New National Standard Published for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Certificate Programs: IREC Standard 14732:2013

January 10, 2013.  The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) announces today that IREC Standard 14732:2013 General Requirements for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Certificate Programs has been published and is available on the IREC Website. This national standard provides a foundation for the accreditation of certificate programs that develop and administer credit or non-credit energy efficiency and renewable energy-related training. It describes requirements for administration, curriculum, assessment, personnel, equipment, facilities and linkage with industry that programs must meet to demonstrate that they issue a market-valued certificate.

“This standard supports IREC's goal of bringing quality assurances to the clean energy workforce,” says Jane Weissman, IREC’s executive director. “It helps to ensure that certificate programs, which have proliferated during the burgeoning ‘green’ economy, offer content linked to real job skills.”

In 2012, the draft IREC Standard 14732 was used for the pilot of the ANSI-IREC Accreditation Program, during which three certificate-awarding entities were accredited. The standard will be used by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), and IREC beginning later this month, when the full accreditation program is launched and eligible institutions are invited to apply.

IREC Standard 14732 was developed by a working group comprised of subject matter experts from the energy efficiency, renewable energy, instructional design and standards development sectors. It includes input from stakeholders collected during three public comment periods.

For more information about IREC Standard 14732, you can visit the IREC website, or contact the IREC Credentialing Program, credentialing@irecusa.org, (518) 621-7379.