General Retrofit – Registration Process

This sections outlines the HPCN registration process for the General Retrofit sector. This information is provided to help you decide if HPCN registration is right for you.

The primary audience for the General Retrofit sector is general contractors specializing in deep energy retrofits, building envelope improvements, and enhancing building science knowledge. The HPCN is for professionals specializing in home performance, therefore, it is not suitable for general contractors with a focus in “beautification” or other renovations not focused on home performance* (e.g., kitchen, bathroom).

Unlike other HPCN sectors where you are the installer of the work, this sector is more concerned about your ability to be the planner, overseer, and inspector of work. As a General Retrofit contractor joining the HPCN, you have experience and interest in helping homeowners understand their house as a system and explaining home performance concepts like energy efficiency. You manage the retrofit project and plan which improvements will benefit the homeowner/increase home performance and in what order they should be done.

You may be involved in hiring and coordinating subtrades to complete the work or have in-house employees to complete some/all the work. However your business is setup, you are responsible for ensuring that the project follows best practices in building science and are held accountable for the integrity of the work and final home performance.

The HPCN is an upskilling initiative and is not designed to serve as the first point of contact for new-comers to the residential retrofit industry. If you are looking to start work in this sector, and have never completed this type of work before, we recommend you contact an industry association, such as the Canadian Home Builders Association of BC, for further support.

*Home performance is determined by the energy efficiency, comfort, health, safety, and durability of a home. Retrofitting with a whole-home, or house-as-a-system approach, is key to improving home performance. This includes addressing the building envelope, mechanical systems, occupant behaviour, and environmental conditions to make the home as safe, comfortable, efficient, and durable as possible.

You will need to complete the following steps to complete your HPCN registration. You are not considered an HPCN member until you complete all of the following:

*Apply here.

 **Some qualifications are eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points through BC Housing. For more information on CPD points and reporting, search “HPSC” on their education registry or contact BC Housing.

Successful applicants that finish the registration process will gain access to membership benefits, such as Training Subsidies Reimbursement and be subject to ongoing Contractor Management.

Log-in to your existing HPCN profile and click on “Enroll in a new Sector” to add the General Retrofit sector and start your registration process for the new sector.

Discover the many benefits, resources, and tools available to help you get started with the HPCN.

There is no fee to participate in the HPCN but the mandatory qualifications and requirements may come with a cost. Subsidies are available to reimburse the cost of required training for the HPCN up to a maximum of $1,200 per eligible employee (available until May 2026 while funding lasts). Employees must complete all mandatory training for the sector in order for the company to apply for subsidies. Reimbursements are available after completing the registration process and becoming a full HPCN member. You must complete the registration process within 6 months of your employee(s) starting their training to be eligible for reimbursement.

The HPCN qualifications for the General Retrofit sector are eligible for the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits with BC Housing:

• Retrofitting with a House-as-a-System Approach: 3.0 credits
• CHBA BC Building Science for Renovations: 6.0 credits
• CHBA BC Building Science for Renovations: 7.0 credits
• CHBA BC Building Science for New Homes: 24.0 credits

For more information on CPD points and reporting, contact BC Housing.