Assessor Roadmap:
Becoming an Authorized Oregon Home Energy Score Program Assessor
Outlined below are the required steps to become an authorized home energy assessor with the Oregon Home Energy Score program. This entire process is estimated to take a minimum of four weeks and ~$625 to complete. To complete the process, you must hold an Oregon CCB license for residential contractor, residential specialty contractor license, or residential restricted Home Energy Performance Score Contractor. If you are already have an active HES Assessor ID you can contact Earth Advantage to get more details on needed steps.
STEP 1: Obtain and verify qualifying credentials
STEP 2: Complete Home Energy Score Simulation training
STEP 3: Obtain and verify home energy assessor CCB certificate
STEP 4: Complete the home energy assessor participation agreement
STEP 5: Attend mandatory orientation
STEP 6: Successfully complete required mentoring
STEP 7: Authorization
Step One: Obtain and Verify Qualifying Credentials
Complete at least one of the following US Department of Energy (US DOE) qualifying credentials listed on the ODOE - Home Energy Assessor Training Certification Form (found HERE). Please email the form and direct questions about completing credentials to ODOE.HEPS@oregon.govNote: If you have yet to complete the US DOE Home Energy Score Simulation Training, disregard the “US DOE online simulation training” field on the form.
Estimated cost: varies by market rates
Estimated time frame: varies by training provider
Step Two: Complete Home Energy Score Simulation Training
US DOE will email you access to the Simulation Training. This is a self-paced training process where you will conduct virtual home walkthroughs designed to show a variety of situations you might encounter, in order to learn how to produce an accurate Home Energy Score. Once complete, US DOE will email you to confirm you passed a series of test homes and a multiple choice exam.
Estimated cost: Free (unguided)
Estimated time frame: 12+ hours, usually over a few weeks
Step Three: Obtain and Verify Home Energy Assessor CCB Certificate
Submit approved and completed Home Energy Assessor Training Certification Form from Step 1 to CCB, with the CCB Home Energy Assessor Certification Application and your CCB license application, unless you are associating with a pre-existing license. Ways to submit applications to CCB: Fax or regular mail only. For security reasons, applications are not accepted by email.
Please direct CCB questions to: angela.k.warkentin@ccb.state.or.us
Upon approval, CCB will mail you a certificate and CCB number.
Upon receipt, email certificate and CCB number to Earth Advantage: oregonhes@earthadvantage.org
Note: Your Home Energy Assessor certification cannot be issued without a CCB residential general contractor license, residential specialty contractor license, or residential restricted Home Energy Performance Score Contractor license – see CCB Endorsements for descriptions.
Estimated cost: $100 Application Fee + $100 One-Year Certification Fee. Annual renewal fee $100.
Estimated time frame: 5 - 7 business days
Step Four: Complete the Home Energy Assessor Participation Agreement
Complete the home energy assessor participation agreement. Request agreement from Earth Advantage at: oregonhes@earthadvantage.org
Estimated cost: None
Estimated time frame: 2 - 4 business days to process
Step Five: Attend Mandatory Orientation
Attend mandatory orientation. Learn about specific local program requirements and messaging to homeowners about the Home Energy Report. Click HERE to find the next assessor orientation and sign up. Assessors operating outside of Portland Metro will also get training related to Remote QA requirements.
Estimated cost: None
Estimated time frame: 1-2 hr Orientation session
Step Six: Successfully Complete Required Mentoring
As required by US DOE, you must schedule mentoring designated by Earth Advantage.1. If you will be conducting Home Energy Scores inside the Portland Metro area, register for in-field mentoring of your first Home Energy Score. Please find more information and registration HERE.
Estimated cost: $150 (Travel costs may be added for areas outside of PDX Metro)
Estimated time frame: 2 hr field visit + ½ hr data entry and energy modeling
2. If you will be conducting Home Energy Scores outside the Portland Metro area and are unable to attend an in-field mentoring, register for remote mentoring. Please find more information and registration HERE
Estimated Cost: $150
Estimated time frame: 1.5 hr field visit + ½ hr data entry + 1 hour remote mentoring session.
Step Seven: Authorization
You are now authorized to conduct Oregon Home Energy Score assessments and generate the Home Energy Report! Earth Advantage will send you an authorization email to confirm.
1. Inside Portland Metro area: (In Field QA): This is the QA process for HES scores conducted within the Portland Metro area (see the Oregon Home Energy Score Quality Assurance Protocol for geographic qualifications)
Estimated cost: $35/score quality assurance fee
Estimated time frame: 1.5 hr/home - field assessment, energy modeling, Oregon home energy report generation
2. Outside Portland Metro area (Remote QA)
Estimated cost: $35/score quality assurance fee
Estimated time frame: 1.5 hr/home - field assessment, energy modeling, Oregon home energy report generation, Remote QA Photo Systems.
Program Entity Roles
US Department of Energy (US DOE)
Manages the Home Energy Score rating protocol, training requirements and quality assurance guidelines.
Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE)
Manages compliance to Oregon-specific Home Energy Performance Scores requirements – Training credentials, CCB licensing, scorecard utility rates. Manages the ODOE program and is the official Home
Earth Advantage
Implements assessor enrollment and quality assurance on behalf of the Home Energy Score programs with the Oregon Department of Energy and jurisdictions with mandatory scoring policies: City of Portland; City of Milwaukie; and City of Hillsboro.
Home Energy Score Modeling Tools
Beyond use of the US DOE Home Energy Score modeling tool, a number of other third-party software providers have successfully integrated with the Home Energy Score API to allow Assessors to produce the Home Energy Score Report along with the other outputs the software produces. Click HERE and scroll to see the current list of approved thirdparty software providers available for the Oregon program. Licensing may be required between the Assessor and software provider.
Estimated software costs
US DOE’s Home Energy Score software tool is free. Other third-party software providers may charge licensing fees for use
For More Information
If you have further questions related to becoming an authorized home energy assessor for the ODOE Home Energy Score program, please contact: oregonhes@earthadvantage.org