Developing Professional Competence in Building Operations and Maintenance

#

Building Operator Certification (BOC) is a nationally recognized, award-winning training program that offers facilities personnel the knowledge and skills to succeed in their careers. BOC achieves measurable energy savings in public facilities, commercial, and industrial buildings by training individuals directly responsible for day-today operations. The program establishes a standard of professional competence in energy- and resource-efficient building operations and maintenance and identifies and recognizes building operators who meet this standard.

By participating, you can improve your job skills and knowledge by:

  • Finding new ways to save energy and money for the facilities you manage
  • Advancing your career in a competitive marketplace
  • Improving the comfort, safety, and air quality of your building(s) through low- and no-cost solutions
  • Acquiring knowledge about hands-on energy-savings measures you can conduct on-site

Details of the training program

Building Operator Certification Level I: Building System Maintenance training includes nearly 74 hours of virtual classroom and project work (7.4 CEUs) in building systems operation and maintenance. To become certified, participants must complete assigned projects, pass an exam at the end of training, and complete a national certification exam. Those who complete the class without taking the national certification exam will still earn a Training Certificate of Completion.

Enhanced BOC Training Level II coursework prepares building operators to evaluate the operational performance of their buildings with a focus on improving energy efficiency. Through their project assignments, operators learn how to collect and analyze building data in order to prepare a building walk-through plan to identify opportunities to improve performance. Optimizing HVAC control systems for energy efficiency is highlighted with an emphasis on equipment sequence of operation and functional testing. Students apply the data collection and analysis steps to their own building through a 5-part set of project assignments completed between class sessions.

To earn a Level II Training Certificate of Completion, participants must attend five core classes and one supplemental class, complete class tests and assigned projects for a total of 61 hours, or 6.1 CEU’s. The projects include a culminating short presentation to classmates and the instructor on a scoping report for their building (BOC 2005).

Find more information about the training programs here.

BOC training participants

The BOC training program is for building operators with two or more years of experience in building operation and maintenance who are seeking a broader knowledge of whole-building systems.

Past participants have included:

  • Building engineers
  • Stationary engineers
  • Maintenance staff
  • Supervisors
  • Facility coordinators
  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians
  • Electricians
  • Operations supervisors
  • Operations technicians

The cost of BOC training

Tuition is $1,695 per individual for Level I and $1,695-1,895 for Level II, which covers all class materials, books, and the certificate of completion.

Tuition reimbursement opportunities

Because CenterPoint Energy recognizes the importance of high standards in energy management and the idea that understanding the mechanics of building systems helps facility and operations managers make informed decisions for energy-efficiency strategies, we are offering a $500 tuition reimbursement for qualified attendees upon training completion.

Participants qualified for tuition reimbursement are building operators who operate a building (or buildings) of 50,000 square feet or more. If multiple qualifying operators managing the same building want to take BOC training, tuition reimbursement is guaranteed for only one participant.

In order to qualify for tuition reimbursement for Level II training, participants must have earned their Level I certification without receiving tuition reimbursement from CenterPoint Energy.

You are also encouraged to check with your electric utility provider for additional tuition incentives

Register now!