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FEATURE COLUMN
by Pat Fox, Director, IREC Credentialing Development
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Credentials DO Matter- Marks of Quality in a Growing Industry
Just a few weeks ago, I was on the exhibit floor of the Solar Power International Conference (SPI) in Chicago speaking to an assembled group about why IREC credentials matter to everyone involved in the clean energy industry. Here are a few of the thoughts I shared.
Three pillars of support for a growing industry are quality products, quality workmanship and quality training. The definition of quality here includes the expectation that the product or service delivers as promised and that it meets or exceeds industry standards for quality, safety and efficiency.
The challenge for consumers, businesses, investors, workers and energy program managers is to be able to identify the products and services that meet this bar for excellence.
This is where credentialing comes in. A credentialing framework rooted in industry standards, with a robust assessment process, provides a clearly recognizable label that identifies quality and value.
Fortunately for the field of clean energy, the industry has established clear standards for people, products and programs and the credentialing frameworks around these standards are well established.
Enter the Clean Energy Credentialing Coalition (CECC), a new alliance of well-established, nationally accredited credentialing organizations, announced at SPI.
CECC was created to demonstrate and promote the importance of third-party quality assessment, and the value it brings to building strong and competent renewable energy and energy efficiency markets. The group will work to provide a collective view of the clean energy industry credentials that signify quality for products, people and training.
Founding members include the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), Building Performance Institute (BPI), Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC), North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC). have formed the CECC
The establishment of the CECC speaks to the robust foundation of standards and credentials, which currently support the growing clean energy industry. Learn more about the CECC and how to recognize value in the products and services that support your clean energy interests at: www.cleanenergycredentials.org.
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The IREC Credentialing Program lays the foundation for a competent workforce for the clean energy economy. Using robust standards and a detailed process of application and assessment, IREC drives quality workforce training and increased consumer confidence in the industry.
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Credential holders have time and again reported to IREC the importance of preparing to meet the rigorous IREC standard. If you are willing to do the work to understand and comply with the requirements of the standard, your students can be assured of engaging and relevant training; your personnel will be aligned with and fulfill your vision; and your organization will be better prepared to meet the challenges of our competitive marketplace. More.
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Recently, five training organizations and seven individual instructors in clean energy were awarded the prestigious IREC Credential. Focused on quality training that meets employer needs, the IREC Credential offers workers, employers and consumers the reassurance that trainers and training programs are teaching skills to industry-validated standards, to create a highly qualified clean energy workforce. More.
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IREC Social Communications
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Image: LATTC
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Earlier this summer, LATTC received IREC's Training Provider Accreditation for its PV and energy efficiency training programs. William Elarton, LATTC's department head for the Construction, Design, Maintenance and Utilities Department (CDMU), is a reason why LATTC is on the front lines of developing industry-based clean energy curriculum that is currently being used at LATTC in the electrical construction and related disciplines. More.
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Want to learn more about the ANSI-IREC Accreditation Program? Wondering if your organization is eligible to apply, and how to talk with stakeholders about the value accreditation can add to your program?
Join IREC and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on Tuesday, January 16, 2014, 2-3:30 pm EST for an overview of the requirements and process for the ANSI-IREC Accreditation Program for clean energy certificate programs. Attendees' specific questions will be answered, with a focus on informing their decisions about applying for the program. Register
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IREC's Training Directories Can Help You Find...
IREC's Solar Licensing Database is a web-based resource for policy makers, practitioners, consumers, and anyone else looking for solar licensing information in the U.S. In the database, licensing requirements for installing photovoltaic and solar thermal systems are documented for each state. To keep pace with changes, IREC updates the database weekly. Visit the database.
A Job Task Analysis (JTA) is a formal, industry-accepted study, validated by a group of subject-matter experts that allow industry to define quality work and educate a skilled workforce to perform that work. Currently, IREC has nine JTAs: four for energy efficiency and five for renewable energy.
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Of Note...
The Multifamily Job Task Analyses (JTAs) provide the foundation necessary to develop coursework that can be verified and accredited by third-party organizations and promote a higher level of consistency and quality within the multifamily energy upgrade sector. The development of JTAs is the first step in creating training program accreditations and worker certifications as needed within the multifamily industry. More
If you missed SPI this year and IREC's 3 iForum, we've got you covered. You can view all the presentations, including Pat Fox and Laure-Jeanne Davignon's Why Market-Valued Credentials Matter. More
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About IREC
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a non-profit organization that believes clean energy is critical to achieving a sustainable and economically strong future. To pave this clean energy path, IREC works to expand consumer access to clean energy; generates information and objective analysis grounded in best practices and standards; and leads programs to build a quality clean energy workforce, including a unique credentialing program for renewable energy and energy efficiency training providers and instructors. Since 1982, IREC's programs and policies have benefitted energy consumers, policymakers, utilities and the clean energy industry. As of July 2013, IREC is an accredited American National Standards Developer.
Disclaimer The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process that is referred to or linked to in this newsletter. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply IREC's endorsement or recommendation. |
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