NATIONAL FIREPLACE INSTITUTE®
A CERTIFICATION AGENCY

NFI certification increases customer satisfaction and becomes a marketing tool for your business!
The National Fireplace Institute® certification program provides appropriate credentials for hearth industry professionals. The three reference manuals and exams provide a comprehensive industry program to upgrade the caliber of technicians and installers. In addition, as jurisdictions across the U.S. consider licensing requirements for installers, NFI certification demonstrates to local building officials that the hearth industry has its own qualified credentials.

NFI certifies professionals as: • Gas Specialist • Woodburning Specialist • Pellet Specialist NFI information and a locator of certified specialists may be found at www.nficertified.org or www.hpba.org
	"Being a member of HPBA Pacific gives my employees and I access to the most up to date NFI training and Certification, which puts me above my competition. With NFI training and Certification my installers and sales people are better trained to handle any technical issues." -Debbie Ewens

BE CERTIFIED
Beat Your Competition –Customers Choose YOU
Customers will choose certified professionals first and foremost.

Your Insurance Premiums May Be Reduced
If installation and service are 25% or less of the gross of your business, you may be able to enjoy lower insurance rates.

Increase Productivity
Certified individuals use time more efficiently.

Validate Knowledge
You’ll gain more confidence installing combustion products into homes requires demonstrated knowledge.

Earn Stature with Local Officials
Building code officials prefer to work with certified individuals because they know they have prepared for and successfully passed rigorous industry exams.

Certification Could be Vital
Certification reduces the need for inappropriate government relations in professions where safety and protection of the public is involved.

Reduce Employee Turnover
Individuals who earn certification have more self-confidence.


National Fireplace Institute
Questions and Answers

Q. How do I become NFI Certified?

A. NFI Certification review sessions and exams for three fuels, gas, wood and pellet, are offered through a number of venues:

-Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) Regional Affiliates - There are regional affiliates in the US. Check with your local affiliate to see which NFI programs it will be offering at its annual meeting or special education events.

-Hearth appliance manufacturers or distributors - Several hearth appliance manufacturers and distributors will be offering NFI certification programs as part of their regular training program. Check with your manufacturer or distributor to see if they are a NFI partner. Also check the testing locations section on this site to see if the program is listed.

-Exams only - NFI has an agreement with a computerized testing service, LaserGrade, which offers the NFI exams at over 700 locations in the US.

To check the closest location to you, go to www.lasergrade.com and type in your zip code. You will need to apply to NFI before scheduling an exam with LaserGrade.

Q: What are the benefits of being NFI certified?

A: Some of the many benefits include: an increased professional image; knowledge of up-to-date industry skills and practice; demonstrates serious concern for public safety; recognition of qualifications by building officials and consumers; potential job advancement; opportunity to promote professional status thereby gaining the competitive edge and increasing traffic, sales, and income. The programs are now directly based on what industry professionals say is important to their jobs.  Preparing for the certification exams will be a very practical exercise of reviewing or learning what a hearth products installer or planner needs to know.

Q: I understand that those new to certification will be taking the new course and exams. However, I’m currently holding a certificate issued by HEARTH. Why do I have to retest?

A:  HEARTH Education Foundation certifications expired in 2002. Re-certification from NFI is now available through special review classes and testing that are offered across the country, including the industry EXPO every spring.  “Grandfathering” from one program to an updated program that has improved material and tests is not acceptable practice according to national certification agency standards.  Entering the new program through the exam process assures the industry and consumers that all successful candidates have performed to the same high standards.

Q: How can I prepare for NFI exams?

A: The current HEARTH manuals will continue to be the primary basis for the new NFI material. However, there have been significant content changes and additions reflecting the results of the industry survey of vital tasks and knowledge. You will need to study from the revised HEARTH manuals whether you are certifying for the first time or re-certifying with the new program.  Revised study guides with sample questions will also be available. Improvements in the exams themselves will improve their value as learning experiences. Questions that are written by hearth industry experts and reviewed by testing consultants for clarity and fairness will challenge knowledge, not test-taking ability.  Computerized scoring that provides more detailed feedback on test performance will better identify areas of knowledge calling for additional attention.

Q:  What improvements have resulted from the upgrading of certification programs?

A:  There are numerous areas of the material that have been revised.  For example, venting of gas appliances gets added emphasis in the new gas exam – and therefore in the new reference manual – because the industry survey indicated venting topics such as house pressure principles, vent termination requirements, direct vent configurations, rise to run calculations, and gas liner requirements should represent about 25% of the new gas exam.  On the other hand, a topic like unlisted solid fuel appliance requirements, no longer a common field experience, gets much less attention in the new woodburning exam.

Q: How will my customers know I've earned this upgraded certification?

A:  Upon passing the new certification test, you will be mailed a NFI package containing tools to help you market and promote your accomplishment:

• A frameable wall certificate; a laminated wallet card.
  
• A prepared press release that you can personalize and send to local media and building and insurance officials.
  
• Brochures promoting the use of NFI certified professionals.
  
• Camera-ready NFI Certified logos for use in ads, fliers, copy options for your radio and TV commercials, business cards, and to scan in for your web site.
  
• An embroidered patch for shirt or jacket; and decals for use on store or truck windows. 
  

You will be listed on the National Fireplace Institute web page listing NFI Certified Specialists and company contact information.

Q: What happens in three years when this certification is up?

A: You have two options. You may take the current NFI exam for the desired certification(s). Or, if you have earned the appropriate number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), you may apply for re-certification without testing. For more information about recertification, call (703) 524-8030.

Recertification Under National Fireplace Institute (NFI)
Validation of Certification - Length of Term

A person passing an NFI exam will hold a valid certification for a period of three years from the month they pass the exam. Example: If person passes the exam on July 15, 2002, he/she will be certified through July 31, 2005.

Recertification Requirements:
To recertify their specialty at the end of the three year validation period, the specialist may either take the current exam or have completed 36 units of continuing education. Continuing education units are approximately one hour for one credit.

The requirements for the 36 credits are as follows:

TECHNICAL TOPICS - 21 Credits

Product Knowledge
Codes and Standards
Venting Principles and Design
Ventilation (House Pressure)
Fuel Knowledge
Installation Planning
Installation Guidelines and Techniques
Tools and Gauges
Troubleshooting and Repair

SAFETY, HEALTH & LIABILITY TOPICS - 6 Credits

Workplace Safety
Consumer Health and Safety (Hearth Product Issues)
Liability

ELECTIVES - 9 Credits

Technical or Safety
Health & Liability or Business Management
Sales & Marketing
Service Department Organization
Management Communication Skills

TOTAL - 36 Hours

If a person holds both certifications, a total of 48 credits of continuing education will be
required.

These required credits are:

TECHNICAL - WOOD/GAS - 34 Hours
SAFETY, HEALTH & LIABILITY - 4 Hours
ELECTIVE - 10 hours
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TOTAL - 48 Hours

The NFI Pellet Certification Program will be introduced in March, 2003. Anyone holding three certifications will need the 48 CEUs to renew their certification. There are no extra CEUs required to renew all three certifications.

A HEARTH Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Committee has been established that manages the continuing education program. The CEU Committee will be reviewing applications from education providers and trainers, assigning CEUs to education programs whose trainers/instructors have applied for CEU credit and making program management decisions.

Guidelines related to earning CEUs are as follows:

* CEUs are earned by the attendee for those sessions where the instructor has submitted an application for and has received CEU approval and assigned credits
* No CEU credit will be given for learning through self-study programs such as FireWright and HEARTH 101 since there is no trainer to monitor participation and learning
* In-store training provided by retailers/distributors to their staff or by manufacturers' reps will generally not quality for CEU credit.
* Each certified specialist will be responsible for keeping track of his/her number of units earned. Once the specialist has accumulated the correct number of credits, he/she submits the required information to the CEU Committee for review and approval of recertification.

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