Contractor onboarding and training updates
QCN contractor training and onboarding have been underway since November, led by CLEAResult, the vendor the vendor that manages contractors in the QCN. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
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Question: When will the next round of training and onboarding start?
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Answer: CLEAResult hasn't scheduled the next round of trainings yet due to its end-of-year wrap-up. WAenergyrebates@clearesult.com will send information about training soon. Please add this email to your "do not block" list, so messages don't go to your spam folder.
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Question: Why haven’t I received any emails from CLEAResult?
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Answer: CLEAResult began the onboarding and training of contractors at the start of November and sent emails to the business email address provided on your application. Please check your business email for these messages. Moving forward, CLEAResult will email your point of contact.
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Question: I completed the IRA Home Energy Rebates program overview training and specific training for HOMES or HARP. When will I start getting projects?
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Answer: While onboarding and training contractors began in November, Commerce is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to launch the program. In the meantime, the HOMES-specific training is being updated, and those updates will be released in the next few weeks.
If you have any questions about contractor training and onboarding, please reach out to CLEAResult directly at WAenergyrebates@clearesult.com. If you have a question about the Home Energy Rebates Program or the QCN application process, please use the contractor support form.
New QCN contractor requirements for air sealers and insulators
The Commerce team will announce in the coming days that insulators and air sealers must provide one of the following certifications:
If you signed up to do air sealing or insulation on your QCN application, send a valid, up-to-date copy of one of these certifications to qcn@commerce.wa.gov.
You must obtain a certification before you can begin air sealing or insulation work on Home Energy Rebates projects. Businesses who don't have one of the required certifications won't be able to perform air sealing or insulation work for Home Energy Rebates.
If you have any questions, please fill out the QCN Contractor Support form.
January QCN application help hour
Commerce is still holding monthly QCN Application Help Hours to answer questions about the QCN and Home Energy Rebates. Whether you've already completed an application or are considering becoming part of the QCN, you're welcome to attend this casual drop-in virtual meeting to talk with one of our team members.
Register to attend the next QCN Application Help Hour on January 13 at 12 p.m.
BPI Energy Auditor Certificate changes
Updated Energy Auditor Exam launching late winter/early spring 2026
The Energy Auditor (EA) certification is undergoing its regularly scheduled review to ensure it reflects current best practices, updated job expectations, and improved exam accessibility. After final updates are completed in the next few months, the new EA exam will replace the current version.
Key changes to the Energy Auditor Certification include:
- Certification cycle extended from three to five years
- Streamlined prerequisites for EA candidates
- Updated CEU requirements: 30 CEUs over five years (previously 24 over three years)
- Standardized CEU calculation: one hour = one CEU
- Exam content updated
- Revised gated items in the field exam (must‑pass tasks)
- Exam available in Spanish
For questions, contact certification@bpi.org.
If you have questions about the QCN, please contact Commerce through our support form.
Happy new year from the Washington State Department of Commerce!
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