The American National Standard Institute (ANSI), the coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system, and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council Inc. (IREC) have launched the ANSI-IREC program, which will accredit renewable energy and energy efficiency certificate programs.
The program has completed its pilot phase and is now accepting general applications. It evaluates certificate-awarding schools, colleges and other institutions against requirements for equipment, curriculum, facilities, administration and personnel set forth in the IREC Standard 14732: 2013, General Requirements for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Certificate Programs.
Accreditation under the ANSI-IREC program demonstrates to students, policymakers, funders and employers that programs have demonstrated meeting all requirements in the standard, and provides third-party verification that certificate programs have demonstrated meeting the requirements for issuing a market-valued certificate.
Students who have graduated from an ANSI-IREC-accredited program will improve the quality of work in the marketplace and help to establish benchmarks for the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, the organizations add.
Successful applicants will join three organizations currently accredited against the 14732 Standard: CalCERTS, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and National Solar Trainers.
