Priority Energy is an official BPI Training and Testing Center with a BPI-approved indoor test house on-site. Train to become a BPI-certified Energy Auditor by following a proprietary curriculum that combines classroom and hands-on building science and home assessment instruction. The Training Center offers BPI classes, exam proctoring, BPI Certification renewals, and BPI continuing education courses.
BPI training is recommended for anyone working in the home performance and weatherization fields, including builders, contractors, and technicians, to ensure the entire workforce is following BPI’s nationally recognized protocols.
Certified energy auditors use BPI’s house-as-a-system approach to improve the performance of existing homes; an approach proven to reduce homeowners’ annual utility bills by as much as 20% or more.
Business owners and their employees may be eligible for an IWT Grant for BPI Training
New and existing companies can apply for grant funding to train and certify themselves and their employees to avert layoffs and grow the business. The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant could provide as much as $25,000 to train your staff.
The following websites will provide more information: IWT for Cook County Business Owners, IWT for DuPage County Business, Owners, IWT for Lake County Business Owners, and IWT for Kane, Kendall and DeKalb Business Owners.
Priority Energy is not affiliated with IWT and cannot answer questions on eligibility or make any decisions on employer approval.
Building Science Principles (BSP) Training
Understanding Building Science is the foundation to any weatherization, energy auditing, construction or HVAC career. It is the study of how all the components of a building interact and impact the energy efficiency and health of a home or building. This includes material selection, mechanicals, construction methods, design, orientation and climate.
Priority Energy’s Building Science Professional (BSP) training is a two-day program in which we explain the above concepts using a combination of BPI’s BSP Reference Guide, proprietary materials, and demonstrations in the on-site lab. Our instructors will prepare students to pass the BSP exam and earn the Certificate of Knowledge. Beginning June 1, 2023, anyone wishing to pursue the Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) and Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) certifications must pass this pre-requisite course.
BPI has made the BSP materials and exam available for purchase on-line. Students can study the BSP Reference Guide at their own pace and take the BSP exam on their own. Go to https://www.bpi.org/certificate. Click the arrow on the left to Buy Reference Guide and Online Exam.
Building Science Principles (BSP) 2-Day Course and Exam: $1,100.00 per person
BPI Infiltration and Duct Leakage Certification (IDL) Training
Priority Energy’s IDL training will teach students to perform duct leakage and blower door tests in compliance with IECC codes for new home construction or existing homes. Anyone performing code compliance testing services must have a nationally approved IDL, DET or HERS Rater certification. The IDL certification proves you can conduct duct leakage tests to the ASTM E1554-07 standard and blower door tests to the ASTM E779 standard.
During our one-day Infiltration and Duct Leakage (IDL) class students will learn how to measure whole-house air leakage and duct system tightness using the Blower Door and Duct Blaster diagnostic equipment. By following BPI’s IDL Certification Scheme book, Field Guide, and our hands-on instructions, students will be very prepared to pass the practical exam.
IDL Certification Course and Exam: $2,500.00 per person
BPI Air Leakage Control Installer Certification (ALCI) Training
Certified Air Leakage Control Installers are hired to tighten the building envelope in existing homes to reduce energy loss, improve comfort issues and elimate the infiltration of pollutants and allergens. Proper insulation and weatherization installation play a big part in the overall energy efficiency and health of a home or building.
Priority Energy’s two-day session includes instruction on specific air leakage control measures in accessible and inaccessible unconditioned and semi-conditioned spaces of existing residential homes. Students will get hands-on instruction with materials and equipment as they practice on each of BPI’s seven required structural props set up in our training lab.
The ALCI certification exam is a hands-on demonstration of a student’s weatherization knowledge and ability. Candidates must explain and demonstrate their skills at seven different scenarios/props to pass the exam. Students are allowed up to 7 hours for completion.
ALCI Certification Course and Exam: $4950.00 per person
BPI Building Analyst Technician Certification (BA-T) Training
The BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) certification is an entry level credential for workers in the home performance industry It is a step toward becoming a certified Energy Auditor or Building Analyst Professional (BA-P).
Priority Energy’s BA-Technician training package is a six-day program which begins with Building Science Principles (BSP) training and is a pre-requisite for BA-T certification. Students must pass the fundamental BSP exam before proceeding with the BA-T trainng. exam is administered. Utilizing BPI’s Building Science Handbook and our own materials students will be well-prepared to pass this required open-book exam. BA-T instruction, Once students pass this open book exam they will is usually held over 5 consecutive days (customized sessions are available). This interactive training will take students through all the categories they need to know to successfully pass BPI’s Building Analyst Exams, including:
- Building Scince Principles (BSP) training
- BSP Certificate of Knowledge Exam
- Building Science: Energy, thermodynamics, combustion science, moisture, psychrometrics, building airflow and mechanical systemsavings Calculations.
- Buildings and Their Systems: Building components, construction, mechanical equipment, building thermodynamics, building airflow, indoor air quality, and renewables.
- Testing and Data Collection – Building and components, combustion safety testing, carbon monoxide testing, combustion fuel leak testing, blower door testing, mechanical ventilation, insulation assessment, heating and AC distribution systems, domestic hot water, appliances, lighting, fenestrations, baseload, water conservation, health and safety, and construction details.
- Hands-on diagnostic equipment instruction and “practice time” in the training lab.
- Skills-based BA-T Field Exam
BSP plus BA-T Six Day Course with BSP Exam and BA-T Field Exam: $3,650.00 per person
BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P)
The BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) is the last step to becoming a certified Energy Auditor. With this advanced training a BA-T will be able to conduct energy modeling, building analysis, and data evaluation in order to provide a comprehensive energy audit report with a list of prioritized home performance recommendations.
The BA-P certification is earned by passing an online written exam. An active Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) certfication is required prior to taking this exam.
Priority Energy’s in-person BA-P course is a two-day session that utilizes BPI’s BA-P Scheme Book, ANSI/BPI-1100-T Home Energy Auditing Standards, ANSI/BPI-1200-S Standard Practice for Basic Analysis of Buildings, our own proprietary material and energy modeling software.
BA-P Two-day Course and Written Exam – $1,100.00 per person
BPI Home Energy Professionals (HEP) Certifications
BPI HEP certifications will distinguish the industry’s highly skilled and experienced home energy professionals. The HEP certifications are recognized nationwide and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
BPI’s Home Energy Professional (HEP) certifications require candidates to demonstrate their advanced competency through experience prerequisites, and more challenging written and field exams.
Priority Energy can help you attain or renew any of the following HEP certifications:
- Energy Auditor (EA)
- Quality Control Inspector (QCI)
- Healthy Home Evaluator (HHE)
- Retrofit Installer (RI)
- Crew Leader (CL)
Call our training coordinator for prices and to schedule an exam.
BPI Certifications Need to be Renewed Every 3 Years
The easiest way to keep your BPI certification valid is to earn 30 continuing education credits during your 3 year certification cycle. CE credits can be earned by taking approved webinars, attending conferences or earning other certifications. You will still need to submit a BPI renewal application and pay the renewal fee, but you will not have to re-take any exams. This option is for certifications that have not yet expired only.
For BPI certifications that have expired, you will need to re-take the exams to become re-certified.
If you have questions about renewing a BPI certification or if you would like to set up a time to take a BPI exam, please call us at 312-767-9047.
