103 Provider Accreditation and Renewal Process

103.1 National Registry of Accredited Providers

RESNET shall maintain a national registry of organizations accredited as Providers in each Provider accreditation category and will post the registry on its web site. The registry for each Provider accreditation shall serve as the current and definitive list of RESNET accredited Providers.

103.2 Provider Accreditation Process

103.2.1 The organization seeking accreditation must file an application for the specific Provider category in which they seek accreditation with RESNET. RESNET shall create the applications for each accreditation category.

103.2.2 Rating Quality Assurance Provider Accreditation shall be in accordance with Section 103.

103.2.3 Confidentiality of Information. All applicants for Provider accreditation shall have all information in their application treated as confidential throughout the application process. Upon acceptance of the accreditation application, all governing documents shall be made public. Proprietary information relating to internal HERS Rating procedures, processes and policies will not be considered governing documents and will not be made public.

103.2.4 Review and Notification.

103.2.4.1 RESNET staff action. Within twenty (20) business days of receipt of an application, RESNET staff will review the application to determine whether the applicant is eligible for accreditation in accordance with the specific requirements for each Provider category. Upon completion of the review, RESNET staff shall do one of the following:

103.2.4.1.1 Request additional information. If additional information is required in order to complete the review of the application, the application shall be returned to the applicant along with a written request for additional information. Upon receipt of additional information, RESNET staff shall have fifteen (15) business days to take action in accordance with 102.2.4.1.2 or 102.2.4.1.3.

103.2.4.1.2 Recommend approval. If RESNET staff is satisfied that an application is complete and meets all the requirements for accreditation, they shall make a recommendation to the Accreditation Committee that the application be approved.

103.2.4.1.3 Recommend denial. If RESNET staff is not satisfied that an application is worthy of approval for accreditation, they shall make a recommendation to the Accreditation Committee that the application be denied and provide an explanation of the reasons for the recommendation (i.e. incompleteness, failure to meet/comply with a specific accreditation requirement, etc.).

103.2.4.2 Accreditation Committee action. Within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of a recommendation for approval or denial from RESNET staff, the Committee shall do one of the following:

103.2.4.2.1 Request additional information. If the Committee requires additional information, the application shall be returned to the applicant along with a written request for additional information. Upon receipt of additional information, the Committee shall have fifteen (15) business days to render a decision in accordance with 102.2.4.2.2 or 102.2.4.2.3.

103.2.4.2.2 Approve the application.

103.2.4.2.3 Deny the application. If an application is denied, RESNET staff shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for denial. Additionally, the applicant shall be informed of their right to appeal in Chapter 9 of these Standards.

103.2.4.3 Within ten (10) business days of a decision by the Committee, RESNET staff shall inform the applicant in writing of the status of their application.

103.2.5 For each approved Provider accreditation application, RESNET shall issue a unique Accreditation Identification Number (AIN) to the Provider. In accordance with 102.1, the accredited Provider will be incorporated into the respective national registry of accredited Providers.

103.2.6 Term of accreditation.

103.2.6.1 All Provider accreditations shall be valid for a term of one calendar year and shall be renewed annually on January 1st upon successful completion and approval by RESNET of an application for renewal in accordance with Section 102.3.

103.2.6.2 For first time applications any in Provider category approved after September 1st, shall not be required to renew for the calendar year in which the application was approved.

103.3 Provider Accreditation Renewal Process

103.3.1 Accredited Providers must submit an "application for renewal" (renewal application) with RESNET no later than October 1st of each calendar year. By September 1st, RESNET shall send to each Provider a renewal application and reminder of the deadline for submission.

103.3.2 Program element changes. At the time of submitting a renewal application, it is the accredited Provider's responsibility to inform RESNET staff of any substantive changes in the Provider's operating policies and procedures or other information that may affect the provider meeting the minimum accreditation criteria for each Provider category for which it is seeking renewal. Changes will be evaluated by RESNET following the procedures outlined in section 102.2.

103.3.3 Rating Quality Assurance Provider Accreditation Renewal. To qualify for annual accreditation renewal, Rating Quality Assurance Providers must participate in an annual RESNET training. Attendee must be the individual listed as the RESNET primary point of contact for the providership. The training would cover, at a minimum, the following:

103.3.3.1 Updates to the RESNET ANSI and Non-ANSI Standards;

103.3.3.2 Effective support and communication with Certified HERS Raters, RFIs and HERS Modelers;

103.3.3.3 RESNET Quality Assurance updates and overview of critical findings from the year;

103.3.3.4 Updates for National RESNET Registry use;

103.3.4 Successful renewals. Successful renewals will be posted on the national registry and communicated to the applicant by RESNET.

103.3.5 Late applications.

103.3.5.1 Renewal applications received after the deadline for submission are not guaranteed to be approved prior to the end of the calendar year. Should an accreditation with a late renewal application expire prior to approval, the RESNET Accreditation Committee, at its sole discretion, may grant an extension with a grace period not to exceed twenty (20) business days.

103.3.5.2 Renewal applications not given an extension or not approved prior to the end of the grace period shall be noted as "pending" on the national registry and the applicant will be advised to cease representing themselves as accredited until the application receives approval.

103.3.6 Accreditation not renewed. Accredited Providers that elect not to renew or fail to meet renewal requirements will be removed from the national registry and be so advised in writing. Providers have the right to appeal a non-renewal decision in accordance with Chapter 9 of these Standards.