Industry Terms & Definitions

BPI Certification

A rigorous, credible, and defensible written and field examination process administered to individuals by BPI or its affiliates, to prove knowledge, skills and professional competency in the building performance industry designations.

BPI Certified Professional

An individual who successfully passes the BPI written and field examination requirements for certification.

BPI Knowledge Essential Task List (KETL)

The comprehensive list of knowledge, skills and tasks an individual is expected to demonstrate mastery of, in order to earn BPI certification. PLEASE NOTE: BPI is replacing its current Knowledge and Skills Areas for Testing with the KETL’s as they are updated and available for each designation.

BPI Recognized Training

Formal building science based instruction that has been proven to have pertinent elements in its curriculum that aligns with the BPI KETL and BPI National Standards.

Quality Management System

The set of policies and procedures an organization commits to follow to ensure the delivery of quality building performance contracting services, which includes, but is not limited to, quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement.

Quality Planning

The preparatory actions organizations undergo to determine the impact that their decisions and actions will have on their quality management system.

Quality Improvement

Changes in the quality management system made when an alteration to one or more of the processes is necessary, as is indicated by ongoing feedback.

Quality Control

The observation techniques and activities used internally by an organization to evaluate the effectiveness of their quality management system and to provide feedback that may result in quality improvements.

Quality Assurance

The observation techniques and activities used externally by an organization to evaluate the effectiveness of their quality management system and to provide feedback that may result in quality improvements.

BPI Quality Assurance Provider

An independent third party entity qualified by BPI to deliver quality assurance services.

BPI Accredited Organization

An entity that complies with certain requirements set by BPI that is intended to enhance the delivery of consistent, quality focused building performance services.

BPI National Standards

The set of technical protocols and procedures that have been developed through an open, transparent, consensus based process and when followed, may achieve satisfactory levels of building performance.

BPI Quality Assurance Program

A set of requirements used to ensure conformance to certain requirements established by BPI.

BPI Accreditation

A credentialing process for business organizations, administered by BPI, that evaluates certain business practices, technical operations and quality management systems necessary to ensure that building performance can be delivered.

BPI Affiliate

An organization with appropriate staff and other resources that is qualified by BPI to deliver services to expand the network of building performance industry professionals.

BPI Written Examination Proctor

An individual qualified by BPI to deliver written examinations on behalf of a BPI Affiliate.

BPI Field Examiner

An individual qualified by BPI to deliver field examination services on behalf of a BPI Affiliate.