What is CHC’s Certification Program?

The Certification Program is a method to recognize your skill as a Certified Hydronic Installer, Certified Hydronic Designer or Registered Hydronic Designer.

Why is Certification Important?

Certification is important because:

• It provides you the recognition for your level of installation or design skills.
• Customers feel better knowing that a minimum skill level has been achieved by the person designing/installing their heating system.
• Provincial/territorial regulators are feeling pressure to reduce the number of poor installations in their jurisdictions. By becoming certified, you are ensuring that you are trained adequately for any regulatory requirements that the provinces/territories may impose. (BC and Alberta currently have requirements for designers.)

Who Needs to become Certified?

Currently, certification is not mandatory in most parts of Canada. The exceptions are BC (where you need to be a Registered Designer to perform design work) and Alberta (where you need to be a Certified Designer to perform design work). The main reasons designers and installers decide to become certified surround their desire to build credibility with customers (certification can be used as an effective marketing tool to your customers), and ensure they are designing/installing hot water heating systems to industry standards (thus, reducing the number of call-backs they may experience on a job).

What is the Process if I Want to Become Certified?

Certification may be obtained by...

Three Easy Steps:

1. Take the appropriate training (via web, correspondence, or in person at one of the training facilities listed here)
2. Have your industry experience validated by completing the appropriate form (only required for installers—there is no requirement for designers to complete this form)
3. Complete the appropriate CHC application. Some training facilities will automatically forward your name to CHC upon successful completion of the program. Check with your training facility to see if they do this on your behalf. Otherwise, you will need to contact k.tomihiro@ciph.com to obtain the application.

Or

If you feel you have enough industry experience you may challenge the exam. To do this, please contact the technical institute you wish to write the exam with. For a list of participating technical institutes, please scroll down.

How Do I Maintain My Certification?

CHC Certification is good for five years.  Recertification allows the Council to ensure that graduates are remaining active in the industry, learning about new technologies that are emerging, and keeping their skills relevant.  Recertification can be accomplished by completing five (5) Continuing Education Credits (CEC’s) in the five-year period prior to the expiry of the certification.  CEC’s are awarded at a rate of 1 credit per 2 hours of involvement.  These credits can be achieved by:

• A continuing education program such as an industry course;
• A technical institute training course;
• A manufacturers’ training session;
• An industry webinar;
• Trade show attendance; or
• Participation on a CHC committee.

Who currently offers the training I need to become certified?

CHC does not offer the courses you need to become certified. Instead, we have partnered with local technical institutes across the country to deliver the training. Currently, the following institutes are participating:

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
http://www.nait.ca/pipetrades

British Columbia Institute of Technology
www.bcit.ca

How do I challenge the exam?

To register to challenge the exam, please contact one of the technical institutes listed above.

For more information, please contact Ken Tomihiro at k.tomihiro@ciph.com or 1-800-639-2474.