ISPQ FAQ

How was the Standard developed and what are its objectives?
What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
How do I know if my program or institution is a candidate for Training Program or Continuing Education Provider accreditation?
How do I know if I am a candidate for Master Trainer or Instructor certification?
If we are seeking accreditation as a Training Program or Continuing Education Provider, do our instructors need to be IREC ISPQ certified as well?
As an instructor, may I be affiliated with more than one IREC ISPQ accredited institution or program?
How long does the ISPQ application process take?
What kind of information should I include in my Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply for a credential?
What is a Job Task Analysis?
How does a Job Task Analysis gain acceptance by IREC for ISPQ?
Who are the Assessors?
Will an on-site assessment be part of my credentialing process?
What can I expect during my on-site assessment?
I have taken training courses from an IREC ISPQ Accredited Training Organization. May I promote this through use of the IREC ISPQ mark on my website or marketing materials?

How was the Standard developed and what are its objectives?
The ISPQ accreditation and certification programs began development in 1996. International renewable energy, education, training, and accreditation experts worked to create ISPQ Standard 01022: 2011, which provides the guidelines and sets the bar for the accreditation of training programs and the certification of trainers in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, and distributed generation fields. The objectives of the Standard are to:

• provide training programs worldwide with a harmonized training content and delivery guide for the knowledge and skills competencies for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and distributed generation workforce.
• increase the confidence level that industry, employers, consumers, financiers, and governments can have in the participating training programs and trainers by providing a globally accepted process of evaluation and surveillance (assessment and periodic re-evaluation) of training programs and trainers, and periodic re-evaluation of the standards.
• encourage safety and the training of safe practices within the industry.

What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
Accreditation is a recognition granted to a program or institution. It is voluntary. Certification is a recognition granted to an individual trainer. It is also voluntary, unlike a required government license. In short, programs or courses are accredited; people are certified.

How do I know if my program or institution is a candidate for Training Program or Continuing Education Provider accreditation?
To be accredited as a Training Program, your curriculum must prepare students to perform successfully in a specific job category, and should be aligned with an IREC ISPQ-accepted Job Task Analysis, covering all tasks and subtasks. Those accredited as a Continuing Education Provider offer courses or workshops for professional development that compliment or supplement the skills of a worker. This could include content focused on developing specialized skills, entry level preparatory courses or a subset of tasks from an IREC ISPQ-accepted Job Task Analysis. For a complete description of the eligibility requirements, please refer to the IREC ISPQ Candidate Handbook.

How do I know if I am a candidate for Master Trainer or Instructor certification?
Minimum practical experience for an Instructor is 250 hours, for a Master Trainer, 380 hours. Minimum teaching experience for an Instructor is 220 hours, for a Master Trainer, 900 hours.

If we are seeking accreditation as a Training Program or Continuing Education Provider, do our instructors need to be IREC ISPQ certified as well?
There is no requirement that you have IREC ISPQ certified trainers on staff in order to be accredited as a Training Program or Continuing Education Provider. It is your choice whether to have selected trainers apply to be Certified Affiliated Instructors or Certified Affiliated Master Trainers in conjunction with your accreditation process.

As an instructor, may I be affiliated with more than one IREC ISPQ accredited institution or program?
Yes. Each institution must provide a letter verifying your affiliation. In addition, one of those institutions must be your primary affiliation, bearing responsibility for your annual fees, etc.

How long does the IREC ISPQ application process take?
The term of candidacy is generally one year (starting from the date you submit your complete application). However, you can play a proactive role in the length of this process through submission of a clear, complete, and well-organized application package, and by being responsive to IREC ISPQ staff and assessor requests for information.

What kind of information should I include in my Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply for a credential?
All candidates are required to submit a one-page letter notifying IREC that they intend to apply for an IREC ISPQ credential.  The LOI should include the designation, the course(s) title, the Job Task Analysis (or Analyses) under which you plan to apply (if applicable), the projected date that the application will be submitted and contact information including name, mailing address, email address and phone number. Letters of Intent should be sent by email correspondence to info@ispqusa.org and should be submitted within 60 days of the projected date of the application.

What is a Job Task Analysis?
The Job Task Analysis is a formal process for determining what people do, under what working conditions they do it, what they must know to do it, and the skills they must have to do it. Usually a technical committee of subject matter experts is convened to develop the task analysis. The task analysis helps establish the basis for training curricula and helps define requirements for the assessment and credentialing of practitioners.

How does a Job Task Analysis gain acceptance by IREC for ISPQ?
IREC uses the following guidelines to evaluate and accept a Job Task Analysis for use in the IREC ISPQ Credentialing Program:

• The Job Task Analysis must clearly define the job. More specifically, the overall objective of the training must be clearly stated in terms of what the trained individual should be able to accomplish under given conditions.
• The Job Task Analysis should identify all of the tasks and subtasks required for competent performance. Inclusion of criticality and frequency of tasks and subtasks is highly recommended.
• The Job Task Analysis should follow well accepted procedures for occupational analysis, such as the use of a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum), including review and validation by subject matter experts (SMEs).
• There is documentation of Committee members, their credentials and the process that was followed to create the Job Task Analysis. The process of developing a Job Task Analysis should include a balanced involvement of interested parties; and should safeguard impartiality.

Who are the Assessors?
IREC ISPQ Registered Assessors have five or more years experience in the renewable energy and/or energy efficiency fields. They undergo extensive and ongoing training and are familiar with the IREC ISPQ International Standard 01022: 2011 and content requirements in relevant Job Task Analyses. Assessors sign a Code of Ethics including assurances that they will avoid any conflicts of interest, both real and perceived.

Will an on-site assessment be part of my credentialing process?
Generally speaking, only Training Program or Independent Master Trainer candidates are required to undergo an on-site assessment. However, candidates for Continuing Education Provider, Affiliated Master Trainer, Independent Instructor and Affiliated Instructor may be required to have an on-site assessment at their expense, per their assessor’s recommendation.

What can I expect during my on-site assessment?
Your assessor will have an opening meeting with you when they arrive at your location to review the scope of the assessment, the schedule for the day, identify key staff that the assessor will need to interview and documents the assessor will need to review. Your assessor may need an empty office or meeting room to use as a base of operations.

During the assessment, your assessor will review documents; interview staff; verify the state, quality, and safety of your facility; verify the existence of tools, safety materials, and resource materials; etc. The assessor will conduct interviews, observe, and note operations, including attending training, if possible. Generally, an on-site assessment will be completed within the scope of one day.

At the closing of the on-site assessment, your assessor will meet with you to review their findings in a Closing Assessment Report. They will leave you a signed copy, and if any deficiencies are found you will be asked to submit a Corrective Action Plan within two weeks.

I have taken training courses from an IREC ISPQ accredited training organization. May I promote this through use of the IREC ISPQ mark on my website or marketing materials?
No. Use of the IREC ISPQ mark is expressly for those training programs and instructors who have undergone the IREC ISPQ assessment process and been granted a credential. For more information about use of the IREC ISPQ mark, please see the Candidate Handbook.