BCIA (the Building Controls Industry Association) in conjunction with National Electrotechnical Training (NET) has launched the Building Controls Professional Assessment (BCPA), an assessment of occupational competence for apprentices and practising operatives in the controls industry.

The BCPA is an assessment of knowledge and competence in the installation, commissioning and testing of building controls and BEMS. It has been designed by the BCIA membership and NET on behalf of the building controls industry to form the Assessment of Occupational Competence for the BEMS NVQ Level 3 Diploma.

The BEMS NVQ Level 3 Diploma is an EAL-approved qualification developed in conjunction with the BCIA. It gives learners the skills and knowledge needed to install building energy management systems (BEMS) and equipment in buildings and structures.

The qualification has a combination of 18 mandatory knowledge and performance units that give learners an understanding of relevant legislation, procedures and principles of installing BEMS.

BCIA president Steve Harrison said: “For many years there was no controls-specific training at the apprentice level and as a result the BCIA established an NVQ in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). We now have a number of trainees undertaking this course who are benefitting from workplace learning and experience, backed by classroom instruction.

He added: “At the end of their BEMS NVQ the apprentices will take an Assessment of Occupational Competence (AOC) which reflects the course which the apprentices have taken but also ensures that each candidate is assessed on the most important aspects of their future job.”

The BCPA is a 2.5 day assessment which covers three main areas: installation and commissioning; fault-finding; and a multiple choice test which assesses knowledge of BEMS-related areas such as legislation and energy efficiency issues.

NET is now the guardian of the BCPA test and any future test centres must be licensed by NET and meet its rigorous standards. Iain Macdonald, chief executive of NET said: “I am delighted to have been involved in the development and launch of the BCPA. The parallels which exist between the demands placed on controls professionals and electricians meant that the AM2 (the electrical installation industry’s assessment of occupational competence) was the ideal template for the development of the BCPA.

“Drawing on our experience with the AM2 we have come up with something that works equally well for the building controls industry and reflects both the demands placed on professionals and the expectations of employers.”

For more information visit www.bcia.co.uk