The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program's (WAP) comprehensive Quality Work Plan establishes a benchmark for quality home energy upgrades.
In this section, you will learn more about the Section 3: Workforce Training requirement as it is outlined in Weatherization Program Notice (WPN) 22-4: Quality Work Plan Requirement Updates. Resources are listed at the bottom of this page to help you meet this obligation in the field.
Section 3: Workforce Training
Pursuant to the annual Grantee Application Package submission, Grantees must submit a proposed training plan with milestones to ensure the training plan is on pace to be accomplished. The Grantee Application submission instructions provide elements that should be addressed as part of the submission.
Definitions and Training Guidelines
Comprehensive Training: Occupation-specific training which is part of an overall curriculum aligned with the topics within the given JTA being trained. Comprehensive training must be administered by, or in cooperation with, a training program that is accredited by a DOE-accepted credentialing body for the job task analysis (JTA) being taught. A training does not need to cover the entire JTA, but instead can cover only a small part of the JTA. This can be provided to an individual that needs a refresher on a single aspect of their job.
Specific Training: Single-issue, short-term training to address technical skills or knowledge gaps. Conference trainings and any training not aligned with a Home Energy Professional JTA are included in this category.
Home Energy Professionals: An umbrella term for those working in the residential retrofit industry with a focus on energy efficiency improvements.
Job Task Analyses (JTAs): JTAs define and catalogue the knowledge, skills, and abilities a practitioner needs to perform a given job effectively and safely. JTAs are used by training providers to develop coursework that can be verified and accredited by a third-party organization.
Retrofit Installer/Technician (RIT): A residential energy efficiency professional who installs energy efficiency upgrades in dwelling units.
Crew Leader: A Crew Leader is responsible for supervising and assisting in the retrofitting activities specified in the scope of work. The Crew Leader is responsible for quality control, interacting with the client, managing personnel and materials, and ensuring a safe and efficient job site.
Energy Auditor: An experienced professional who evaluates the health and safety issues, durability, comfort, and energy use of a residential building. The Energy Auditor (EA) conducts advanced diagnostic tests, gathers, and analyzes data, and creates energy models to draw conclusions and make recommendations to the client for improvements.
Quality Control Inspector (QCI): A certified residential energy-efficiency expert who ensures the completion, appropriateness, and quality of energy upgrade work by conducting a methodical inspection of the building and performing safety and diagnostic tests.
Installer Badges Toolkit: The Installer Badges Toolkit provides a flexible, customizable, and voluntary approach to training and skills recognition for WAP RITs and Crew Leaders.
Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Planning Requirements
Grantee T&TA plans must ensure WAP field workers receive comprehensive training on a regular basis, as defined by the Grantee, for the position in which the worker is employed. DOE encourages flexibility in designing comprehensive and specific curricula to ensure trainings are customized to meet the needs of the weatherization workforce and unique energy efficiency programs.
Each Grantee will decide on the schedule and type of trainings for each profession based on workforce needs and availability of funds. The Grantee shall develop methods to complete Training Needs Assessments (TNA) which identify and assess training needs and plan for meeting those needs over a defined period, which can span multiple Program Years. The TNA shall be based on the weatherization analysis of effectiveness (Master File V.6), DOE and Grantee monitoring recommendations, Subgrantee input, and other available performance data.
Use of the optional WAP T&TA Planning & Reporting template is recommended. See the annual Application Instructions for additional detail and T&TA Plan requirements.
Resources
The following resources are provided by WAP to assist you with this section of the Quality Work Plan requirement.
Accreditation - Why an Accredited Training Program? (Video)—This video describes the benefits of using an accredited training provider by highlighting the requirements of accredited training programs and how they benefit the customer/trainee.
Accreditation - Flexibility with Accredited Training (Video)—This video covers flexibility allowed with accredited training in WAP.
IREC - Accredited Training Providers Registry—This registry is maintained by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).
IREC Accreditation - Key Documents for Candidates—This IREC webpage provides key documents that you will need to apply for and maintain the IREC credential.
IREC Credentials and How to Apply—This webpage details how to obtain IREC credentials.
IREC Credentials - FAQ—This page covers frequently asked questions about IREC credentials.
JTA - Crew Leader - Single Family—This document is a summary of job task analyses for the position of crew leader when conducting weatherization work on a single-family residence.
JTA - Energy Auditor - Single Family—This document is a summary of job task analyses for the position of energy auditor households when conducting weatherization work on a single-family residence.
JTA - Energy Auditor - Multifamily—This document is a summary of job task analyses for the position of energy auditor households when conducting weatherization work on a multifamily residence.
JTA - Quality Control Inspector - Single Family—This document is a summary of job task analyses for the position of quality control inspector households when conducting weatherization work on a single-family residence.
JTA - Quality Control Inspector - Multifamily—This document is a summary of job task analyses for the position of quality control inspector households when conducting weatherization work on a multifamily residence.
O*NET Summary Report for Weatherization Installers and Technicians—This U.S. Department of Labor report provides information about performing a variety of activities to weatherize homes and make them more energy efficient.
Building Performance Association - Online Training—This resource provides a repository of online training in weatherization, safety, HVAC, technology, building operations, building science, marketing, and more.
Competency Model - Energy Auditor and Quality Control Inspector—This model from the U.S. Department of Labor identifies soft skills and foundational competencies, technical knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by professionals fulfilling evaluation and/or inspection roles within the home performance industry.
Competency Model - Installer and Crew Leader—This model from the U.S. Department of Labor identifies the soft skills and foundational competencies, technical knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by installation crew leaders in the home performance industry.
Contractor Training and Technical Assistance Retention Agreement Template—This document can be used as an agreement for contractors receiving DOE T&TA funds, who agree that they will provide weatherization services that align with the funds provided.
Green Buildings Career Map—This interactive tool explores job opportunities across four major sectors of the green buildings and energy efficiency industry by plotting the various paths for each occupation.
Retrofit Installer Technician (RIT) Badges Toolkit (Video)—This webinar introduces the Retrofit Installer Technician Badges that's available to support ongoing workforce development efforts.
Installer Badges Toolkit Fact Sheet—This document provides a quick overview of the Retrofit Installer Technical Badges Toolkit.
Installer Badges Toolkit—The toolkit consists of 25 badges, each representing different energy efficiency tasks that an installer could perform on a home. Each badge defines the desired outcome, criteria to verify, applicable material requirements, and references to Standard Work Specifications (SWS) or other relevant standards.
Weatherization Training Resources—This webpage is filled with trainings for the WAP network and the weatherization industry.
WAP Grantee Manager's Training Toolkit—This toolkit provides WAP programmatic materials and resources organized by topic.
WAP Request for Proposals Toolkit for Training & Technical Assistance Services—This resource is designed to enhance and improve WAP Grantees' and Subgrantees' requests for training, with the examples focused on the currently more common single training request (versus a multi-training contract).