Developing professional competence in building operations and maintenance

The Building Operator Certification (BOC) is a nationally recognized, award-winning training program that offers facilities personnel the knowledge and skills to succeed in their careers. BOC achieves measurable energy savings in public, commercial and industrial buildings by training individuals directly responsible for day-today operations. The program establishes a standard of professional competence in energy- and resource-efficient building operations and maintenance and identifies and recognizes building operators who meet this standard.
By participating, you can improve your job skills and knowledge by:

Finding new ways to save energy and money for the facilities you manage
Advancing your career in a competitive marketplace
Improving the comfort, safety and air quality of yourbuilding(s) through low- and no-cost solutions
Acquiring knowledge about hands-on energy-savings measures you can conduct on-site

Details of the training program

Building Operator Certification Level I: Building System Maintenance training includes nearly 74 hours of virtual classroom and project work (7.4 CEUs) in building systems operation and maintenance. To become certified, participants must complete assigned projects, pass an exam at the end of training and complete a national certification exam. Those who complete the class without taking the national certification exam will still earn a Training Certificate of Completion. This training is also available with a focus on multifamily building operations.

Building Operator Certification (BOC) Level I Multifamily: The BOC Level I Multifamily training provides building operators with knowledge and skills enhancement in the key activities associated with energy efficient building operations, including HVAC controls, common opportunities for operational improvements and building scoping for energy efficiency as they apply to multifamily buildings. The training includes lectures, discussion, small group exercises, tests and project assignments.

To earn a Level II Training Certificate of Completion, participants must attend five core classes and one supplemental class, complete class tests and assigned projects for a total of 61 hours, or 6.1 CEU’s. The projects include a culminating short presentation to classmates and the instructor on a scoping report for their building (BOC 2005).

Find more information about the training programs here.

BOC training participants

The BOC training program is for building operators with two or more years of experience in building operation and maintenance who are seeking a broader knowledge of whole-building systems.
Past participants have included:

Building engineers
Stationary engineers
Maintenance staff
Supervisors
Facility coordinators
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians
Electricians
Operations supervisors
Operations technicians

The cost of BOC training

Tuition is $1,695 per individual, which covers all class materials, books and the certificate of completion.

Tuition reimbursement opportunities

Because CenterPoint Energy recognizes the importance of high standards in energy management and the idea that understanding the mechanics of building systems helps facility and operations managers make informed decisions for energy-efficiency strategies, we are offering a $500 tuition reimbursement for qualified attendees upon training completion.

Participants qualified for tuition reimbursement are building operators who operate a building (or buildings) of 50,000 square feet or more. For multiple qualifying operators managing the same building who want to take BOC training, tuition reimbursement is limited to one participant per building.

To qualify for tuition reimbursement for Level II training, participants must have earned their Level I certification without receiving tuition reimbursement from CenterPoint Energy.

We also encourage you to check with your electric utility provider for additional tuition incentives.

Each series will be taught remotely through Zoom with live, instructor-led lectures.

BOC Level I
Sept. 16 - Dec. 10, 2025 | Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. – Noon CT

BOC Level I: Multifamily
Oct. 22, 2025 - Jan. 29, 2026 | Wednesdays and Thursdays 1 – 4 p.m.

BOC Level II
Oct. 1 - Dec. 11, 2025 | Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. – Noon CT