ACG Policies and Procedures

I.          Requirements for Membership and Certification

            A.         Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA)

1.         The applicant must qualify as an independent commissioning firm. To qualify as independent, a commissioning company must have no affiliation with manufacturers of equipment or system components, installing contractors, or any other person or company which could affect the ability of the member to render an independent commissioning report.

2.         The applicant must employ at least one registered architect (R.A.), professional engineer (P.E.) or certified Test and Balance Engineer (TBE), who will be the company’s designated representative, who is responsible for overseeing all commissioning activities.

3.         The applicant agrees to perform work in accordance with the ACG Commissioning Guideline , and to abide by the Bylaws and Policies and Procedures of the organization.

4.         The applicant shall file a completed application for membership with ACG Headquarters along with all prescribed application fees. The application submittal package includes the following items:

·         Application form

·         Contact information for at least three (3) projects in which the applicant participated as a commissioning service provider

·         Five (5) copies of a resume and current certificates showing license and/or certification of the designated representative.

5.         The ACG Examining Board shall evaluate the application for acceptance.

Once the application is accepted, the designated representative (“candidate”) shall be permitted to take the Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) exam.

6.         If the candidate passes the CxA examination, that individual and the applying company for whom he or she works is granted certified membership in ACG and received the designation CxA (Certified Commissioning Authority). Certification is issued in the name of the company and the designated representative, and is valid for that company location alone.

7.         The Certified Commissioning Authority for the company is responsible for ensuring that all commissioning services are performed in accordance with the ACG Commissioning Guideline .

8.         If a member has a potential conflict of interest on a project, the member must disclose that information to the owner.

9.         Additional certification candidates from a company location that has already been designated as a Certified Commissioning Authority must also complete an application, pass the CxA examination, and pay all applicable fees in order to represent themselves as ACG certified.

            B.         Certified Commissioning Technician (CxT)

1.             To be eligible for certification as an ACG certified commissioning technician (CxT), individuals must meet the following requirements:

a.         Be employed by an ACG-certified member firm for a period of at least (4) four years under the direct supervision of an ACG Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA), and have a high school diploma or GED; OR:

b.         If the applicant has a two- or four-year engineering degree, he or she must be employed by an ACG-certified member firm for at least (2) two years under the direct supervision of an ACG Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA).

                        2.         Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements must:

a.         Submit a completed application and all supporting materials requested.

                                    b.         Attend an ACG CxA Workshop.

                                    c.         Receive a passing score on the certification exam.

3.         Certification as a CxT is only valid while the individual remains employed by an ACG member firm.

4.         Under no circumstances may a firm hold themselves out as ACG certified based solely on employing a CxT.  

            C.         Associate Member

1.         Associate member status is available to individuals who are not actively engaged in providing services as a commissioning authority.

2.         Applicants for associate member status are not required to meet the prerequisites needed for certification by ACG.

3.         Associate members are strictly prohibited from representing themselves as certified members of ACG for the purpose of soliciting work as a commissioning provider. Associate members may not use the ACG logo, and must, in any reference to their affiliation with ACG, specify the full designation of “associate member.”

4.         The applicant must submit a completed application form.

II.         Certified Commissioning Authority Examination Procedures

1.         The ACG commissioning exam is a three (3) hour, multiple-choice exam that tests the candidate’s knowledge of the commissioning process and practical field experience in the HVAC industry.

2.         All commissioning process-related questions in the ACG examination are based on material contained in the ACG Commissioning Guideline .

3.         The exam is closed book; no reference materials of any kind are allowed in the exam room. No exam materials may be removed from the exam room at any time. Any paper used by the candidate for notation or calculations must be turned in with the exam.

4.         Candidates are not allowed to verbally interact with any other candidate. Cell phones, pagers, laptops, wireless email or text messaging devices, or other communication or Internet-capable devices are not permitted, and must be turned off and left with the exam proctor.

5.         Examinations must be administered by an ACG staff or board member, or by an approved proctor. The exam proctor’s role is to monitor adherence to all testing procedures. They are not able to clarify the content of any question or answer.

6.         Examinations will be administered at ACG Headquarters as well as at locations and times to be determined by the ACG Examining Board.

7.         Applicants will be notified of their exam results within 2 weeks of the examination date.

III         Certification Transfers and Renewals

1.         Certification is renewable on an annual basis subject to receipt of a completed certification renewal form, compliance with continuing education requirements, review of past performance, and payment of all dues and fees.

2.         ACG Certified Commissioning Authorities must submit a request for transfer of their certification from one company to another and receive approval from the ACG Examining Board in order to maintain certification.

3.         Certified member companies must employ at least one CxA at all times. Companies without a CxA will receive a 30-day grace period in which to prepare another individual for certification.

4.         Any change in the structure or operations of a certified company that affects membership eligibility (see Section I), or in the employment status or qualifying prerequisites (licensed architect, P.E., or TBE) of a certified individual must be reported to ACG within 30 days of the change.

IV         ACG Certificate

1.         Each Certified Commissioning Authority shall be issued an annual certificate with a registered certification number and the name of the commissioning company for whom the individual works.

2.         The certificate is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which certification is initially granted, and is renewable thereafter on a yearly basis if all requirements for certification renewal are met, and provided the individual and company continue to meet ACG membership requirements.

3.         Any alteration or misrepresentation of the certificate may result in disciplinary action.

4.         Certified ACG members may use the ACG logo on any company materials.

5.         If for any reason a member company resigns or is expelled from membership,    all certifications associated with that company are immediately revoked.

6.         The ACG Board of Directors has sole responsibility to award, transfer, suspend, revoke or otherwise legislate certification.

V.         Payment of Dues and Fees

1.         The membership application fee of $250 must accompany the application for membership.

2.         The certification exam fee of $250 is payable prior to taking the exam.

3.         All application and certification exam fees are non-refundable.

4.         Applicants that are not approved for membership shall be given an opportunity to re-submit the application one time at no additional charge.

5.         Candidates who fail to pass the ACG certification exam will be given an opportunity to re-take the exam. The cost to retake the exam is $250 to cover the exam administration costs. Retake forms are available by contacting ACG headquarters.

6.         Annual Membership dues are $1,500 and payable on an annual or quarterly basis. Annual membership shall coincide with the calendar year of January 1 – December 31.

7.         The certification renewal fee is $100 for each certified individual.

8.         Associate member dues are $250 per year.

9.         All dues and renewal fees are payable one month in advance of the effective date. All members will receive invoices in the appropriate amounts.

VI.        Reinstatement of Membership

            1.         In the event that a member company voluntarily resigns or terminates its membership for any reason (other than a disciplinary infraction), membership may be reinstated in accordance with the following procedures:

                        A.         All applicants must reapply for membership in accordance with the published ACG  membership requirements and shall satisfy all of these requirements.

                        B.         Certified Commissioning Authorities whose membership has lapsed for more than two years will be required to re-take the CxA examination.

                        C.         All applicants seeking reinstatement are responsible for payment of all dues, fees, and assessments which were unpaid at the time of termination of membership.