How to become a GCC Certified Energy Advisor (CEA)

Green Communities Canada (GCC) is responsible for pre-qualifying, training and certifying advisors that will work for, or are associated with, a Green Community (GC) organization in Ontario.

All advisor candidates MUST have proven knowledge and skills in the following areas:
• building construction practices;
• building materials (insulation types, sealants, etc.);
• energy efficient appliances;
• building science, including the principles of the “house as a system;”
• use of computers, modems, the Internet and e-mail;
• basic arithmetic and geometry;
• client relations (writing and oral customer service skills); and
• blueprint reading.

Interested people that have the knowledge and skills listed above can send a cover letter and resume to Jen Slykhuis by email jslykhuis@windfallcentre.ca

Advisor candidates must be "sponsored" by a Green Community or the GCC(i.e., they must have a working relationship) in order to become a CEA.

If you are looking to become an CEA for your own business, you must contact Natural Resources Canada directly to obtain a license.

Steps to become a GCC CEA

1. Subsequent to a successful interview, selected candidates must write and pass a pre-qualification test administered by the Windfall. This test was designed to serve two purposes: to ensure that candidates have a sufficient grounding in home energy knowledge and assessment skills to proceed with specialized training; and indicate areas where candidates could benefit from additional training.

There are courses of study (like Home Inspectors courses, House as a System, Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute courses), and some written material (such as ”Keeping the Heat In” and other Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation or Office of Energy Efficiency publications) that can help with getting the knowledge necessary to become an advisor. Experience working within houses helps gain the understanding required.

2. Approved candidates attend a four-day training session and be provided with necessary course materials.

3. Candidates must write and pass a written certification test.