This sections outlines the HPCN registration process for the General Retrofit sector. This information is provided to help you decide if HPCN registration is right for you.

Who should join the General Retrofit sector?

The primary audience for the General Retrofit sector is general contractors specializing in deep energy retrofits, building envelope improvements, and enhancing building science knowledge. The HPCN is for professionals specializing in home performance, therefore, it is not suitable for general contractors with a focus in "beautification" or other renovations not focused on home performance* (e.g., kitchen, bathroom).

Unlike other HPCN sectors where you are the installer of the work, this sector is more concerned about your ability to be the planner, overseer, and inspector of work. As a General Retrofit contractor joining the HPCN, you have experience and interest in helping homeowners understand their house as a system and explaining home performance concepts like energy efficiency. You manage the retrofit project and plan which improvements will benefit the homeowner/increase home performance and in what order they should be done.

You may be involved in hiring and coordinating subtrades to complete the work or have in-house employees to complete some/all the work. However your business is setup, you are responsible for ensuring that the project follows best practices in building science and are held accountable for the integrity of the work and final home performance.

The HPCN is an upskilling initiative and is not designed to serve as the first point of contact for new-comers to the residential retrofit industry. If you are looking to start work in this sector, and have never completed this type of work before, we recommend you contact an industry association, such as the Canadian Home Builders Association of BC, for further support.

*Home performance is determined by the energy efficiency, comfort, health, safety, and durability of a home. Retrofitting with a whole-home, or house-as-a-system approach, is key to improving home performance. This includes addressing the building envelope, mechanical systems, occupant behaviour, and environmental conditions to make the home as safe, comfortable, efficient, and durable as possible.

Steps to Complete your Registration

You will need to complete the following steps to complete your HPCN registration. You are not considered an HPCN member until you complete all of the following:

*Apply here, or for detailed instructions, see the Applying to Join page. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

**Some qualifications are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points through BC Housing. For more information on CPD points and reporting, search "HPSC" on their education registry or contact BC Housing.

Successful applicants that finish the registration process will gain access to membership benefits, such as Training Subsidies Reimbursement and be subject to ongoing Contractor Management.

Already registered with the HPCN for another sector? Log-in to your existing HPCN profile and click on "Enroll in a new Sector" to add the General Retrofit sector and start your registration process for the new sector.

Brand new to the HPCN? Click the "Apply Now" button below.

-------------------

Already submitted an application for the HPCN and looking for step-by-step instructions to complete your registration? Check out this Guide.

-------------------

Costs & Subsidies

There is no fee to participate in the HPCN but the mandatory qualifications and requirements may come with a cost. Subsidies are available to reimburse the cost of required training for the HPCN up to a maximum of $1,200 per eligible employee (available until May 2026 while funding lasts). Employees must complete all mandatory training for the sector in order for the company to apply for subsidies. Reimbursements are available after completing the registration process and becoming a full HPCN member. You must complete the registration process within 6 months of your employee(s) starting their training to be eligible for reimbursement.

CPD Credits with BC Housing

The HPCN qualifications for the General Retrofit sector are eligible for the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits with BC Housing:

• Retrofitting with a House-as-a-System Approach: 3.0 credits
• CHBA BC Building Science for Renovations: 6.0 credits
• CHBA BC Building Science for Renovations: 7.0 credits
• CHBA BC Building Science for New Homes: 24.0 credits

For more information on CPD points and reporting, contact BC Housing.

NOTES

• How many employee(s), and which employee(s), need to take the training? At least one supervisor or project manager per residential retrofit crew must complete the training. Your registration will not be reviewed by HPCN staff until at least one person has completed the required training.
• The same employee must complete all of the required training. You cannot split training between employees.
• Subsidies are only available to contractors that are registered in the HPCN. The contracting business must pay for the employees training in order to be eligible for the subsidies as reimbursement payments are made to the contracting company, not to individual installers.
• Subsidies are available for employees that have completed all mandatory qualifications in their HPCN sector. Employees that have completed some, but not all, of the required training are not eligible for subsidies.
• Subsidies apply to the first attempt at training only (i.e., first completion of a course or exam whether pass or fail). Any retakes will not be eligible for reimbursement.
• Subsidies are applicable to HPCN-required training only and are non-transferrable to other training, companies, or individuals.
• Maximum reimbursement limits per company may apply.
• Reimbursements are available on a first-come, first-served basis while funding lasts.

• Registration with the HPCN does not guarantee reimbursement of training costs.

More HPCN Details

Want more details on how the HPCN works? Click on the pages in the left navigation panel to learn more.

Acknowledgment

The HPSC would like to acknowledge the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia for their support in piloting the General Retrofit sector for the HPCN.