HEP Certification

How to Choose a QCI Training Center

Not just anyone can offer the HEP QCI Training program. Learn about the training provider requirements here.

How to Choose a QCI Training Center

Quality Control Inspector is one of the new advanced BPI certifications developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A Quality Control Inspector specializes in interpreting audit results, analyzing retrofit solutions, and verifying compliance with standards.

The Department of Energy has announced a requirement for all Weatherization Assistance Programs (WAP) using government funding to employ a staff member with a QCI Certification. For this reason, the QCI certification is in high demand across the country. All WAP organizations accepting federal funding will need to have a Quality Control Inspector on staff in order to keep receiving the money. A timeline has been established for when all the WAP agencies must be in compliance with this requirement. By the end of 2015, all participating WAP organizations must have a QCI-certified staff member.

If you work for a Weatherization Assistance Program, it’s important for you to seek quality training for your personnel. The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is a partner in developing the Home Energy Professionals program and the QCI Certification. The BPI website lists approved training centers, along with a note about which BPI certifications they are able to teach. What sets the QCI training apart from other BPI certifications is that a training center must be IREC accredited.

What is IREC Accreditation?

IREC LogoIREC stands for Interstate Renewable Energy Council. IREC is an organization that recognizes high-quality training in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The accreditation process is rigorous, which is why many local, state, and federal agencies require IREC Accreditation of the organizations providing training on government-funded projects.

Being an approved BPI Test Center is not enough to train your personnel as Quality Control Inspectors. The weatherization training center must also be IREC Accredited for its Quality Control Inspector curriculum. Because of this high hurdle, there are very few test centers in the nationwide that are qualified to provide this training.

Lucky for you, Everblue is an approved BPI Test Center with an IREC Accredited curriculum for QCI training. Everblue’s energy auditing staff have earned the QCI certification and bring years of experience and knowledge to the training course. Everblue also has a hands-on training facility, located in Charlotte, NC, that has been approved for offering QCI training.

The easiest way to get your staff trained on Quality Control Inspector is to contact Everblue. We specialize in individual education and group training. We are fully equipped to help your WAP organization meet the requirements set by the DOE. Call us today at (800) 460-2575 or request more information on our HEP QCI training page.

About Lesley Baulding

Lesley has been passionately advocating for and working with green building and renewable energy since 2009. She has experience with LEED certification, home energy auditing, blower door testing, solar energy, and more. She holds many certifications, including LEED Green Associate and NABCEP Certification. Her work has won numerous awards over the past decade.