We’ve put together a collection of our most frequently asked questions on the Retrofit Coordinator qualification, including course eligibility requirements and how to apply.
If we’ve not got the answer you’re looking for here, contact a member of our customer service team.
It is a nationally-recognised and fully accredited qualification that teaches people how to project manage retrofit projects under the new British Standard BSI PAS 2035. The Award is made by the AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group, an Ofqual-regulated Awarding Body.
You should gain the qualification if you want to deliver domestic retrofit projects that deliver as they are supposed to. However, it will also open many doors to you as an individual, as well as helping your organisation to comply with the requirements of BSI PAS 2035.
BSI PAS 2035 is a government-sponsored Standard. It is set to become the standard approach to domestic retrofit. PAS 2035 states you need to have a Retrofit Coordinator overseeing each retrofit project and that you must hold the Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management to be recognised as a Coordinator. The Retrofit Academy is the only provider of this qualification.
PAS 2035 will be the mandatory standard on all ECO projects from July 2021. It is also required on all Local Authority Delivery Scheme Projects (LADs) and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
Once you have gained your Diploma, you can apply to join one of the TrustMark Retrofit Coordinator Accreditation Schemes. There are currently six of these provided by ECMK, Elmhurst, Stroma, the IAA, Quidos and Retrofit Works.
The course takes between 100 to 150 hours as a guide. This does depend on the individual in terms of how much existing knowledge of retrofit they have and even how quickly you type! The time is divided fairly evenly between learning, completing assignments and preparing for your case study presentation.
To be eligible for the Level 5 course, there are three requirements you must meet:
Qualifications
If you want to apply for our Pro-Track package (previously ‘eLearning’), you will need to hold a Level 4 or equivalent qualification (e.g. HNC, NVQ or CertHE) in a built environment subject as a minimum.
For our Essential Online and Essentials Classroom packages (previously ‘Blended Learning’), that carries a minimum requirement of 12 Level 3 credits in a built environment subject.
Eligibility for the Fast-Track programme carries the same requirements as our Pro-Track package; however, you must be part of a cohort (group). Please contact us for specific requirements.
It will usually tell you how many credits your qualification carries on your certificate. A university degree is usually at Level 5 or 6, but the subject must be relevant to the built environment. Domestic Energy Assessors usually hold a Level 3 qualification that carries sufficient credits.
If you do not hold a Level 4 equivalent but do have some relevant qualifications (as well as the professional competencies defined below), you will only be eligible for our Essential Online or Essentials Classroom packages.
Professional Competencies
In addition to the relevant qualifications, you will also need to be competent in certain areas expected by a built environment professional, as defined by the PAS 2035 standard. We do not teach these things as part of the course, so you will need to have a firm grasp on concepts such as:
Built Environment Experience
Finally, you need to have at least two years’ experience of construction management in the built environment and have worked on retrofit or energy efficiency projects. We do not require this to be in any specific capacity.
If you are uncertain whether you meet our eligibility criteria, please check with us by emailing our team: info@retrofitacademy.org.
If you are very experienced in retrofit and have the competencies listed above, but don’t have the qualifications required, you’ll need to take a pre-assessment test. The pre-assessment consists of 20 randomised multiple-choice questions, and you’ll need to pass with a rate of 75% or higher to qualify for the course. After submitting your application, a member of our team will be in touch with further details.
If you do not have the required experience or competencies, you will need to gain these before we can accept you onto the course.
We currently offer four ways of studying to become a Retrofit Coordinator:
1) Essentials Online – In this method, you will study and complete your assignments online but also attend a 12-hour Virtual Bootcamp led by one of our expert tutors. The Bootcamps are delivered in four sessions (three hours each) over the course of six weeks, and will cover all the course fundamentals. They are designed to complement the eLearning, not replace it.
2) Essentials Classroom – In this method, you will study and complete your assignments online but also attend a two-day Bootcamp led by one of our expert tutors in a classroom, held on-site in our Stafford training venue. The Bootcamps are delivered on two consecutive days (6 hour sessions each), and will cover all the course fundamentals. They are designed to complement the eLearning, not replace it.
3) Pro-Track – In this method, you will study and complete your assignments entirely online, with support from a mentor. You have 12 months in which to complete the course in your own time, but you will not have any ‘taught’ sessions.
4) Fast-Track Learning – This method combines eLearning and the Bootcamps to help you achieve the diploma in a condensed timeframe of 4-6 months. You will learn in cohorts (small groups of up to 12) for your expert-led sessions, and will benefit from peer support in addition to your online mentor.
For more information on the course and how to study, visit our Level 5 Diploma page.
You can attend online or classroom Bootcamp sessions at any time during the duration of your course (dates permitting). However, it would facilitate your learning if you completed Modules 1 and 2 before attending the Bootcamp sessions.
All dates for our Bootcamps are listed on our website, which can be found on our Level 5 qualification page.
The Level 5 Diploma is the only qualification you will need to become a Retrofit Coordinator and be able to join one of the TrustMark accreditation schemes.
For more information, visit the TrustMark website.
The qualification is divided into 13 modules, each addressing a key topic. Each module contains learning, resources, case studies and exercises, and you’ll need to submit a written assignment for assessment.
Learners should work their way through each module in sequence, completing (and submitting) the assignments as they go. We strongly advise not to leave all assignments to the end! If you submit all your assignments together, our assessors won’t be able to review them in a reasonable timeframe, or give you adequate feedback.
Each module has two forms of assessment – a multiple-choice test (MPQs) and written assignments. You can repeat the MPQs if you do not achieve the required pass mark of 70%.
There are usually 4-5 written assignments per module, varying in length from 100 to 1000 words (as a guide). Each assignment relates to one of the Assessment Criteria required by the qualification. You must successfully pass all of these in order to gain the qualification. If you do not pass first time round, your assessor will provide feedback to you and you will be asked to resubmit.
Part of our pledge to you as a learner, is to offer you support throughout the course by providing constructive feedback on all your written assignments. So if you fail any of the assignments, your tutor will explain to you why your answer(s) was insufficient (e.g. did you miss certain key points; could you elaborate further; or did you miss the mark). After you review the feedback, you will then be asked to resubmit the written assignment(s). Your tutor will delete your first answer, allowing you to update/replace it with your amended one. They will then assess your second answer. Hopefully you will pass the second attempt, but if not, The Retrofit Academy team will work with you to establish why you might be struggling. You will then have an opportunity to resubmit a third time, pending a ‘Reassessment Fee’ of £100.00 + VAT (subject to your specific circumstances, we’ll let you know if this applies).
If you join The Retrofit Academy as a member, you can receive a 10% reduction on your training fees (if you are an organisation, the discount can be applied to each employee).
As a member, you will get access to many benefits. You’ll be able to tap into our network of experts, and gain access to a vast library of technical information to support your retrofit journey, including our expert-led online summits.
For more information, please click here.
There is a lot of demand for Retrofit Coordinators at present – both for independent consultants and for those wanting full time jobs. This demand is largely driven by the retrofit funding schemes like the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADS) and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) – all of which require Retrofit Coordinators.
The Retrofit Academy offers a match making service via Retrobook – a service designed to connect you to the marketplace for your services. Social landlords seeking Retrofit Coordinators can post their opportunity free of charge, and Retrofit Coordinators based within 100 miles of that job will receive a notification asking them to express interest.
The Academy also publishes monthly newsletters which feature job opportunities as we’re made aware of them.
For more information, contact our memberships team: memberships@retrofitacademy.org.
Yes, the Level 5 Award in Retrofit Coordination & Risk Management is a nationally-recognised qualification across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Retrofit Academy has invested heavily in creating its PAS 2035 Compliance Software which is designed to support Retrofit Coordinators with managing projects. You can gain access to this software by joining as a member.
For more information, visit our memberships page.
T: 0330 055 7629
E: info@retrofitacademy.org
A: Barn 4, Dunston Business Village,
Stafford Road, Stafford, ST18 9AB
Terms & Conditions
Policies & Procedures
Copyright © 2022 The Retrofit Academy. All rights reserved
This award is looking for the best large projects demonstrating energy savings, increased comfort and health outcomes.
This award recognises and rewards retrofit professionals who excel in retrofit coordination.
This award is looking for the individual assessor or company that has done the most to engage customers and drive the retrofit agenda.
This award is looking for the individual installer or company that has done the most to engage customers effectively and drive the retrofit agenda.
This award is looking for the best small projects demonstrating energy savings, increased comfort and health outcomes.
This award is looking for the best social landlord (housing association, local authority or ALMO) retrofit client of the year. This will be an organisation who has demonstrated their commitment to decarbonising their housing stock, improving residents’ health and life chances.
This award is looking for the newest individual to the sector that has made the greatest contribution to low carbon retrofit in the last 12 months (up to and including December 2021).
This award is looking for the individual that has done the most to promote the retrofit agenda to customers.
The judges will be looking for evidence of:
• Successful engagement with the general public leading to better-informed retrofit clients
• Successful marketing leading to increased uptake of retrofit
• Evidence of adopting PAS 2035 key principles and articulating these to potential customers
Enter your details below to download the presentation
To become a retrofit coordinator you need to have a qualification in a built environment subject that is at least Level 3 with a minimum of 12 credits (your credits should be detailed on your certificate). Level 3 qualifications are equivalent to an A Level certification. If you hold a university degree relevant to the built environment this would also meet the entry requirements for this course.
If you don’t hold a relevant Level 3 qualification or above you may be eligible to enroll in a pre-assessment with The Retrofit Academy to ensure you meet the academic standards required for the course. Failing this, you would need to attain the relevant qualifications.
Our fast-track learning option is ideal for quickly training your team, to get them ready to be able to work on retrofit projects within 4-6 months of accreditation. Using a bespoke mix of eLearning, bootcamps and seminars, this retrofit coordinator training can be designed to meet the needs of your business. As well as learning essential skills and knowledge, cohorts will benefit from networking with peers, and will gain a deeper understanding of energy efficiency and whole house retrofit.
This option is for self-organised learners but includes additional support from our expert tutors, and is backed up by an intensive two-day online bootcamp offering a comprehensive overview of the key learning objectives of the course.
Working in groups via Zoom, bootcamps are a great way for students to understand the fundamentals of Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management, and appreciate the importance of the coordinator role.
This option is designed for chartered professionals who are comfortable managing their own learning and wish to study at their own pace.
The course consists of 12 training modules assessed via a mix of multiple choice questions and written assignments; all accessed via our Online Learning Platform.
All teaching and assessment is completed online at the student’s convenience and you have 12 months in which to complete the course. Although no teacher-led lessons are involved, students will have support from an Online Mentor and Tech Support to ensure everything flows smoothly.
The new PAS 2035 standard works alongside the PAS 2030: 2019 standard, and introduces a set of criteria that must be met to ensure the consistent delivery of domestic retrofit in the UK.
It means that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADs), and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) sectors must fully comply with its specifications. Schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) will also comply.
PAS 2035 represents a strong commitment to improving the energy efficiency of domestic buildings in the UK. It was designed in response to the UK government’s Each Home Counts Review, which was a comprehensive review of home energy efficiency. One major outcome of the review was the call for an industry-wide Code of Practice, which became PAS 2035.
The retrofit assessor’s role is to gather information about the building that is the subject of retrofit work. Domestic retrofit assessments are very wide-ranging and include factors such as the building’s construction, structure, and architectural features. The assessment will also consider the building’s current condition, including any structural defects, and issues such as leaks, condensation and mould buildup. Current installations such as heating and hot water, lighting, and ventilation will be documented. Any protected status, conservation restraints, or planning permission requirements will be investigated before work can begin.
The retrofit assessor must also take into account information regarding the number of building occupants and special considerations including the presence of vulnerable people, or people with disabilities.
One of the key roles emerging from PAS 2035 is the role of the retrofit coordinator. Retrofit coordinators ensure that all elements of domestic retrofit are properly managed and coordinated, and that a cohesive retrofit plan is designed and implemented. For more information on the role of the retrofit coordinator and how to gain the necessary training and certification, see our page on Retrofit Coordinator Training.
In order to become PAS 2030 certified your business will need to demonstrate that you use a PAS-compliant Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure you have the correct processes in place to deliver consistent customer satisfaction and retrofit implementation.
Your installers will need to have relevant qualifications and competencies; each team will require a qualified retrofit professional, and one member will need to hold an NVQ . PAS 2030 certification requires you have up-to-date health and safety certification, and you will also need to comply with PAS 2035 when assessing and designing retrofit plans.
A technical assessment of one of your energy efficiency installations will need to be carried out, and any compliance issues be addressed before you receive certification. An approved certification body like The Retrofit Academy will need to carry out the PAS 2030 assessment and certification.
PAS 2030: 2019 (which replaced PAS 2030: 2017) concerns the commissioning, installation, and handover of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2030: 2019 has been redeveloped to work alongside PAS 2035. Both documents should be seen as working together to create a single cohesive approach to domestic retrofit. Taken together, PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 lay down the steps all domestic retrofit projects should follow to gain compliance, and ensure consumer satisfaction in accordance with the recommendations of the Each Home Counts Review.
PAS 2035 is a specification for what is called ‘whole-house’ or ‘whole building’ retrofit; this is an approach to the installation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) which takes into account the requirement of the entire building; both from a technical standpoint, and considering factors like occupancy comfort.
PAS 2035 is concerned with assessing domestic dwellings for energy retrofit. This involves identifying areas where improvements can be made and specifying and designing the relevant improvement measures. It is also concerned with the monitoring of domestic retrofit projects.
PAS 2035 is to be used in conjunction with PAS 2030: 2019, which sets out the standards required for installing EEMs.
PAS’ stands for ‘publicly available specification’, and the number ‘2035’ refers to the government’s target date to raise as many homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C. The average EPC for housing in the UK is currently Band D.