Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA)
Credential: Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA)
Credentialing Agency: AABC Commissioning Group (ACG)
Renewal Period: 3 years
AABC Commissioning Group's (ACG), Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) certification is offered to independent building commissioning professionals to recognize competence and promote continual professional development. The CxA program serves the industry by recognizing independent building commissioning professionals who demonstrate the technical, management, and communications skills required for competent performance. ACG’s CxA certification is for industry professionals who lead, plan, coordinate and manage commissioning teams to implement commissioning processes in new and existing buildings. Candidates must meet education and experience requirements, mandatory commissioning project requirements, verification of independence, adhere to the CxA Code of Ethics and pass a written exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA)
The following DOD Civilian Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:
The following Federal Occupations provide training and/or experience that contribute to attaining this credential:
| Federal Occupation | Related As | |
|---|---|---|
| 0808 Architecture |  Some |
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| 0810 Civil Engineering | Some |
The following civilian occupations are related to this credential:
| Civilian Job | Bright Outlook | Registered Apprenticeship | Local Salary Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval |  find local salary |
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| Architectural and Engineering Managers | find local salary |
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| Civil Engineers |  Bright Outlook |
find local salary |
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| Construction Managers | Bright Outlook |
find local salary |
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite
- Experience: 10 years
- Education: High School Diploma/GED
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 3 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
AABC Commissioning Group (ACG)
1518 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 737-7775
Fax: (202) 638-4833
Email: certification@commissioning.org
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must have a High school diploma or GED and 10 years’ building industry experience, with 5 of those years in commissioning experience.
Building industry experience is defined as design, construction, testing and commissioning, code enforcement, and operations.
Candidates must have an Associate/Technical/Vocational 2 year degree, non-building sciences bachelor’s degree, or equivalent military training/experience and 8 years’ building industry experience, with 5 of those years in commissioning experience.
Building industry experience is defined as design, construction, testing and commissioning, code enforcement, and operations.
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s Degree in building sciences or equivalent military training/experience and 5 years’ commissioning experience.
Building science education is defined as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, construction science, construction management, architecture and other majors/fields of study designed to train people for careers in the building industry.
Candidates must be a Licensed Architect or Professional Engineer and have 3 years’ commissioning experience.
Other REQUIREMENTS
The Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) credential has the following other requirements:
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Candidates must have participated in a minimum of three commissioning projects. The projects may not include one and two family residential buildings. In the span of the projects, the applicant must have participated in at least six of the following activities:
- Development of an OPR/CFR
- Development of a commissioning plan
- Review of a design
- Perform field verification
- Oversee performance testing
- Correction of deficiencies
- Coordination of facility operator training
- Prepare commissioning report
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One of ACG’s core principles is the importance of independent, third party commissioning. Therefore, ACG will verify that the applicant’s current employer is an independent commissioning company.
ACG defines an independent commissioning company as one that provides independent commissioning services in accordance with the ACG Commissioning Guideline, and does not also provide services that present conflicts of interest, such as manufacturing of equipment or system components, installation or other contracting, construction, or other services that could affect the ability of the applicant to render an objective commissioning report.
Candidates and certificants who change employers during the CxA application and testing process, during the certification cycle, or at any point in the future, are required to notify the CxA Certification Department so independence can be re-verified.
- As a condition of earning and maintaining certification, applicants for CxA certification must agree to uphold and abide by the CxA Code of Ethics. The CxA Code of Ethics is documented in the CxA Candidate Handbook and is subject to modification. It is the responsibility of the candidate and certificant to secure a copy of the most up-to-date copy online.
Written Exam
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Managing Commissioning Projects (18%)
- Identify the scope of the project
- Develop a commissioning team
- Manage a commissioning budget
- Identify commissioning deliverables
- Participate in VE activities
- Review project documents
- Monitor the construction/project schedule
- Participate in project meetings
- Conduct commissioning meetings
- Track deficiencies (issues log)
- Facilitate risk assessment as it relates to commissioning activities
- Assess pass/fail criteria for functional test results
- Identify tasks for completion of commissioning processes
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Preparing Commissioning Documentation (19%)
- Assist in developing the OPR/CFR
- Create system/equipment list
- Create commissioning process tracking metrics
- Develop the commissioning plan
- Develop commissioning schedules
- Develop communications plans
- Create commissioning specifications
- Write system verification checklists
- Create FPTs
- Determine site visit protocols (logistics)
- Develop issues logs
- Document commissioning meetings
- Write commissioning reports
- Create systems manuals
- Develop end of warranty review process
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Conducting Commissioning Activities (24%)
- Plan commissioning construction activities
- Monitor commissioning construction activities
- Facilitate the completion of construction checklists
- Facilitate the acceptance phase
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Managing Training Activities (4%)
- Develop training plan
- Facilitate training coordination meeting
- Facilitate training activities
- Conduct training follow-up activities
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Completing Warranty Phase Activities (5%)
- Facilitate off-season testing
- Troubleshoot facility issues
- Measure energy performance
- Facilitate end of warranty meeting
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Conducting Existing Building Commissioning (23%)
- Determine scope of project
- Conduct a building performance assessment
- Prepare a CFR
- Conduct a systems assessment
- Conduct a site investigation
- Recommend corrections and improvements
- Oversee implementation of corrective measures
- Conduct performance verifications
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Conducting On-Going Commissioning (7%)
- Measure IEQ performance
- Evaluate building systems performance
- Review building operating plan
- Review maintenance activities
- Accommodate space/function changes
- Implement corrective actions
- Publish measurement and performance results to stakeholders
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) examination:
RECERTIFICATION
Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA)
Renewal Period: 3 years
MOST
OTHER
Registered Apprenticeship