The California Energy Commission (CEC) is considering certification requirements for acceptance testing field technicians for lighting controls and HVAC systems. The proposal is in response to the new Title 24 energy code, which will require sophisticated inspections by highly skilled personnel. However, there is widespread confusion in the marketplace over what skills are needed, what certifications measure competencies, and what broad occupational training is needed. The UC Berkeley Don Vial Center for Employment in the Green Economy recommends that the state adopt certifications that ensure competency for a particular job like acceptance testing. However, the CEC's approach to choosing which certifications ensure competency is inadequate, as the criteria for selecting certifications is vague. As a result, there are concerns that this process will not have high enough standards to adequately test the skills, knowledge, and ability (KSAs) of field technicians.
