Domestic energy assessor Job Information | National Careers Service

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Domestic energy assessor

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

Variable

In this job you test the energy efficiency of houses and suggest how it can be improved. If you are interested in saving energy and like being out and about, this job could be ideal for you.

To do this job, you will need to be able to work well with a wide range of people. You will need good time-management skills. You will also need knowledge of buildings and heating systems.

To become a domestic energy assessor (DEA) you would need a Level 3 Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment. This involves completing at least five Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and taking a multiple choice exam.

The work

The job role was created by the need for homeowners to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) whenever homes are put on the market or rented out in the UK.

As a DEA you would:

inspect properties to collect information on their age, number of storeys, building type, and heating and hot water systems
note the number and sizes of corridors, windows and fireplaces
enter the information into a computer software programme, which will produce an energy efficiency rating and an EPC
explain efficiency ratings to homeowners
give practical advice to owners on how to improve the energy efficiency of their home.

You could be self-employed or work for companies like estate agents, service suppliers and energy retailers. It is important that you check the business opportunities in your area before making any commitment to this career.

Hours

You could choose to work full-time or part-time, but you may need to carry out inspections in the evenings or at weekends to suit your clients.

As a self-employed DEA you could arrange your working hours to suit your workload.

Income

Earnings will depend on market conditions in your area, and the type, size and complexity of the property.

Entry requirements

To become accredited as a DEA you would need to gain the Level 3 Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment (Dip DEA). This involves completing at least five assessed Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs) and taking a multiple choice exam.

Before making any commitment to training in this field, you should compare as many training providers as you can and check whether there will be opportunities for work in your area.

The amount of training you need before taking the Diploma will depend on the skills you already have. For example, if you have experience in a related field like property surveying or construction, you will need less training than those new to this type of work.

The Dip DEA is provided by two awarding bodies:

Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE)
City & Guilds.

See the awarding bodies' websites for details of the qualifications.

Many colleges and private training providers offer relevant training.

Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL)

If you already have considerable experience in surveying or energy assessment, the APEL route may be suitable for you. This involves proving that you are competent to be a DEA without the need for completing the diploma. See the Asset Skills website for details of registered APEL accreditation schemes.

Asset Skills Energy Assessors – APEL

For more information about the knowledge, skills and amount of training you are likely to need, see the National Occupational Standards for DEAs on the Asset Skills website.

Asset Skills National Occupational Standards

Scotland and Northern Ireland 

Requirements are slightly different in Scotland and Northern Ireland. For details see the following websites:

You would normally need a driving licence, as your work would involve travelling to different locations to carry out inspections.

Training and development

Before you can work as a DEA, you will need to join an approved accreditation scheme. To join a scheme you will need to:

have a criminal records check
have an assessment of your qualifications and/or experience to make sure that they are valid
get professional indemnity insurance.

You will also need to keep your skills and knowledge up to date through continuing professional development (CPD).

See the Asset Skills website for details of approved accreditation schemes.

Asset Skills Energy Assessors

Skills and knowledge

To be a domestic energy assessor, you will need to have:

an understanding of the laws surrounding the role
IT skills for using computer software to produce the EPC
the ability to explain the EPC clearly to clients
the ability to work well with a wide range of people
good observational skills
the ability to take accurate measurements
good time-management skills
a thorough and consistent approach
the ability to keep legible, complete and accurate records
knowledge of construction methods, construction materials and heating systems
the skills to run a small business (if self-employed).

More information

City & Guilds (Opens new window)
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Tel: 0844 543 0000
www.cityandguilds.com

Asset Skills (Opens new window)
2 The Courtyard
48 New North Road
Exeter
Devon
EX4 4EP
Tel: 01392 423399
Email: careers@assetskills.org
www.assetskills.org

Asset Skills Energy Assessors (Opens new window)
www.energy-assessors.org.uk

Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) (Opens new window)
Birmingham City University
Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
Tel: 0121 331 5174
www.abbeqa.co.uk

Opportunities

Possible employers include solicitors, estate agents, surveyors and valuers. You could also be self-employed.

You could choose to do further training so that you can carry out assessments on non-domestic (commercial) buildings. EPCs are also compulsory for these buildings.

Please see the commercial energy assessor job profile for more information.

commercial energy assessor

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The property and planning industry is part of the facilities management, housing, cleaning and support services, and parking sector, represented by Asset Skills Sector Skills Council. The sector workforce, which has continued to grow since 1998, represents 3% of the total UK workforce.

The property and planning industry covers both the private and public sectors and includes: acquiring, planning, surveying and valuing of commercial and residential property; plus valuing, selling, letting and managing of commercial and residential property.

Key facts:

The property and planning industry includes key areas of commercial and residential sales and lettings and property management.
There are 155,300 people working in the property industry in 37,200 companies.
There are significantly more full‐time than part‐time employees in the industry.
96% of all housing and property organisations have 10 or less employees.

Jobs in the industry include: estate agent; letting agent; surveyor; town planner; auctioneer; residential property or block manager; domestic energy assessor; and emerging jobs such as commercial energy assessor, housing energy adviser and community energy adviser.

National and regional data

The following provides a breakdown of the number of property sector employees in each of the Nations and English regions.

Region	Number of employees	Regional key characteristics
East Midlands	9,400	Nearly half (46%) of the property sector workforce in the East Midlands is aged over 50. A higher than average proportion is employed on a part‐time basis (43%)
East Of England	13,100	A significant proportion of the property sector workforce in the East of England is male (53%) and employed on a full‐ time basis (85%)
London	29,500	London is the largest employer of the property sector in England (19%). A significant proportion of employment is full‐time (81%), and a large proportion of the workforce is black and ethnic minorities (17%)
North East	6,300	The North East employs the smallest proportion of the property sector workforce across the English regions (4%)
North West	14,400	The North West employs 9% of the property sector workforce in England. A significant proportion of the workforce is female (61%)
South East	26,500	After London, the South East region is the second highest employer of the property sector (17%)
South West	15,200	The South West employs a significantly higher proportion of males (51%) compared to the workforce across England. 98% of the workforce is white
West Midlands	15,100	The West Midlands accounts for 10% of the property sector workforce in England.
Yorkshire & The Humber	11,000	Compared with other English regions, a significant proportion of the workforce is female (64%) and the majority is white (98%)
Northern Ireland	*	A significant proportion of the property sector workforce in Northern Ireland is female (66%) and the majority (58%) of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years
Scotland	9,400	Scotland employs 6% of the total UK property sector workforce. Women make up 60% of employees, 98% of the workforce is white, with the majority employed on a full‐time basis (81%)
Wales	4,600	Wales employs 3% of the total UK property sector workforce. The majority, (60%) of the workforce is female and 99% of the workforce is white. Compared to the UK, high proportions are employed on a part‐time basis (36%)

Source: Annual Population Survey, Housing and Property Labour Market Intelligence Update, Asset Skills, 2008
* Due to a low sample base this figure is excluded.