- Identity Check: Which CETI This Sheet Covers
- The One-Page Fact Block
- Fee Mechanics at a Glance
- Eligibility and the Application Packet
- Exam Format and Delivery
- The Four Application Competency Areas
- Thermal Physics and Camera Operation
- Scheduling Your Review by Competency Area
- Renewal Rules and the Discrepancy to Confirm
- Where the Credential Fits in the Job Market
- Frequently Asked Questions
- CETI here means Council-certified Environmental Thermography Investigator, issued through the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC).
- Initial cost is $500 for US/Canada applicants: $100 examination plus $400 certification. Retakes are $100.
- The passing threshold is at least 75%, in a closed-book, computer-delivered multiple-choice exam.
- Eligibility requires two combined years of science education and field experience, with at least one actual year in the field.
Identity Check: Which CETI This Sheet Covers
Several unrelated credentials share the acronym "CETI," so start by confirming you are studying the right one. This cheat sheet covers the Council-certified Environmental Thermography Investigator, administered through the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) and accredited by CESB. It is a thermography credential for investigators who use infrared imaging to evaluate buildings and building systems.
If you landed here looking for background rather than exam facts, our explainers on what CETI certification is and what CETI stands for cover the basics. This page is built for the final-review stage: the facts you should be able to recite without looking anything up.
The One-Page Fact Block
Print this table or copy it into your notes. Every entry comes from ACAC's published materials, checked October 5, 2026.
| Item | What to Remember |
|---|---|
| Credential | Council-certified Environmental Thermography Investigator (CETI) |
| Certifying body | American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC); CESB-accredited |
| Testing provider | Kryterion |
| Exam format | Closed-book, computer-delivered multiple choice, at least four answer choices per question |
| Delivery | Test center or secure online video proctoring |
| Passing threshold | At least 75%, per the current Official CETI Application |
| Initial cost (US/Canada) | $100 examination + $400 certification = $500 |
| Initial cost (outside US/Canada) | $525 per the official application |
| Retake fee | $100 |
| Renewal fee | $400 |
| Application window | Complete the process, including the exam, within six months |
| Approval | Certification requires unanimous board approval |
| Validity | Two years |
Fee Mechanics at a Glance
The fee structure splits into two parts, and the split matters when you budget. The examination fee is $100, and the certification fee is $400. Together they make the $500 initial total for applicants in the US and Canada. The official application lists $525 for applicants outside the US/Canada, so international candidates should plan for that figure.
- Failing the exam costs you a $100 retake, not a repeat of the full $500.
- Renewal is a separate $400 charge on the two-year cycle.
- No mandatory training course is required, so there is no required tuition line in your budget, though self-study materials are your own call.
For a fuller walkthrough of what to budget across the whole certification lifecycle, see our CETI certification cost breakdown. If you are weighing whether the spend is justified, the ROI analysis takes that question on directly.
Eligibility and the Application Packet
The exam is only one gate. Before you sit for it, ACAC reviews a packet that documents your background, and that review is where many candidates lose time. Know these pieces cold.
Eligibility Rule
Candidates need two combined years of relevant science-related postsecondary education and field experience.
- ACAC's eligibility FAQ adds that at least one actual year of field experience is required, so education alone cannot cover the full two years.
- Claiming education means providing transcripts.
- Claiming experience means providing verifiable investigation reports or contracts for relevant investigations, consulting or report writing.
What You Submit
The application is a package, not a single form.
- The online application
- Four separate project sheets
- Email verifications
- Supporting transcripts and investigation documentation as described above
Two process rules deserve a sticky note. First, the whole process, including the examination, must be completed within six months. Second, certification requires unanimous board approval, meaning passing the exam does not by itself guarantee the credential. For the complete eligibility walkthrough, read our guide to CETI requirements, and keep an eye on CETI exam dates and scheduling so the six-month clock does not catch you off guard.
Exam Format and Delivery
ACAC's general examination policy describes closed-book, computer-delivered multiple-choice testing, with at least four answer choices per question. Kryterion is the testing provider, and you can sit the exam either at a test center or through secure online video proctoring.
What that means for your preparation:
- Closed-book means no reference charts in the exam. Camera settings, emissivity concepts and building-science relationships must live in your head.
- Multiple choice with four or more options rewards elimination. Practice spotting the two answers that are plausible and the two that violate basic heat-transfer logic.
- Online proctoring adds logistics: a quiet room, a working camera and a stable connection. Test your setup before exam day rather than during it.
The Four Application Competency Areas
ACAC's materials list four competency headings: roof inspections, building exterior investigations, building interior investigations and plumbing investigations. These reproduce the issuer's listed application competencies. They are not an exhaustive exam blueprint, they are not officially weighted, and ACAC has not published an official total domain count. Treat them as your core map, not a guaranteed content outline. The complete domains guide goes deeper on each one.
Domain 1: Roof Inspections
Roofs are classic thermography territory because moisture trapped in roofing assemblies holds and releases heat differently from dry material.
- How trapped moisture appears in infrared imagery, and why timing relative to solar loading matters
- Differences between roof types and what they do to image interpretation
- Separating genuine anomalies from reflections, surface variation and shadowing
- What a thermal image can suggest versus what requires confirmation by other methods
Domain 2: Building Exterior Investigations
Exterior work focuses on the envelope as seen from outside, where weather, sun and wind all influence readings.
- Conditions that make exterior scans reliable or misleading
- Identifying moisture intrusion and envelope anomalies in cladding and wall systems
- Recognizing environmental interference such as solar heating and reflected sources
- Documenting findings so another reader can reproduce your reasoning
Domain 3: Building Interior Investigations
Interior scans trade weather variables for building-system variables.
- Interpreting thermal patterns on walls, ceilings and floors
- Distinguishing moisture signatures from insulation gaps and framing patterns
- Understanding how indoor conditions and HVAC operation shape what the camera sees
- Correlating thermal findings with visible evidence and supporting measurements
Domain 4: Plumbing Investigations
Plumbing work uses thermal contrast to trace water movement and leaks.
- How hot- and cold-water lines and leaks present in infrared imagery
- Locating the likely source of moisture versus where it ultimately shows up
- Recognizing look-alike patterns that are not leaks
- Writing up findings with appropriate caution about confirmation
One caution on the bullets above: they describe the kinds of topics these competency areas naturally involve in practice, framed to help you organize study. ACAC's published competency headings themselves are brief, so confirm scope questions directly with ACAC rather than assuming any outline is complete.
Thermal Physics and Camera Operation
Beyond the four investigation areas, ACAC's competency page also describes thermal/infrared physics and infrared-camera selection, calibration and operation. These are the foundation under every domain, and they are the topics most likely to trip up candidates who come from a building-inspection background without formal thermography training.
Foundation Topics to Own
Be able to explain each of these in plain language, because a closed-book multiple-choice exam punishes fuzzy understanding.
- The three modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation
- Emissivity, reflectivity and why shiny surfaces mislead cameras
- Why a thermal image shows surface temperature patterns, not a direct view through a wall
- Camera selection considerations, calibration and correct operation in the field
- The role of temperature difference and thermal equilibrium in producing a useful image
Key Takeaway
If a question seems to be about a roof, a wall or a pipe, ask yourself which physics principle is hiding underneath it. Most thermography errors trace back to misreading emissivity, reflection or thermal conditions rather than to building knowledge.
Scheduling Your Review by Competency Area
This is the only generic-method section, so it stays short and tied to the exam's content. Because physics underlies everything, front-load it. Then work through the four investigation areas in an order that builds from the exterior inward, finishing with a mixed review. For the full preparation strategy, our CETI study guide expands on this plan.
Physics and Camera Foundations
- Heat transfer, emissivity and reflection
- Camera selection, calibration and operation
Roof Inspections and Building Exterior
- Moisture signatures and solar-loading effects
- Envelope anomalies and environmental interference
Building Interior and Plumbing
- Interior thermal patterns and system influences
- Leak tracing and look-alike patterns
Mixed Review and Packet Check
- Timed multiple-choice practice from our practice test site
- Confirm your application packet and online proctoring setup
If you are unsure how much effort the exam demands, our difficulty guide frames what to expect. Practicing with realistic multiple-choice questions is the closest match to the four-or-more-choice, closed-book format.
Renewal Rules and the Discrepancy to Confirm
Certification is valid for two years, and renewal costs $400. The sources disagree on the continuing-education requirement, so plan carefully.
| Source | What It Says |
|---|---|
| Central renewal procedure | 40 recertification credits (RCs): 10 for continued field activity and 30 hours of professional development |
| Credential page | Describes 20 professional-development hours annually |
Where the Credential Fits in the Job Market
The CETI is a niche credential, and it is worth being realistic about that. ACAC's December 31, 2025 activity report lists 3 current CETI certifications. That figure is a holder count, not exam volume or a pass rate, but it tells you the credential is held by very few people. That scarcity can differentiate you, yet it also means the market for the title specifically is small.
Practically, the credential suits people whose work already involves investigating buildings: moisture and building-envelope consultants, inspectors who want a recognized thermography credential, and report writers and consultants whose findings may be reviewed by clients or other professionals. A CESB-accredited credential from ACAC can lend documentation weight to that work. For a realistic view of roles, see our CETI jobs overview, and for earnings context see the salary guide. We do not quote salary figures here because no reliable CETI-specific number exists in ACAC's materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
It stands for Council-certified Environmental Thermography Investigator, a credential issued through the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC). Other credentials share the acronym, so confirm the certifying body before you buy any study materials.
For US and Canada applicants, the initial total is $500: a $100 examination fee and a $400 certification fee. The official application lists $525 for applicants outside the US/Canada. A retake costs $100, and renewal is $400.
The current Official CETI Application lists a passing threshold of at least 75%. The exam is closed-book, computer-delivered multiple choice with at least four answer choices, taken at a test center or through secure online video proctoring.
No. ACAC does not require a mandatory training course. You do need to meet the eligibility standard of two combined years of science-related education and field experience, including at least one actual year of field experience, and submit four project sheets with verifications.
Certification is valid for two years. The renewal procedure calls for 40 recertification credits, with 10 for field activity and 30 hours of professional development, while the credential page describes 20 professional-development hours annually. Confirm the current requirement with ACAC when planning.
Bookmark this sheet, then pair it with our broader CETI certification overview as you finalize your plan, and revisit the primary ACAC pages listed in the application process before you submit anything, since requirements and fees can change.