There are three basic requirements for North Carolina Energy Auditor Certification: experience, coursework, and examination. The coursework and examination must lead to certification by the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
While experience requirements vary, the intent is that North Carolina Energy Auditor Certification be reserved for building professionals who are already knowledgeable about home construction, retrofits and performance.
Coursework generally takes five days to three months, depending on intensity, but covers both classroom work: discussing concepts, reviewing calculations and learning auditing paperwork; and field work: performing blower door tests, assessing leaks and identifying solutions.
The examination for North Carolina Energy Auditor Certification is completed through a written and a field, or practical, examination. To become certified, the examinee must pass at least 70 percent of the test.
North Carolina Energy Audit Certification can allow existing contractors to assist customers with energy saving retrofits. It can also open the door to working in the state weatherization program or with energy utility demand side management efforts. Certified auditors also can verify work and savings achieved under energy performance contracting.