Frequently Asked Questions
IREC Standard 14732: 2012
PILOT PROGRAM
What will be the cost to go through the Pilot?
Application fees, assessor fees, and assessor travel costs will be the same for the Pilot as for the final Accreditation Program (to commence in late 2012):
Application Fee: $3,000
Assessment Fee: $1,250 per assessor per day plus expenses (Two assessors will be assigned for each assessment)
Initial Assessment:
- Two days document review
- Two days onsite visit
- One-two days report writing and/or corrective action
Please note that for applications covering multiple technologies or Job Task Analyses, several factors such as application review time, possible additional subject matter expert review, and length of onsite assessment are likely to increase assessor fees.
Are Workforce Investment Boards (or similar entity) a valid resource to provide documentation for the “Connection with Department of Labor” requirement referenced in the Pilot Criteria?
Yes. If this is the local entity channeling federal training dollars to your institution, documentation from this entity would be sufficient. Please note that this requirement is for the ANSI-IREC Accreditation Pilot Program only.
How will the pilot participants be chosen?
Following the close of the pilot application submission period, ANSI and IREC will convene a review panel meeting to review all applications. The review panel will be comprised of ANSI and IREC staff. The panel will review each application using the published pilot criteria and select up to ten participants. Selected participants will be notified on or before February 2, 2012 via a formal letter from an authorized representative of the ANSI-IREC Accreditation Program. Selection of pilot participants is at the sole discretion of ANSI and IREC.
January 3, 2012: Pilot Preliminary Application form available online
January 17, 2012: Pilot Preliminary Applications due
February 2, 2012: Selected participants notified
April 2, 2012: Pilot full Applications due
If I participate in the Pilot and the Standard 14732: 2012 is later changed, is my accreditation still valid?
Yes. The Pilot program is designed to run through and test the accreditation process. Standard 14732: 2012 will be finalized prior to the Pilot. However, all standards undergo updates and revisions over time. Accreditation based on Standard 14732: 2012 would remain valid until renewal, at which time the organization would need to show conformance to the most current version of the Standard.
Can anyone other than an existing IREC ISPQ Accredited Training Program or entity having a training partnership with an existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) at the time of application apply to participate in the pilot?
Yes. Other certificate programs who meet the general criteria for the Pilot are invited to apply, with the understanding that preference will be given to existing IREC ISPQ Accredited Training Programs or entities having a training partnership with an existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) at the time of application.
If my organization is not selected to participate in the Pilot, when may we apply for accreditation under IREC Standard 14732: 2012?
The final ANSI-IREC Accreditation Program will accept applications beginning in September 2012.
IREC ISPQ 01022: 2011 vs. IREC 14732: 2012
Why should I apply for a credential under IREC 14732: 2012 if I am already credentialed under IREC ISPQ 01022: 2011?
The decision to apply for a credential under IREC 14732: 2012 will be based on your organization’s training operations and strategic goals. Not all IREC ISPQ 01022: 2011 credential holders will be eligible or find it desirable to pursue a credential under IREC 14732: 2012. Those who do will go through the complete application and assessment process for the new Accreditation Program. IREC ISPQ 01022: 2011 accreditation does not “grandfather” or otherwise gain you standing with regard to accreditation under IREC 14732: 2012.
Is IREC ISPQ 01022: 2011 accreditation still valid after the inception of the ANSI-IREC Accreditation Program for IREC 14732: 2012?
Yes. The two programs are distinct and separate, and 14732: 2012 does not supersede or replace 01022: 2011. The accreditation program based on IREC Standard 14732: 2012 will be administered as an ANSI-IREC partnership and will utilize the ANSI accreditation process for assessing whether organizations meet the Standard’s requirements. The accreditation program based on IREC ISPQ Standard 01022 will continue to be administered by IREC.
ACCREDITATION PROCESS
Do organizations with certificate programs covering multiple energy efficiency and/or renewable energy technologies need to apply separately for each technology or can they undergo accreditation all at once? Would they be awarded one or multiple accreditations? How does this work with the onsite assessment and fees?
Programs covering multiple technologies may submit a single application with a single application fee. You will be asked to furnish answers on the application for each individual technology and demonstrate that your curriculum addresses each current valid Job Task Analysis corresponding to the technologies for which you seek accreditation. When submitting an application for more than one technology, several factors such as application review time, possible need for additional subject matter expert review and length of onsite assessment are likely to increase assessor fees. Each certificate program will be awarded its own accredited status.
Will IREC only accredit certificate programs using Job Task Analyses (JTAs) currently accepted by IREC, or can a certificate programs using other JTAs earn accreditation too?
IREC Standard 14732 states that “The certificate-awarding entity shall offer course(s) or program(s) that are based on a current valid Job Task Analysis that has been developed using generally accepted procedures and supported by documentation.” A program using curriculum based on a Job Task Analysis meeting this requirement would be eligible for accreditation. A guidance document providing further detail on this requirement will be published with the Standard in early January 2012.
How does the accreditation process work for online courses?
Organizations will need to provide sufficient documentation for online courses to demonstrate meeting all requirements of the IREC Standard 14732: 2012. Assessors will need access to the online course.
CERTIFICATE VS. CERTIFICATION
Is a course or series of courses culminating in a certification exam considered to be a certificate program?
IREC Standard 14732: 2012 defines a “certificate program” as “a sequence, pattern, or group of courses or learning events focusing on an area of specialized knowledge or information with specific learning objectives. The certificate program is developed, supervised, and evaluated by subject matter experts and culminates in the issuance of a document indicating fulfillment of specific completion requirements.”
Exams for professional certification are administered separately and developed by a certification body, not a certificate program. Therefore, a certification exam is not considered to be part of the certificate program.
If one of our students completes a training program and receives a certificate, are they considered to be certified?
No. While the terms “certification” and “certificate” look and sound alike, each one is different, conveying that a different set of criteria, requirements and achievements have been met. Certification usually requires some professional experience and indicates competency for a specific job. Certification is based on an assessment process. A certificate results from an educational process and indicates completion of a course or series of courses.
