Certified Building Envelope Program FAQs

What is the format of the CBET (Technician) written examination?

Candidates are allotted three (3) hours to complete the CBET (Technician) written examination. The content of the examination follows the plan (detailed below), which was derived from an in-depth practice analysis validation effort that was completed in 2013.

The written examination has a total of 120 questions, which includes 20 experimental items throughout. These experimental items do not count against a candidate’s exam score and are included to collect information on questions that may be incorporated into future test forms.

Click here to view the CBET Exam Summary Report.

What is the format of the CBES (Air & Moisture) written examination?

Candidates are allotted two and a half (2.5) hours to complete the written examination for Certified Building Envelope Specialist — Air & Moisture Barrier. The content of the examination follows the plan (detailed below), which was derived from an in-depth practice analysis validation effort that was completed in 2013.

The written examination has a total of 84 questions, which includes 20 experimental items throughout. These experimental items do not count against a candidate’s exam score and are included to collect information on questions that may be incorporated into future test forms.

What is the format of the CBES (Thermal) written examination?

Candidates are allotted two (2) hours to complete the written examination for Certified Building Envelope Specialist — Thermal Barrier. The content of the examination follows the plan (detailed below), which was derived from an in-depth practice analysis validation effort that was completed in 2013.

The written examination has a total of 60 questions, which includes 20 experimental items throughout. These experimental items do not count against a candidate’s exam score and are included to collect information on questions that may be incorporated into future test forms.

What does it take to pass the BE written examinations?

Because there are multiple forms of the written examination, it is not appropriate to set a specific pass point. For this reason, the pass point for each examination form is changed statistically based on the difficulty of the questions on that form of the examination.

Specifically, the differences in exam difficulty among different administrations are calculated and then the pass points of the new examination forms are adjusted, so the same benchmark standard can be used for each examination. By accounting for differences in difficulty across examination forms, all candidates have a comparable opportunity to pass the examination, regardless of when they take it.

For example, if the new examination is more difficult relative to previous examinations, the percent correct necessary to pass the examination will be lowered to equal the benchmark standard. On the other hand, if a new examination turns out to be easier, the percent correct necessary to pass will be increased to equal the benchmark standard. Candidates who do not meet the benchmark standard on the written examination will not achieve certification.

Is there a practical assessment?

No, there is no practical assessment for the BE certifications.

How can I prepare for the BE written examinations?

The following resources may be helpful in preparing for any of the building envelope examinations:

1. UBC Building Envelope Curriculum Textbooks
2. Construction and Waterproofing Handbook
3. Moisture Control Handbook

The following reference list provides suggested materials that could assist you in preparing for the CBET written examination specifically. This is not an open book examination; candidates are not allowed to bring reference materials into the test administration site.

1. Insulation Handbook
2. NW Stucco Guide
3. Tyvek Installation Manual
4. International Building Code — International Code Council (IBC — ICC)
5. International Residential Code — International Code Council (IRC — ICC)

The following reference list provides suggested materials that could assist you in preparing for the Certified Building Envelope Specialist (CBES) — Air and Moisture Barrier examination specifically. This is not an open book examination; candidates are not allowed to bring reference materials into the test administration site.

1. NW Stucco Guide
2. International Building Code — International Code Council (IBC — ICC)
3. International Residential Code — International Code Council (IRC — ICC)
4. International Energy Conservation Code
5. Residential Energy Handbook

The following reference list provides suggested materials that could assist you in preparing for the Certified Building Envelope Specialist (CBES) — Thermal Barrier examination specifically. This is not an open book examination; candidates are not allowed to bring reference materials into the test administration site.

1. Insulation Handbook
2. Residential Energy
3. International Energy Conservation Code
4. Math for Trades