The trade-off for college credit is that you may not find a program with IREC ISPQ accreditation. Many postsecondary institutions (i.e. community colleges, universities, trade/vocational schools, institutes of technology) have not sought IREC ISPQ accreditation. Instead, most higher education institutions and programs seek accreditation by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a “reliable authority as to the quality of postsecondary education.” In the absence of IREC ISPQ accreditation, the next best way to evaluate a postsecondary program is to look at the instructors’ credentials, internship opportunities, and hands-on component of the curriculum. Some postsecondary professors or instructors may be NABCEP-certified installers or IREC-independent master trainers, but that’s generally the exception rather than the rule.
