List of Questions

1. Is the training mandatory and how was it selected/developed? I/my employees have completed other industry training and/or have been working in the industry for years, do I/my employee still need to take this training?

2. Can I/we challenge the required training for a sector? I/my employee has a trade designation or other qualifications that surpass these requirements.
3. Why is the Red Seal Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic trade designation not a mandatory qualification for HPCN HVAC contractors?
4. Are there any substitutions for the required TECA/HRAI courses? E.g., I/my employee have taken TECA's Forced Air Guidelines - do I still need to complete the Heat Loss/Heat Gain course?
5. Why must the Class B Gas fitter complete the HPCN training in order to be eligible for furnace installations through the HPCN?

Questions and Answers

1. Is the training mandatory and how was it selected/developed? I/my employees have completed other industry training and/or have been working in the industry for years, do I/my employee still need to take this training?

Completion of the specified training is mandatory for all contractors, and their and installer(s), who wish to join the HPCN. If you have previously completed a required training course before applying to the HPCN, and have a certificate of completion for it, you are not required to retake the training. When industry members proposed priority actions to support the growth of the home performance industry during the development of the Working Roadmap, they identified prescriptive training as an important factor to improve quality whole-home retrofits. The HPSC worked with industry representatives from each sector to identify training needs, complete a gap analysis of existing resources, and select existing training and/or develop new training. You can read more about the development process of the required training here. Mandatory training for home performance sectors can benefit all companies and individuals, across all levels and years of experience. It helps ensure that you and your company have access to the latest information and resources for renovating with a whole-home approach in BC. It provides greater consistency in retrofit approaches, which leads to greater customer satisfaction and a more level playing field for your business. It also helps enhance the overall reputation of the retrofit industry by increasing the quantity of well-trained retrofit contractors in BC; a strong reputation can increase support for the industry and open up new opportunities for your business.

2. Can I/we challenge the required training for a sector? I/my employee has a trade designation or other qualifications that surpass these requirements.

Currently, all contractors registering in the HPCN must complete the mandatory qualifications and are unable to challenge them. There are a few reasons for this:

• The mandatory requirements are chosen for their specificity to retrofits (rather than new construction), British Columbia (rather than being non-region specific), and current best practices. Not all industry qualifications are deemed equal on these variables by the HPSC Sector Councils.
• In terms of the option to challenge the requirements with an exam: it is the desire of the Sector Councils to have contractors in the HPCN trained in the standard approach outlined above, rather than only passing a knowledge check.

For standardization and logistics purposes, the current HPCN requirements will remain in place for now. The HPSC continues to be committed to working with industry leaders to identify future enhancements to the HPCN. To share your feedback on the HPCN and its requirements, we encourage you to

1. Consider joining a Sector Council to help shape the HPCN and other industry initiatives
2. Send your feedback to info@homeperformance.ca

3. Why is the Red Seal Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic trade designation not a mandatory qualification for HPCN HVAC contractors?

The qualifications for each HPCN sector were determined through consultation with the HPSC's HVAC Sector Council. The Sector Council spent considerable time discussing the merits of requiring the Red Seal certification for the HPCN and ultimately concluded the following:

• A trade designation for residential retrofit heat pump installations is required to improve quality workmanship
• The only trade designation for heat pumps currently available in BC is the Red Seal Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic. This designation includes comprehensive and broad training but unfortunately does not focus specifically on residential retrofits. The residential retrofit installation process for heat pumps in BC differs significantly enough that despite the comprehensive training required for this designation, it does not satisfy the necessary criteria to be mandatory for the HPCN (see this FAQ for an overview of criteria for qualification selection). (link to new FAQ above)
• The Sector Council will advocate for the creation of a residential retrofit trade designation for heat pump installers in BC. In the meantime, the current Red Seal Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic designation will not be mandatory for the HPCN. The HPSC is working to ensure that contractors with optional HPCN qualifications, such as the Red Seal designation, receive recognition in the public search tool for these additional qualifications.

You can read more about the qualification development process here.

In June 2021, the Province of BC announced intentions to develop a Residential Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Certification. The HPSC was previously advocating for such a role at the direction of our industry stakeholders. We will now shift our focus from advocacy to informing and advising the Province and will continue to welcome industry consultation on the matter. We will provide more information to our ENews subscribers as it becomes available."

4. Are there any substitutions for the required TECA/HRAI courses? E.g., I/my employee have taken TECA's Forced Air Guidelines - do I still need to complete the Heat Loss/Heat Gain course?

There are only three permitted substitutions for the required TECA/HRAI courses:

• if you have previously taken TECA's Basics of Air (BA-075) course, this is an acceptable substitute for the Principles of Moving Air course.
• if you have completed ITA/BCIT's Certified Heating Technician program, this included TECA's Basics of Air (BA-075) course and is an acceptable substitute for Principles of Moving Air, as per above.
• if you have completed HRAI's Residential Ventilation using Section 9.32 of the Building Code, this is an acceptable substitute for the Basic Principles of Residential Ventilation course.

There are NO OTHER SUBSTITUTIONS for the required TECA/HRAI courses. The HPSC has spoken with TECA/HRAI about the required courses and confirmed that they cover unique and comprehensive material.

If you have taken TECA's Forced Air Guidelines you DO NEED to complete the Principles of Moving Air and Heat Loss/Heat Gain courses. While the Forced Air Guidelines course includes content on heat loss/heat gain, the specific Heat Loss/Heat Gain course is much more comprehensive and in-depth; TECA has confirmed that it is not a valid substitute.

5. Why must the Class B Gas fitter complete the HPCN training in order to be eligible for furnace installations through the HPCN?

The HPCN qualification criteria were developed by a Sector Council of industry representatives for each sector. The HVAC Sector Council determined that a Class B Gas Fitter Ticket is required for any installer responsible for furnace retrofits under the HPCN designation. As the ticketed installer is ultimately responsible for the installation, they are responsible for completing the remaining training as well. If multiple employees are working together to complete the installation, it is the goal of the HPCN that all involved employees complete the required HPCN training.

Note: there are limited furnace-related rebates that require HPCN membership at this time. Visit the Rebate Eligibility page for more information.