Qualifying as a Domestic Energy Assessor

21st March 2007

From 1 June 2007 those carrying out Energy Performance Certificates on residential properties marketed for sale must be registered members of a Domestic Energy Assessor Accreditation Scheme. Similar accreditation for those involved in commercial property energy assessment will follow.

CLG has now established the entry standards for domestic energy assessor (DEA) accreditation. All DEAs must as a basic requirement, meet the National Occupational Standards but Government wants to see flexibility in how this is achieved.

Accordingly, RICS has put forward a proposal to the CLG as to the best method of assessing achievement of the National Occupational Standards by experienced RICS members.

Whilst this proposal has not yet received formal approval RICS is now accepting registrations from members who wish to qualify as Domestic Energy Assessors and is offering two qualification routes.

1. Experienced practitioners

RICS’ proposed  route for practitioners with two or more years relevant residential property experience entails assessment of five completed Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) with client advice, site notes and photographs in addition to confirmation of experience and sufficient understanding of RDSAP 2005. 

The details of this have yet to be agreed with CLG, however in order to manage the demand from RICS members wishing to work as energy assessors, candidate registrations are being accepted with immediate effect.

The route for experienced practitioners will be available to full chartered or technical RICS members with a minimum of two years relevant residential property experience. Relevant experience is defined within the following categories:

Residential surveying
Valuation
Building surveying
Building control surveying
Streamlined SAP
SAP

Candidates successfully completing this route will be awarded the RICS Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment.

When completing your application form you will be asked to confirm that you have the relevant experience and you must detail how you have achieved knowledge of RdSAP2005. The form will be signed by you and your employer, or a colleague. You will not be able to apply without these sections being completed.

The assessment process will be carried out online, so you will need access to the internet and preferably broadband in order to complete the assessment.

2. Non experienced practitioners

RICS is also approved to offer assessment for the ABBE Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment qualification for practitioners non experinced in residential property and as such will offer various methods of assessment so that you can select the most appropriate for you.

RICS is only able to offer this route to RICS members who are not experienced in residential surveying, members of CIOB, NAEA and existing Safe as... home inspection candidates. RICS are not offering a stand alone energy course for new entrants.

All RICS members following this qualification route will need to meet the following requirements to achieve the DEA diploma:

• Provide evidence of CPD and have a clean disciplinary record 
• Complete five  Energy Performance Certificates with site notes and photographs. 
• Answer a series of questions based on the National Occupational Standards to fill any gaps not covered by the EPCs. You can bring forward EPCs previously prepared as long as you have the supporting documentation. 
• Pass a 30 minute examination

Training

Both of the above routes require you to demonstrate you are competent in RdSAP 2005. You will not be able move forward without evidence of this. Safe as… sign post to a number of training providers. Links to trainers' websites are available from the right hand menu.

Moving forward

To apply please download an application form from the right hand menu. Once we have received your completed application form and payment we will issue your log-in for the online assessment system and allocate you an assessor. The assessor will work with you to complete your assessment process.

Whilst we do not envisage that this will be a long process (around 28 days for an experienced candidate), we have a limited number of assessors so we would recommend that you sign up as soon as possible if you want to be one of the first energy assessors to qualify.