Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center announces the official start of its new technician-level professional credential titled High-Performance Building Operations Professional (HPBOP). Funded by the National Science Foundation, BEST has developed the certification to address the need for advanced skills standards in commercial building operations.
The HPBOP certification has undergone a rigorous design and review process to become the first technician certification dedicated to advanced building operations. Designed to meet ISO 17024 accreditation and endorsed by the National Institute of Building Sciences, its objectives are to:
To earn the credential, all candidates must start by registering and applying to take the pilot exam at the new website (HPBOP.org) which explains the certification goals, work and education prerequisites, and the application process. In addition, the website provides links to resources and articles related to high-performance operations, decarbonization and other sustainable building initiatives.
At present, the pilot exam is free until the end of 2023 to qualifying technicians, facilities managers/staff, building science educators, and other building operations professionals. The exam covers important topics including analysis of building performance, management & optimization of building systems, energy conservation, building controls, and continuous quality improvement. Available only online with flexible 24/7 scheduling and self-selected location, the current test version consists of multiple-choice questions, and all exam results will be evaluated to determine a minimum passing score. Those who meet or exceed the minimum will earn the credential.
