Celebrating Excellence: New Training Providers Receive IREC Accreditation for Clean Energy Careers
This summer has been an exciting time for IREC’s credentialing program, with five training providers receiving IREC Accreditation and the launch of a new cohort to review new applications this fall.
Three of these training providers, the Association for Energy Affordability Inc. (AEA), Montana Weatherization Training Center, and Everblue, went through the re-accreditation process, while Alabama Power was accredited as a new training provider. The fifth, GRID Alternatives, received accreditation for a new Affiliate Training Center, the GRID Alternatives Inland Empire office.
Alabama Power’s HVAC Training Center in Jasper, Alabama was newly accredited for four weatherization job task analyses (JTAs), which prepare trainees for careers in home energy performance. The accreditation covers the Energy Auditor, Retrofit Installer Technician, Crew Leader, and Quality Control Inspector positions.
The HVAC Training Center, which has been operating since 1986, received multiple commendations for its program and policies during their assessment. The robust safety policies, exemplary “train the trainer” courses, high placement numbers, and strong linkages with the energy efficiency industry showed a commitment to high-quality training that meets the needs of its students.
The Association for Energy Affordability was re-accredited for the Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector (QCI), Crew Leader, and Retrofit Installer Technician (RIT) positions, and newly accredited for the Multifamily Quality Control Inspector (MFQCI) position. In a recent blog post, AEA noted that the MFQCI course was developed “in response to the increasing demand for qualified inspectors in the multifamily sector” and “equips attendees with the knowledge and skills to conduct both in-progress and post-construction inspections.”
AEA began its IREC Accreditation in 2013 with the QCI job task analysis, and followed with the Energy Auditor JTA in 2014. Throughout the last 11 years, AEA has provided training that goes above and beyond the IREC standard.
Montana Weatherization Training Center, which was recently reaccredited for the Energy Auditor, QCI, Crew Leader, and RIT positions, is another training organization that has been IREC Accredited for over 10 years. The training center is part of Montana State University and boasts both a robust in-person and online program that prepares people for careers in weatherization.
Montana Weatherization Training Center received a commendation for its learning activities—classroom lessons that prepare students for real, on-the-job problem solving. They were also commended for using high-quality online training videos.
Everblue recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its IREC-Accredited Energy Auditor and QCI positions. Now, it has added two more JTAs to the accreditation: Crew Leader and Retrofit Installer Technician. In addition, Everblue added a new auxiliary training center in Vermont to their accreditation, expanding the training program to be available in even more locations.
Everblue stood out for its authentic learning activities, defined as tasks that closely mimic real-world work activities and help students apply their knowledge and skills in practical, meaningful contexts before being on a site.
GRID Alternatives, an IREC-Accredited solar training provider, added an affiliate location to its existing accreditation. GRID recently celebrated its one-year anniversary for accreditation at its Central Valley location and shortly after, began the process of adding the Inland Empire location in Riverside, CA to the accreditation. GRID went above and beyond in its application, meeting or exceeding the IREC Standard in multiple ways—including through strong organizational goals, commitment to safety, and authentic learning activities.
Credentialing Cohort Model Begins September 15
As the IREC credentialing team gears up for fall, we will be starting the first cohort model for training providers applying for accreditation. In early September, a new cohort of applicants will go through the eligibility and application process with the goal of having applications submitted by November 1.
During this cohort period, we will have monthly meetings and host optional office hours for training providers to ask questions about eligibility and the application phase of the process. Our goal is to encourage the sharing of best practices between training provider applicants. We are still open to inquiries from training providers interested in joining the cohort. If this is an opportunity that interests you or if you have any questions, please reach out clairel@irecusa.org. The first meeting will be September 15 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. ET.
We also encourage any training providers who are interested in the IREC Accreditation process to check out our recently published Application Guide. The guide is a go-to resource for navigating the accreditation process with confidence and ease. This guide is designed to walk applicants through every step of the process, offering practical tips and recommendations for policies.
Training Provider Listings on Green Workforce Connect
IREC-Accredited Weatherization Training Centers can be viewed on the Connect Now page on IREC’s workforce development platform, Green Workforce Connect. Additionally, IREC recently added over 200 solar training providers to the Green Workforce Connect platform, including those training providers that offer IREC-Accredited programs.
