HERS Energy Rater Practice Test

The HERS Energy Rater Practice Test is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. Practice for the RESNET Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater exam — building science and energy basics, envelope and blower door testing, HVAC, duct leakage and mechanical ventilation, and the HERS Index with RESNET standards and inspections — written to ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 and 380, the 2021 IECC, ASHRAE 62.2 and ACCA Manual J for 2026. HERS ratings are a US system; the building science applies everywhere. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Energy Rater HERS Readiness certificate (SOA-ERHE). Every question is based on published standards and research — including ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 (HERS Index calculation) and 380 (envelope, duct and airflow testing) standards (RESNET), 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (residential provisions) (International Code Council), ANSI/ACCA Manual J Residential Load Calculation (8th edition) (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Yes. Science of Apps has a free HERS Energy Rater Practice Test built on the current RESNET exam outline for 2026 and 2027. It covers building science and energy basics, envelope and blower door testing, HVAC, ducts and ventilation and HERS index, standards and inspections, scores you instantly and issues a verifiable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Energy Rater HERS Readiness certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 (HERS Index calculation) and 380 (envelope, duct and airflow testing) standards (RESNET); 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (residential provisions) (International Code Council); ANSI/ACCA Manual J Residential Load Calculation (8th edition) (Air Conditioning Contractors of America); What is the HERS Index? (RESNET); ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2 Ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality in residential buildings (ASHRAE); ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy management (US EPA). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Building Science and Energy Basics (Heat transfer, Air and moisture movement and Thermal performance); Envelope and Blower Door Testing (Blower door procedure, Air leakage metrics and Finding leaks); HVAC, Ducts and Ventilation (Duct leakage testing, Equipment sizing and Mechanical ventilation and combustion safety); HERS Index, Standards and Inspections (HERS scale, Rating types and Programmes and quality). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

HERS Rater or energy rater, Rating Field Inspector, Energy auditor, Builder or site manager and Building performance consultant. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show HERS Rater knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

A HERS Rater is certified through a RESNET-accredited provider to inspect and test homes and calculate their HERS Index score. Raters run blower door and duct leakage tests, verify insulation and equipment, and their ratings are used for ENERGY STAR, code compliance and energy-efficiency programmes.

The HERS Index compares a home with a reference home built to the 2006 IECC, which scores 100. Each point lower is about 1% more efficient, so a score of 70 means roughly 30% more efficient, and a score of 0 is a net-zero energy home.

No. It is an independent practice test written to the publicly available HERS Rater content outline for 2026 and 2027, for checking your readiness before you book the real exam. Passing earns a Science of Apps certificate rather than the official credential.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.