Bronx, NY, July 2025 — The Association for Energy Affordability (AEA) has been awarded IREC accreditation for five clean energy workforce training programs at the David Hepinstall Energy Management Training Center by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This includes the successful renewal of four existing programs that have been accredited since 2013, and the addition of a newly accredited course—solidifying AEA’s position as a national leader in clean energy training and credentialing.
An IREC credential is a nationally recognized mark of quality training in the clean energy industry. Students, employers, funders, and other stakeholders look for the IREC mark to find high-quality training that meets safety requirements and is aligned with industry needs.
AEA’s re-accredited training programs include:
- Residential Energy Auditor – Level One (in-person and online)
- Residential Energy Auditor – Level Two (in-person)
- Quality Control Inspector (QCI)
- Retrofit Installer Technician (RIT)
- Crew Leader (CL)
These programs are aligned with nationally accepted Job Task Analyses (JTAs) and prepare participants for key roles in energy auditing, installation, quality assurance, and crew leadership within the residential building performance industry.
In addition to these established programs, AEA has also earned IREC accreditation for a new offering: the Multifamily Quality Control Inspector (MFQCI) course. This course was developed by Adam Romano, AEA, in 2017 in response to the increasing demand for qualified inspectors in the multifamily sector. The MFQCI course equips attendees with the knowledge and skills to conduct both in-progress and post-construction inspections. Learning modules emphasize best practices in site visit preparation, inspection processes, documentation, and reporting. The training incorporates hands-on exercises and real-world case studies and encourages participants to bring field experiences into workshop discussions. AEA serves not only as the accredited training provider for this course, but also as the credentialing body—a testament to the organization’s leadership in developing standards and workforce solutions for the multifamily building sector.
“IREC developed its accreditation program to recognize high-quality training opportunities and close the skills gap between education providers and industry needs,” said Cynthia Finley, IREC Vice President for Workforce Strategy and Innovation. “We congratulate the Association for Energy Affordability for meeting the high standards required to achieve IREC accreditation.”
As one of the leading accrediting bodies for clean energy training in the United States, IREC’s high standards and rigorous application process require applicants to demonstrate a robust approach to quality in all major areas of training program operations. IREC has accredited over 200 clean energy and home energy performance training programs and has certified more than 100 clean energy instructors.
As the clean energy economy grows rapidly, employers urgently need to locate and hire well-qualified workers. IREC credentials help job seekers locate high-quality training opportunities that prepare them to enter the clean energy workforce, and help employers identify quality training options for their staff.
AEA recognizes the leadership of Nate Price, Director of Online Learning and Website Development, who served as the primary architect and project lead throughout the accreditation process. His coordination of internal teams, curriculum alignment, assessment development, LMS implementation, and documentation efforts was critical to securing this successful outcome.
AEA also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the internal team, whose collaboration made this achievement possible. Special thanks go to Adam Romano, Peter Hoyle, Amy Beresford, Laura Perozo, Heather Nolan, Ramon Casado, and Diane Gonzalez for their exceptional work in curriculum development, instructional quality, documentation, and administrative support. Learn more about IREC credentialing and quality assurance at https://irecusa.org/clean-energy-training/credentials/. To explore AEA’s accredited training programs, visit https://aea.us.org/training
