The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Healthy Housing Principles (HHP) Certificate

Imagine that you walk into a home and immediately sense something’s amiss. The air feels heavy and stagnant. A distinct musty odor permeates the space. Perhaps your eyes begin to sting, or you feel a slight irritation in your throat. These environmental issues affect millions of homes across the country, impacting families’ health and well-being. Understanding and addressing these challenges is crucial for creating healthier living spaces for everyone.

This is where the Healthy Housing Principles (HHP) Certificate of Knowledge becomes invaluable. This certificate demonstrates your expertise in understanding how various components of a home work together as an interconnected system to impact occupant health. It’s built on the foundation that a home is not just a collection of rooms and systems—it’s a living, breathing environment where every element affects the well-being of its inhabitants.

Understanding and applying these principles will give you the knowledge and skills needed to create and maintain healthy living spaces that promote occupant well-being. 

Who should get their HHP?

This certificate is valuable for anyone interested in the connection between human health symptoms and the possible home issues that could be causing them. Here are a few common professionals that obtain the HHP:

• Utility program representatives
• Remodelers, insulation, HVAC, and other trades professionals
• Home inspectors and realtors
• Federal, state, and local government program managers and staff
• Community health workers, in-home nurses, and asthma educators
• County and city health department staff
• Public and private medical facility staff and administrators
• Secondary and post-secondary teachers and students

How can you qualify to take the exam?

There are no set requirements to take the HHP exam; although, taking a prep course is recommended. HeatSpring offers the BPI Healthy Home Evaluator (HHE) Certification Exam Prep course, which covers content included on both the HHE and HHP exams. 

If you currently hold one of the following certifications, you may prefer to get your Healthy Home Evaluator (HHE) Certification instead, but having a current BPI certification is a prerequisite to take the HHE exam.

• BPI Building Analyst (BA)
• BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P)
• BPI Energy Auditor (EA)
• BPI Quality Control Inspector (QCI)
• BPI Multifamily Building Analyst (MFBA)

What’s covered on the HHP exam?

The HHP certificate is grounded in eight fundamental principles that recognize both the technical aspects of home systems and the human element. These principles acknowledge that homeowners and renters are not just passive occupants but active participants in maintaining a healthy living environment. Each principle contributes to a comprehensive approach to healthy housing:

• Keep it clean
• Keep it dry
• Keep it pest-free
• Keep it contaminant-free
• Keep it safe
• Keep it ventilated
• Keep it comfortable
• Keep it maintained

How much is it to take the exam? 

The exam costs $109.

What can I expect with the HHP exam?

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, with a passing score of 70%. It’s designed to be taken on a computer or tablet and is an open-book test.  

Candidates have one year from the date of HHP exam purchase to complete the exam. The exam is self-paced and not proctored, allowing you to save your progress if you need to step away. This flexible format accommodates various learning styles and schedules, emphasizing practical application of knowledge. 

Do I need to renew my certificate?

Because this is a certificate and not a certification, you don’t need to renew. Once you earn your HHP, you have it forever. 

Still have questions? We’re happy to help! Send us an email at support@HeatSpring.com.