This Toolkit provides a range of useful links and documents to support NatHERS assessors, whether they undertake new homes or existing homes assessments. Click on the topics listed below in the drop-down menus to learn more about accreditation, training, certificates, and other additional supporting information.
Make sure you are signed up to the NatHERS newsletter to get updates on any new material made available through the toolkit.
If you can't find what you’re looking for on this page, email: admin@nathers.gov.au
NatHERS for New Homes
To become a NatHERS for new homes assessor, you must hold a Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (CPP41119).
An overview of this course and details of current training providers are available on the MySkills website.
Please note:
- Only the Thermal Performance Assessment award and the Home Sustainability Assessment and Thermal Performance Assessment award offered under CPP41119 Certificate IV course will qualify you to become accredited as a NatHERS for new homes assessor.
- These courses include training in Whole of Home assessments.
- The award Home Sustainability Assessment offered under CPP41119 Certificate IV will not qualify you to become accredited as a NatHERS for new homes assessor as it does not provide training in how to use NatHERS software to assess thermal efficiency.
- CPP41212 is no longer available but accreditations achieved through this course are still valid.
- Further details on pre-requisite, core and elective units that demonstrate competency for each award are available on the training.gov.au website.
Following successful completion of this training, you can apply to an Assessor Accrediting Organisation (AAO) to be accredited as a NatHERS for new homes assessor. You can find out about our AAO delivery partners at this page.
Once you become accredited as a NatHERS for new homes assessor, you will need to maintain your accreditation by ensuring you:
- accrue at least 12 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points annually by undertaking CPD activities offered or agreed to by your AAO
- submit a minimum of 3 NatHERS for new homes assessments per year in at least one of the software tools that you wish to remain accredited in
- hold an appropriate ongoing level of professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover.
You can learn more about becoming accredited, and how you maintain your accreditation in Section 3.2 of the Protocol for Assessor Accrediting Organisations.
Software training
The Certificate IV (CPP41119) course includes basic training in at least one of the four NatHERS for new homes accredited software tools. You can learn more about training for various tools by contacting the software providers below:
While AccuRate is not recommended for beginners, experienced assessors are able to participate in AccuRate training by contacting Education in Building and Graham Energy.
Accreditation in more than one software tool
Once you have some experience as an assessor, you may choose to change your preferred software tool or become accredited in using more than one tool.
Before you make this change, you must successfully complete software training provided by an approved trainer, and you must provide a copy of your training certificate to your AAO as proof of your successful studies.
NatHERS has endorsed the following training providers as appropriately skilled in delivering training in additional software:
- Graham Energy is endorsed to provide training in all NatHERS for new homes software including AccuRate
- Hero is endorsed to provide training in Hero software for NatHERS for new homes
- Michael Young from Transformed is endorsed to provide training in Hero and FirstRate5 software for NatHERS for new homes
- Paul Kearney and Stephen Collins at Education In Building (EIB) are endorsed to provide training in all NatHERS for new homes software including AccuRate.
Other related training and information
- The Net Zero Energy Builder training portal offers free online sessions focused on helping industry professionals create more sustainable and energy efficient buildings.
- See the Australian Building Codes Board's National Construction Code 101 Training.
- Explore the Australian Government’s Design For Place resource on the Your Home website. This comprehensive resource provides free energy efficient home plans plus their NatHERS and Whole of Home ratings.
- For free training on how to build, design or retrofit Victorian homes to make them more energy efficient, visit the Victorian Government's Renewable Homes Construction program. Click on the following links for details on training content, dates and eligibility:
There are a range of benefits to becoming accredited as a NatHERS for new homes assessor. Accredited assessors receive ongoing technical support, access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training, and regular newsletters. They can also list their services on Assessor Accrediting Organisation (AAO) websites to help generate business.
To become accredited, you must complete the relevant training and apply for accreditation by one of the three AAOs listed below. Contact AAOs to find out about their training and accreditation requirements:
- Australian Building Sustainability Association
- Design Matters National
- House Energy Raters Association
Learn about the Protocol for Assessor Accrediting Organisations.
You may have additional requirements for your jurisdiction. Contact your local regulator to find out more:
AccuRate Home, BERS Pro, Hero and FirstRate5 are accredited NatHERS for new homes software providers. They all work closely with our technical team to ensure their tools are accurate and up to date.
Hero, FirstRate5, BERS Pro and AccuRate Home are all fully accredited including certificates and can be used for National Construction Code (NCC 2022) regulatory assessments.
Read about the requirements and processes for the accreditation of software tools in the NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol (SAP).
The move to the NCC 2022
A coordinated approach was undertaken to support the shift to the NCC 2022, which permitted the use of older software versions for NatHERS for new homes assessments in some cases.
To find out if this approach is still in place in your jurisdiction, contact your state or territory building authority, or visit our NCC 2022 Software Transitional Arrangements page.
Read about the requirements and processes for the accreditation of software tools in the NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol (SAP).
Whole of Home training and accreditation
If your jurisdiction requires a Whole of Home assessment to meet the NCC 2022, you must be accredited to undertake Whole of Home assessments in line with the NatHERS Technical Note.
All Registered Training Organisations who deliver training to become a NatHERS for new homes assessor now include Whole of Home in their Certificate IV course delivery (more information is provided below). If you did not complete Whole of Home training as part of your Certificate IV, you can get up to date by undertaking both:
- Training in the software tool you will use to conduct assessments; and
- Whole of Home Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units, as approved by your Assessor Accrediting Organisation (AAO).
In March 2024, software tool demonstration webinars were conducted by software providers and hosted by NatHERS. You can learn from these webinars to qualify for the training requirement outlined above. To access Whole of Home CPD units and/or a recording of the relevant webinar, contact your AAO.
Anyone starting out to become a NatHERS for new homes assessor can meet the Whole of Home training requirement by completing a Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (CPP41119), which includes Whole of Home content.
Whole of Home Certificate IV – training for new assessors
Education In Building (EIB) introduced NatHERS Whole of Home content in its Certificate IV course on 1 March 2024. Participants enrolled with EIB prior to March 2024 can complete the Whole of Home training via CPD points through EIB once they have completed the Certificate IV course.
Transformed provides NatHERS Whole of Home content in its Certificate IV course. From May 2024, the course included live training on Whole of Home accredited Hero software.
Wodonga TAFE introduced NatHERS Whole of Home content in its revised Certificate IV course from 1 July 2024. This course now includes training in FirstRate5 and will also examine other NatHERS tools so students can choose a software package that suits their needs.
Whole of Home training – FAQs
Want to watch the NatHERS Whole of Home software tool webinar recording?
Accredited NatHERS for new homes assessors and AAO members should contact their AAO to access the recordings and claim 1 CPD point for each of the software tool webinars viewed.
Not an assessor but still looking to access the webinar demonstrations?
Building, design, and other professionals (who are not assessors or members of an AAO) can access recordings of the tool demonstrations via the NatHERS for new homes software provider websites below:
Software provider training for NCC 2022
All NatHERS for new homes software providers currently offer training that covers the changes introduced in NCC 2022:
- Hero training covers certificate creation, the new thermal bridging feature and thermal comfort ratings, as well as the optimisation feature that adds batch simulation capabilities.
- BERS Pro training includes thermal bridging, new interface features and Whole of Home (including artificial heating and cooling, hot water system, lighting, cooking and pool overview, plus solar PV).
- You can find training videos for FirstRate5 on their website covering thermal bridging, new features, and using the optimisation feature.
- Training in AccuRate is available from Education in Building and Graham Energy. AccuRate is not recommended for beginner assessors.
Below are some quick links to important information on conducting NatHERS for new homes assessments:
- You must follow the NatHERS Technical Note when undertaking NatHERS for new homes regulatory assessments.
- The Assessor Handbook will help you navigate through a NatHERS for new homes assessment. It has been updated to align with NCC 2022 and now contains guidance on undertaking a Whole of Home assessment, as well as information on thermal bridging.
- Tips for navigating the Technical Note and Handbook versions:
- NCC 2022 requirements = Chenath Engine v3.22 or later = latest versions of Technical Note and Handbook.
- NCC 2019 requirements = Chenath Engine v3.21 = June 2019 versions of the Technical Note and Handbook.
- You may find it useful to familiarise yourself with corrections and clarifications provided in the latest versions.
- See the NatHERS FAQs and NCC22 troubleshooting Q&A here on the website.
If the above documents are not what you're looking for, contact your AAO for assistance or email the NatHERS team at: admin@nathers.gov.au to suggest other documents to include on this page.
Below are reports and other detailed technical information regarding recent changes to NatHERS for new homes:
- Thermally bridged metal framed dwellings must now achieve a similar performance to thermally bridged timber framed dwellings. See Thermal Bridging, NCC 2022 to learn more.
- The climate files used to calculate NatHERS star ratings have been updated for NCC 2022 with more recent and accurate weather data.
- To minimise the potential impacts of the new climate files on NatHERS star ratings, new starbands have been implemented, adjusted so no particular home/design will be overly impacted.
- Learn more about how the ABCB has updated its Heating and Cooling Load Limits to support the changes to NCC 2022.
- NatHERS calculations methods underpin the NatHERS Whole of Home modules and rating in the benchmark tool (AccuRate Home).
Below is a collection of sample NatHERS for new homes certificates (from 2019 and 2022) as well as an updated user guide for the new NatHERS certificate.
- The updated NatHERS Certificate Guide 2022 explores the new features included in the NatHERS for new homes certificate.
- The NatHERS Certificate sample 2022 is an example of the new NatHERS for new homes certificate which features the Whole of Home rating.
- Changes to the 2022 certificate & non-accredited report summarises the updates to the 2022 certificate and non-accredited report.
- Guide to the 2019 certificates & non-accredited certificates is a guide to the 2019 NatHERS for new homes certificate and its features.
- 2019 NatHERS Certificate sample (superseded) is an example of the 2019 NatHERS for new homes certificate.
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) updated the National Construction Code (NCC) in 2022. Changes included increasing the minimum thermal performance for new homes to the equivalent of 7 stars (under NatHERS). NCC 2022 also includes a new Whole of Home annual energy use budget.
To understand the different approaches taken by states and territories to NCC2022 refer to this table.
There is a coordinated approach permitting the use of older software versions for NatHERS assessments as required. For state and territory government contacts, or to learn more about the software arrangements see our NCC 2022 Software Arrangements page for further details.
Below are more links to information on the NCC and the ABCB:
- Read the complete collection of NCC volumes in the ABCB National Construction Code 2022
- See the ABCB's website for the NCC 2022 calculators
- Check out the ABCB NCC 2022 webinar series including key changes and new provisions for energy efficiency and condensation management.
NatHERS for Existing Homes
Important notes for assessors:
- The information provided below is not for assessors taking part in the current NatHERS Trials. You can find further information on the trials page.
- Training will be rolled out progressively to different industry cohorts from early 2026.
- Please see the training and accreditation sections below for more information.
Please note that not all the training required to meet the minimum training requirements of NatHERS for existing homes is currently available. The status of training availability is provided under specific release dates below.
To become a NatHERS for existing homes assessor you will be required to provide evidence to demonstrate you have completed the minimum training requirements. This includes successful completion of:
- 7 units of competency from the Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (CPP41119). Available now.
- a new training unit specific to NatHERS for existing homes (Conduct NatHERS for existing homes assessments). Under development.
- training in at least one NatHERS software tool for assessments of existing homes. Under development.
The 7 required units of competency from the Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (CPP41119) are:
- CPPCOM4001 – Manages own work, professional development and ethical behaviour
- CPPHES4001 – Research and assess impact of building elements on thermal performance of residential buildings
- CPPHES4002 – Advise clients on thermal performance of residential buildings
- CPPCOM4002 – Implement safe work practices in the property industry
- CPPHES4005 – Assess household energy use and efficiency improvements
- CPPHES4007 – Assess thermal performance of existing residential buildings
- CPPHES4009 – Promote adoption of home sustainability practices
Further details about these units are available on the training.gov.au website.
An overview of the Certificate IV course and details of current training providers are available on the MySkills website.
From mid 2025
NatHERS for existing homes training will progressively be rolled out to different industry cohorts during the scale-up period.
Only targeted assessors, including those that were trained as part of the field trials of NatHERS for existing homes, will be able to conduct existing homes assessments from mid-2025. See the trials page for further information for trial assessors.
From early 2026
Training in the new NatHERS for existing homes training unit will be delivered by a training provider under contract with the NatHERS Administrator.
This training will be made available to assessors that are already undertaking home energy assessments through:
- NatHERS for new homes
- Residential Efficiency Scorecard
- ACT Energy Efficiency Rating disclosure scheme.
To become a NatHERS for existing homes assessor, these professionals will only be required to successfully complete:
- The new NatHERS for existing homes specific training unit (‘Conduct NatHERS Assessments for Existing Homes’)
- Training in at least one NatHERS software tool for assessments of existing homes
- CPPCOM4002 Implement safe work practices in the property industry (or equivalent), if not already held.
The NatHERS Administrator will communicate when this training becomes available and how eligible assessors can apply to enrol.
From mid 2026, training will become available to other prospective assessors.
The CSIRO-developed software tool AccuRate Enterprise (existing homes mode) is the first generation NatHERS for existing homes benchmark tool.
AccuRate Enterprise is supported by the commercial, third-party data collection tool magicplan. Magicplan is not mandatory to complete an assessment and is not NatHERS accredited. Magicplan has been customised with CSIRO to export data into AccuRate Enterprise (existing homes mode) to reduce time on and off-site during an assessment. It is being used during the NatHERS trials.
From early 2026:
- Training in AccuRate Enterprise (existing homes mode) and a CSIRO customised magicplan data collection tool will be made available to assessors that are already undertaking home energy assessments through NatHERS for new homes, Scorecard and the ACT Energy Efficiency Rating disclosure scheme.
- The NatHERS Administrator will communicate when this training becomes available and how these assessors can apply to enrol.
From mid 2026, software training will become available to other prospective assessors.
To find out more about the roll out of training and accreditation, sign up to the NatHERS newsletter.
The first generation NatHERS for existing homes benchmark tool is the CSIRO-developed software tool AccuRate Enterprise (existing homes mode). AccuRate Enterprise (existing homes mode) is supported by the commercial, third-party data collection tool magicplan. Magicplan is not mandatory to complete an assessment and is not NatHERS accredited. You can only generate a Home Energy Rating certificate in Accurate Enterprise (existing homes mode) if you are an accredited NatHERS for existing homes assessor.
The benchmark tool will continue to be updated during the scale-up period as required, ahead of a second-generation benchmark tool being released as part of stage 2 (expected from mid 2026).
The updates are expected to include modifications and enhancements focusing on improving the user experience based on the NatHERS field trials and the scale-up period. Adjustments to calculations or other processes will also be implemented as required.
See the expansion page for up-to-date information on the development and roll out of existing homes software.
A User Interface Protocol (UIP) has also been released. This will enable commercial software providers to develop and seek accreditation for interfaces that can interact with Accurate Enterprise (existing homes mode). These are expected to further improve the user experience when they're available.
To ensure a controlled and sustainable scale-up of NatHERS for existing homes, assessor training and accreditation will only be available to targeted groups until stage 2. Read about the stages to the existing homes expansion.
In mid 2025, from the commencement of stage 1:
- Accreditation services will be delivered by the NatHERS Administrator. This will allow procedures and policies to be refined prior to the scale-up of accreditation services through a third-party provider.
- Accreditation will focus on assessors who participate in the trial of NatHERS for existing homes and those involved in the pilot of the Home Energy Ratings Disclosure Framework.
This approach means there will be a limited pool of trained and accredited energy assessors during stage 1 and energy assessments of existing homes will be limited.
From early 2026, during the scale-up period:
- assessor accreditation is expected to transfer from the NatHERS Administrator to a third-party service provider
- training and accreditation is expected to be made available to additional target groups, such as assessors that are already undertaking home energy assessments through NatHERS for new homes, Scorecard and the ACT Energy Efficiency Rating scheme.
From mid 2026, stage 2 of NatHERS for existing homes is expected to commence. At this point, training and accreditation will become available to other prospective assessors.
To find out more about the roll out of training and accreditation, make sure you sign up to the NatHERS newsletter. You can also seek further information by contacting admin@nathers.gov.au.
Below are quick links to important technical information for conducting NatHERS for existing homes assessments:
- NatHERS for existing homes Technical Note (Tech Note). This document sets out the requirements that must be followed when conducting a NatHERS for existing homes assessment. Adherence to this Technical Note ensures that NatHERS for existing homes assessments are consistent and can be audited for assurance purposes.
- NatHERS for existing homes Guidance Note. This document supports assessors to navigate the assessment process. It outlines mandatory and recommended steps, offering general guidance to assessors undertaking an existing homes assessment. The NatHERS for existing homes Guidance Note supports the NatHERS for existing homes Technical Note.
Below are the key policy documents to support the release of existing homes ratings:
- NatHERS for existing homes Assessor Code of Practice
- NatHERS for existing homes Assessor Character Check Policy
- NatHERS for existing homes Assessor Conflict of interest Policy
- NatHERS for existing homes Assessor Performance Management Policy
- NatHERS for existing homes Mentoring Policy
- NatHERS for existing homes Complaint Management Policy
- NatHERS for existing homes Assurance Strategy.
The Home Energy Rating Certificate features home ratings, information about construction, appliances, predicted energy use and emissions. The back page contains upgrade guidance tailored to the home’s climate. The certificate is the main resource households will use to understand their assessment and to plan upgrades. See Home Energy Rating Certificate for general information about the certificate.
Additional Resources
- The Your Home Website - provides expert advice on sustainable, energy efficient building including designing for climate and orientation, bushfire protection, glazing and insulation. Your Home also hosts a range of free 'Design For Place' home designs with a minimum 7-star NatHERS rating and are tailored to various climate zones.
- Your Home also features case studies including advice on building energy efficient homes in various climate zones across Australia.
- The NatHERS Trade Mark Guidelines explain how to correctly use the NatHERS logo.
- See the NatHERS research summaries on NCC 2022 updates including: thermal bridging, climate files, star bands and heating and cooling load limits.
- Check out the CSIRO Australian Housing Data Portal which tracks annual trends in home energy ratings for all new Australian houses and apartments.
- If you have a question visit the NatHERS FAQ page.