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Rising energy costs and inefficiencies in homes and residential structures are increasingly driving the need for qualified residential energy auditors. In response to this demand, AEE now offers the Residential Energy Auditor (REATM) certification program, designed to recognize professionals with energy auditing expertise and experience specific to addressing residential energy use.
Objectives
The program aims to improve the practice of residential energy auditing via continuing education and professional development, and to identify those demonstrating appropriate knowledge of the principles and practices of residential energy auditing by the completion of an examination and fulfillment of prescribed standards of performance and conduct. By earning the right to put the initials "REA" behind your name, you have distinguished yourself as a professional who has demonstrated a high level of competence and ethical fitness in the residential energy auditing field.
REA Eligibility Requirements
The candidate for REA certification must have:
A two-year technical degree or higher in engineering, building management, energy auditing, construction management, science, or a related specialty. No prior specific experience in residential energy auditing is required;
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The status of U.S. military veteran with at least three years of verifiable relevant technical experience. No prior specific experience in residential energy auditing is required;
- OR -
The current status of Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) in good standing.
Examination and Training Requirement
All REA candidates must attend one of AEE's preparatory REA training seminars, and complete and pass the four-hour written REA examination, proctored by an AEE-approved exam administrator. Information on seminar training options is provided below. REA examination questions are drawn from concepts and experiences basic to residential energy auditing methodology, home energy use, residential energy systems, energy conservation measures, energy auditing methodology and calculations, and diagnostic and software tools.
The exam is open book, and questions are a mixture of multiple choice and true/false. A passing score of at least 70% is required in conjunction with meeting all other eligibility requirements to become certified.
Fees
Fees for the REA certification process are as follows:
- Certification Application and Examination:
- $200 if exam is taken in conjunction with AEE's 3-day live training seminar
- $300 if exam is taken at an ACT remote testing center following completion of AEE's realtime online REA training seminar
- Seminar Registration:
- Live Seminar Option: $1350 for AEE members / $1450 for non-AEE members
- Realtime Online Seminar Option: $995 for AEE members / $1095 for non-AEE members
- Certification Renewal:
These fees must be paid at the time the REA application and the seminar registration are submitted.
How to Apply for REA Certification
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Application Deadlines: Your completed application must be received by the Certification Administrator at least 3 weeks prior to the date of the examination for which you wish to sit.
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STEP ONE:
REGISTER FOR THE AEE REA TRAINING SEMINAR OF YOUR CHOICE
All REA candidates are required to complete either the 3-day live Fundamentals of Residential Energy Auditing training program at one of its scheduled locations, or the web-based seminar, Certified Residential Energy Auditor Preparatory Training Program (12 hours in 6 two-hour online sessions) offered several times each year.
Note: Registering for the seminar does not automatically register you for the REA exam. After completing your seminar registration, return to this page, and go to STEP TWO. The links below will take you to seminar course information, current schedules and access to online seminar registration:
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SEMINAR OPTION 1 (live seminar):
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SEMINAR OPTION 2 (online seminar):
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Fundamentals of Residential Energy Auditing
3-day live seminar
Earns 2.4 CEU
Click above link for seminar description, dates and locations, fee information, and online registration.
NOTE: If you register for the live seminar, be sure to select the live exam option under "Testing Location" on your REA certification application if you wish to take the REA exam at the seminar site immediately following your seminar.
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Certified Residential Energy Auditor Preparatory Training Program
12-hour (over 6 days) realtime online seminar
Earns 1.2 CEU
Click above link for seminar description, dates and times, fee information, and online registration.
NOTE: If you register for the online seminar, be sure to select the remote exam option under "Testing Location" on your REA certification application. The REA exam is administered at ACT remote testing centers, located throughout the U.S. See detailed instructions below. |
STEP TWO:
COMPLETE YOUR REA CERTIFICATION/EXAM APPLICATION
After you have completed your seminar registration, click the link below to complete your REA Certification/Exam application:
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TESTING OPTION 1:
(onsite exam with live seminar)
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TESTING OPTION 2:
(exam at remote testing center
following completion of online seminar)
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The procedure for those wishing to use Testing Option 1 is as follows:
- After registering for the live seminar, REA applicant completes the online REA certification application selecting the live exam option under "Testing Location."
- Applicant submits completed online REA application to AEE for review (must be received by AEE at least 3 weeks prior to the exam date).
- AEE reviews the application and sends an initial response letter to the applicant, either accepting the application, or requesting additional information if necessary.
- Applicant provides any additional information requested to the AEE certification administrator.
- Applicant receives verification letter from AEE that all required information has been received, and stating whether certification application has been accepted. (Acceptance of the application is required to sit for the exam.)
- Applicant completes the 3-day live seminar and takes the open-book REA exam on the morning of the day following the seminar at the seminar site. (Completing the seminar is required in order to sit for the exam.)
- Notification of Exam Results: Applicant will receive a letter from AEE within 30 days of completion of the exam which includes the test score and applicant's status. Please do not call AEE about your test results before the end of the thirty-day period. Exam results are not available on the AEE website.
- Review by the Certification Board: If all required references are in place, the application is in order, all fees have been paid, the applicant has met all eligibility requirements and passed the exam, AEE will send the applicant's file to the REA Board for final approval.
- Receiving Your Certification: The Board approval process usually takes 6-8 weeks. Once the approvals have been sent to AEE from the REA Board, the applicant achieves REA status, and will receive his/her REA Certificate in the mail.
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The procedure for those wishing to use Testing Option 2 is as follows:
- After completing the online training seminar, REA applicant completes the online REA certification application, selecting the remote testing option under "Testing Location."
- Applicant submits completed online REA application to AEE for review.
- AEE reviews the application and sends an initial response letter to the applicant, either accepting the application, or requesting additional information if necessary.
- Upon initial acceptance, AEE sends the applicant's contact information to the main office for ACT Testing Centers.
(To see a testing center locations map, Click Here; however do not contact the testing center directly. You must be approved for testing by applying through AEE first, and then the testing center will contact you upon your acceptance as a REA exam candidate.)
- ACT Testing Center contacts the applicant directly to arrange the testing location, explain the testing procedures and ID required, and provide a testing center password. A two business day notice is required by the ACT facility to reschedule. If you do not for any reason give this notice, you will be required to pay the center fee of $68 before you can reschedule.
- Applicant takes the open-book REA exam at his/her chosen remote testing center.
- Notification of Exam Results: Upon completion of the exam, the applicant will see an INITIAL test score. The results will be sent to AEE by ACT, and the applicant will receive a letter from AEE within 30 days of completion of the exam which includes the OFFICIAL test score and applicant's status. Please do not call AEE about your test results before the end of the thirty-day period. Exam results are not available on the AEE website.
- Review by the Certification Board: If all required references are in place, the application is in order, all fees have been paid, the applicant has met all eligibility requirements and passed the exam, AEE will send the applicant's file to the REA Board for final approval.
- Receiving Your Certification: The Board approval process usually takes 6-8 weeks. Once the approvals have been sent to AEE from the REA Board, the applicant achieves REA status, and will receive his/her REA Certificate in the mail.
Please do not contact the ACT Testing Center for any information on your certification status.
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Maintaining Certification
For information on maintaining your certification, please go to our certification renewals website.
For Additional Information About REA Certification...
If you have any questions about REA certification, or if you prefer to receive your Residential Energy Auditor Professional Certification Application Package by mail, please write, call or email:
Francine Seskin, REA Certification Administrator
Association of Energy Engineers
4025 Pleasantdale Road, Suite 420
Atlanta, GA 30340
(770) 447-5083, ext. 223
email: fseskin@aeecenter.org
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