The UW-Madison QCxP certificate
The QCxP certificate is a professional certification for professionals within the commissioning industry recognizing the knowledge of ASHRAE commissioning. This certification program is designed to recognize professionals who excel in the field of building commissioning and are committed to upholding industry best practices.
To acheive the QCxP you need to participate in the full course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The course is a 5-day course and is held in Madison, Wisconsin. At the end there is a 2-hour exam.
Background of QCxP certification
The University of Wisconsin-Madison initiated the development of a certification program for individuals involved in the Commissioning Process (CxP) in 2001. They formally launched this program in February 2003.
The primary objective of this program is to offer comprehensive training and professional recognition. It aims to set a high standard for commissioning professionals and supporting providers.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison certifications adhere to the Commissioning Process principles as defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers/National Institute of Building Sciences (ASHRAE/NIBS) Guideline 0-2019, as well as its earlier iterations. This also includes Guideline 3-2012 (along with its prior version, 3-2006), Guideline 1.1-2007, Guideline 0.2-2015, and Guideline 1.2-2019.
Different certification achievements
When you have achieved the QCxP certificate you can continue to achieve the following certificates:
- Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider (BECxP)
- Commissioning Process Authority Professional (CxAP)
- Commissioning Process Manager (CxM)
- Commissioning Process Technical Service Provider (CxTS)
- Green Commissioning Process Provider (GCxP)
Each one of these certificates provides a different level of knowledge and expertise within the commissioning industry in different areas.
What does the QCxP Certification provide
The certification serves the fundamental purpose of recognizing individuals who have acquired a comprehensive understanding of the Commissioning Process (CxP) through educational pursuits and demonstrated a minimum level of proficiency in this discipline through a rigorous examination.
All applicants aspiring to acquire the QCxP must complete the requisite educational criteria and, critically, demonstrate their proficiency by successfully passing the challenging CxP Provider examination. Upon meeting these prerequisites, the QCxP certification is conferred upon the candidate. This certification has a validity period of five years.
Upon the completion of the five-year certification cycle, certificate holders have the option to renew their QCxP certification. Specifics on the renewal process are detailed within this document. It is important to note that the QCxP may be renewed multiple times, provided it is actively maintained.
During the active duration of the QCxP certification, certificate holders may elect to pursue additional project experience certifications. Comprehensive information pertaining to these certifications and the corresponding application procedures are outlined in subsequent sections of this document. It is essential to recognize that upon achieving one of the project experience certifications, the QCxP certification becomes null and void.
Learning objectives of the QCxP
When you have achieved the QCxP certificate you will be well equipped to manage commissioning processes and teams. Some of the core elements of the course are:
- Determining the Owner's Needs and Developing the Owner's Project Requirements
- Forming and managing the Commissioning Team
- Creating and Using a Commissioning Plan
- Understanding the Basis of Design
- Performing Design Reviews with different methods
- Requesting, Reviewing, and Using Submittals
- Tracking Checklist Completion
- Integrating Commissioning with TAB Activities
- Assuring Quality O&M Documentation and Training
- Continuous Commissioning, Recommissioning, and Retro-Commissioning
These learning objectives are taught thoroughly by highly skilled commissioning professionals during the whole course.