The Essentials for CVI Certification

The CVI is an advanced certification that recognizes industry professionals involved in and qualified to perform inspection on commercial HVAC systems and components, and who are able to demonstrate expert-level knowledge of the field. It is a certification for individuals seeking advanced certification and who are currently involved in, or are seeking to become involved in, the inspection of commercial systems. You must have an active Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) certification to sit for the CVI exam; because the CVI is an advanced certification, you must have the basics in place. The CVI is a worldwide credential that is particularly valuable for those who prepare technical proposals and provide recommendations during inspections.

“For my company, having CVI is really a differentiator,” says April Yungen, NADCA Treasurer. “On of our clients is a hospital that needed help diagnosing a low airflow problem, and because they understand our level of expertise, they seek out our skills and resources. In this case, we teamed up with contractors who were having trouble getting airflow to an area and developed a solution. The CVI has taken us above our competition and we have a better relationship with our customers.”

How to Achieve CVI
First, as stated previously, you must hold an active ASCS certification to sit for the CVI exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed in 3.5 hours or less. There are three ways to take the CVI exam. You may take the exam at a Kryterion test center; contact NADCA headquarters for a voucher code to register at a testing center or register at nadcatesting.com. You may also take the exam when it is offered during NADCA’s annual meeting and Fall Tech, or at other training events. If you have a group of at least 10 people who would like to complete a training and sit for the CVI exam, NADCA can arrange to provide a customized training on-site for your group. 

There are five domains for the exam. The two most prominent are:

• performing inspections
• understanding components

Preparing for the CVI
There is not one study guide or reference material available to prepare you for the CVI exam, but there are recommended reference materials. Your first stop in preparing for the CVI exam is to review the CVI Candidate’s Guide, available for free on the NADCA website.

After reviewing the Candidate’s Guide, the next step is to study the recommended resources. NADCA offers a CVI training course at the annual meeting, Fall Tech and customized training events. 

The course provides advanced training on HVAC systems and components, indoor air quality, risk management and standards, and incorporates the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM), as well. The benefit of the training course is that you have a live instructor and are able to participate in discussion during the training. If you attend a training, the exam is administered the following morning.

It’s important to note that the training course is designed to be used together with the other recommended materials to adequately prepare candidates for the exam. The course alone isn’t enough preparation. If you are the point of contact for a technician taking the training course, make sure that person gets access to the materials sent to you before coming to the course.

NADCA also has a new CVI on demand training that is made up of six recorded webinar modules that are the same as in the in-person training. Each module is 1 CEC, giving you renewal credits for your ASCS.

Modules can be purchased individually or together, and you’ll need to register to take the exam at a testing center.

If you want to self-study, NADCA’s HVAC Inspection Manual and recommended reading materials are available and are included in the annual meeting course. The inspection manual was recently updated and is an important resource to prepare for the CVI; it includes inspection checklists, interview forms and case studies. Materials are also provided at customized training events. If you have a group of at least 10 participants, NADCA will send an instructor to your location and administer the exam on site.

After the Exam
Candidates are often curious about how long will it take to get their exam results. The paper exam, which is administered at events, takes up to four weeks to process and a pass/fail letter will be emailed to candidates. If a candidate failed, they get instructions on how to register for a retake. At a testing center, score reports are available immediately following completion. If a candidate fails, NADCA staff will assist with scheduling a retake at a reduced rate.

Just as important as earning your CVI is maintaining it. Once you pass the exam, you get a CVI certificate in the mail and the CVI credential is added to your name in the NADCA directory. NADCA offers a renewal on the NADCA website, which is the only way to renew your CVI certification.