able to offer field tests (or field training.)
Refresh Homes offers training and testing packages as well as hourly training and individual tests. Due to increased demand for BPI Certifications and certification testing, we developed the Proctor Network™ to offer online and field testing nationwide through a select group of independent BPI Proctors. Once you are BPI Certified, we encourage you to consider joining the Proctor Network™ and offering your own testing services with us.
Online Testing
Online testing for BPI Certifications requires a Windows computer with Internet Explorer and an internet connection. Allow about 20 minutes prior to the test in order to fill out forms and get situated in the testing environment. Each question will have one best answer according to BPI and you are encouraged to make notes and calculations on scratch sheets that will be provided and submitted to BPI. In the event of an error on BPI's part, the scratch sheet is your best defense.
100-Question tests are 2 hours, 50-Question tests are 1.5 hours. You are only allowed to use a clean copy of the appropriate BPI Standards, a non-graphing calculator, scratch sheets, and a pen or pencil. The tests are multiple choice and there is one best answer according to BPI.
Field Testing
Field testing for BPI Certifications requires either a real house with at least one combustion appliance (not including an oven) or a lab setting with all of the appropriate facilities for conducting the individual items of the particular field test (varies based on certification.) Field tests are 2 hours per certification and may be combined (for example a combined Building Analyst and Shell/Envelope test) to minimize redundancy of blower door and CAZ testing; you are still allowed 2 hours per certification.
Field tests cover all of the items listed on the appropriate Field Guides and you should be able to demonstrate proficiency for each line item. The BPI Proctor will follow you around as you assess the house "as it stands" and will ask you questions. For clarification or in the event of missing conditions, the BPI Proctor may ask hypothetical questions(for example, "What would you need to do if there were ducts in this unconditioned attic?") The BPI Proctor is not allowed to train or answer technical questions before, during or after the test and they are not available to assist you in any way.
Continuing Education
BPI Certified individuals are encouraged to continue their education by earning BPI CEU's (continuing education units) through webinars, conferences, additional training, training others, and publishing building science related materials. Refresh Homes offers approved BPI CEU's in the form of 2, 4, or 6 hour Contractor Mentoring sessions that are typically field trainings based on individual needs.
When recertifying without approved CEU's, BPI requires individuals to retake all tests including the 100-Question initial online test. When recertifying with 10-29 CEU's, BPI requires individuals to take field exams and 50-Question tests for each certification. For individuals with 30 or more CEU's, BPI only requires field tests for each certification. BPI CEU's must be verifiable, documented submitted and approved education accomplishments completed during a 3-year certification.
According to BPI's CEU Policy, "...qualifying subject matter is quite broad. Anything reasonably deemed to be whole-house related can be considered qualifying on a 1:1 basis (1 hour of training = 1 CEU). CEU's earned for other inspection associations, construction seminars, and code enforcement trainings, specialized house diagnostic/reporting software, and sales/marketing may be accepted, but at a lower rate than whole-house sessions. Breaks and lunches are not considered in a courses overall CEU value. Repeat courses are not eligible for continuing education credit."
What Next?
Congratulations if you have become BPI Certified! You have increased the earnings potential for you and your company.
As you streamline your new skills and learn more, consider taking the next step to become a BPI Proctor through our Proctor Network™. In addition to being able to independently offer BPI Certification exams (online and field) for in-house staff* or others, we strive to keep you up-to-date with the latest BPI changes and requirements.
*in-house certification testing requires BPI approval; email affiliate@bpi.org for full details