Certification Renewal Process

Complete details on the requirements and process for AEE certification renewals.

Ready to Renew Your Certification?

Certification Renewal Credit Requirements have been updated as of January 1, 2024. Please see changes in red below.

Overview

Each certified professional is required to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEU) or Professional Development Hours (PDH) each renewal period. A total of 10 renewal credits are required. AEE does not maintain a record of your continuing education in the interim. You must maintain record of continuing education and complete a recertification form at the time of your renewal. You will reach your recertification date on the fourth January 1st or July 1st following the date of certification. Professional credits for recertification should be accumulated during the three-year renewal period for each renewal cycle. The seminar taken to acquire your certification does not apply towards your renewal credits. *All certification renewals are subject to 30-day renewal processing.

Activities Applicable as Credits for Certification Renewal

Continued employment in energy management/energy engineering

• 1 credit per year of continued work experience per year of renewal cycle (3 credits max)
  • Example 1: Worked at Honeywell in energy management all three years of the renewal cycle = 3 credits
  • Example 2: Worked at Honeywell in energy management for two years. Have been unemployed the last year = 2 credits.

  Membership in a professional engineering/sustainability organization

  • 1 credit per year of membership in a professional membership organization per year of renewal cycle (3 credits max)
    *Having an AEE certification is not the same as membership in AEE. Membership is separate from certification. **Membership credits do not apply to the CEA certification renewal. **PE License does NOT qualify for this category.
    • Example 1: Member of AEE for 3 years and member of ASHRAE for 3 years = 3 credits.
    • Example 2: Had my CMVP for 3 years = 0 credits (This is not the same as membership)
    • Only individual memberships in national organizations qualify.

    Continuing education: energy-related seminars and college courses

    • 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) = 2 AEE credits
    • 1 College Credit Hour = 2 AEE credits
    • 1 Professional Development Hours (PDH) = 0.2 AEE Credits
    • 1 Contact Hours = 0.2 AEE credits
    • 1 AEE credit per: 5 Contact Hours
      *Required information for renewal documentation includes sponsoring organization, course name and brief description, location, dates, and number of CEUs or PDHs earned
      1 Hour of Energy Training = 1 Contact Hour = 1 PDH = 0.1 CEU = 1 CE hour = 1 GBCI = 1 AIA credit = 1 LU = 0.2 AEE credits
      • Example 1: I took a 5-day CEM course in Florida. This course is worth 3.3 CEUs = 6.6 AEE credits.
      • Example 2: I took an energy management course at a major university that was worth 3 College Credit Hours = 6 AEE credits.
      • Example 3: I took an energy auditing course and received 20 approved PDHs = 4 AEE credits.
      • Example 4: I took an energy training worth 16 contact hours = 3.2 AEE credits.

      Instructors may only count the same class one time per renewal cycle.

      Measurement & Verification (M&V) Plans (For CMVP Renewal Only)

      • 1 credit per year of renewal cycle (3 credits max)
        • Candidates may earn 0.5 credits per M&V plan submitted (maximum 1 credit per year)
        • The same M&V plan can only be counted 1 time. M&V plans may not be counted over multiple renewal cycles
        • Candidate must be the Primary Author on the M&V Plan
        • Summary of Plan must be provided on your renewal submission including the following: Authority approving plan, name of end use customer, summary of measure, M&V document & approach, authority attestation/ acceptance of first period M&V savings report

        Energy conference attendance

        • If a show awards a certificate of attendance, credits will be based off what the show assigns. If no certificate is awarded, credits will be based on the number of hours documented.
          *No credits are awarded for attending a trade show or expo.
          • Example 1: Attended an AEE show. A certificate of attendance will be emailed. AEE East Energy Conference = 0.8 CEUs = 1.6 AEE credits / AEE West Energy Conference = 0.8 CEUs = 1.6 AEE credits / AEE World Energy Conference = 1.2 CEUs = 2.4 AEE credits
          • Example 2: I attended a 2-day energy conference. Each day was 4 hours long for a total of 8 hours = 1.6 AEE credits

          Professional awards or papers presented and published (must be related to energy/energy efficiency and cannot be given at the workplace for credit)

          • Credits are only granted one time for the same presentation or publication within the same renewal cycle. For publications, it should include that the certificate holder must be the author or co-author
          • Only professional editorial content is accepted (no blogs or YouTube videos)
          • Awards must be awarded to the individual or a team that the individual was a member of. Company awards do not count.
          • 1 credit per: one energy-related presentation
          • 2 credits per: one energy-related paper
          • 2 credits per: one energy-related individual award
            • Example 1: Presented the same presentation two times = 1 AEE credit
            • Example 2: Published the same paper in two different magazines = 2 AEE credits
            • Example 3: Gave two presentations on two different energy topics = 2 AEE credits
            • Example 4: Wrote and presented a company report = 0 credits.
            • Example 5: My company won Best Energy Efficiency 2012 Award = 0 credits.
            • Example 6: My company's Energy Management Team won the Best Energy Efficiency 2018 Award (If the certificate holder is part of this team) = 2 AEE credits

            Offices held in a professional engineering/sustainability organization

            • 1 AEE credit per year (3 max) holding an elected Board member position of any professional engineering society/organization such as: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Committee Chair
            • • • Example 1: VP of AEE in 2022 and President of AEE in 2023 = 2 AEE Credits
                • AEE's Scholarship Committee Chair in 2022 = 1 AEE Credit

                Credits - Additional Information

                • Credits must be earned during the 3-year renewal cycle. If this is your first renewal, you can only submit credits earned after you received the certification and the preparatory course used prior to the exam is not eligible for credit.
                • The maximum credit available for Memberships or Offices held is 3 credits (membership does not apply for CEA certification). Local chapter memberships and PE licenses are not acceptable forms of membership.
                • If your training certificate does not specially state CEU or PDH it will be considered a "contact hour." Any contact hours must be educational training directly related to your certification and you must be able to verify your attendance. Sales meetings and non-educational meetings do not qualify. Please use the chart above (under "Equivalencies") to calculate your training credits.
                  • CEH, CEU, LEU, LS, LU, SD, CE, CPE, PDH = measurements for hours of training. Each hour of training = 0.2 AEE credits.
                  • For example: 10 hours of standard training (0.2 credits x 10 hours) = 1 CEU = 2 AEE credits

                  For Course Providers

                  The course provider shall be an accredited college or university, nonprofit organization or continuing education department of an organization which meets the following:

                  • Awards Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Professional Development Hours (PDHs) to students who have completed a Learning Event. A Learning Event shall have clear objectives, include evaluation at the conclusion and incorporate review into learning activity improvements
                  • Provider must maintain a list of all instructors, including qualifications
                  • Provider must keep a permanent record of attendees, including course name, brief content, location, date of activity, duration, and number of CEUs or PDHs awarded
                  • Each attendee shall be provided with a Certificate of Participation indicating Learning Event attended, date, location, and CEUs or PDHs awarded

                  The AEE Certification board will not pre-approve courses or course providers. It is requested that course providers present certified professionals with the above information needed for documentation as proof of continuing education. The decision of what course or activity is to be submitted AEE for credit is up to the judgment of the certified professional. Continuing education which enhances the professional attribute of the certified professional and is beneficial in an area of practice will be considered by the Board for those who are audited. If chosen for audit in a random selection, the certified professional will be expected to provide proof of documentation for the CEUs claimed. Relevant courses presented by an accredited university or college, or nonprofit organization are generally accepted for credit.

                  In-Training Certification

                  Renewal credits are not required to maintain in-training certification. To upgrade your certification, you must meet the certification education/experience requirements and submit the certification application by the in-training certification expiration date.

                  In-training certifications are non-renewable. If a candidate does not meet the requirements to upgrade the in-training designation, the candidate will need to resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the criteria for certification by personal data information and examination.

                  Retired Certification Status

                  A certified professional upon retiring will be designated as Retired. will no longer be required to pay renewal fees and will no longer be listed in our directory of actively practicing certified professionals. No further reporting is necessary except to notify the Certification Renewal Director.

                  If a retired certified professional would like to reverse the certification status from retired to active, the retired professional would need to follow one of the two options to reinstate the certification under the certification reinstatement requirements.

                  Certification Reinstatement Requirements

                  A lapsed certified professional has two options to reinstate:

                  • Acquire make-up points at a cumulative total equal to 3.5 per year for every year since date of expiration. This option is available one time only. (Does not apply to ENAC recognized lapsed certifications) or,
                  • Resubmit to the certification process and successfully meet the criteria for certification by personal data information and examination.

                  Legacy certifications can only be reinstated by credits. Retaking the exam is not available.

                  Reinstatement credits are determined by the year that your certification expired. Please contact the Certification Director to find out your exact renewal credit requirements. For all programs, if your certification has lapsed more than 3 renewal cycles (9 years) you will be required to take and pass the exam for reinstatement.

                  Voluntary Suspension

                  Individuals who are out on leave from employment for reasons such as active military duty, disability, or parental leave may voluntarily suspend their certification and reactivate within three (3) years from the current date of expiration. Certified professionals must contact AEE in writing prior to the certification expiration date to request the suspension and include supporting documentation confirming the reason for the leave request.

                  A certified professional should notify AEE immediately should he or she become fully or partially disabled and unable to carry out the full responsibilities of the certification earned. Subsequently, he or she should advertise and contract to undertake only those capabilities and requirements of the certification earned which he or she is able to completely fulfill. AEE reserves the right to proceed on a case-by-case basis to place any AEE certification as inactive.