Circular No. 53/2025/TT-BCT on training and issuing certificates for energy managers and energy auditors

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON TRAINING AND ISSUANCE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATES AND ENERGY AUDITOR CERTIFICATES

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Pursuant to Clause 13, Clause 14, Article 1 of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Energy Efficiency and Rational Use of Energy No. 77/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to Decree No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion;

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular regulating training and issuance of energy management certificates and energy auditor certificates.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates:

1. Content, curriculum, examination, supervision, authority to issue, delegation to issue, recognition, reissuance, and revocation of energy management certificates; validity period of energy management certificates.

2. Content, curriculum, examination, supervision, authority to issue, delegation to issue, recognition, and revocation of energy auditor certificates issued by training institutions.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in energy management training and energy auditor training activities.

Chapter II

PRINCIPLES AND CONTENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS

Article 3. Principles of Training and Refresher Training

1. Training and refresher training activities are carried out with the aim of enhancing professional capacity and updating new knowledge for organizations and individuals operating in the field of energy efficiency and rational use of energy.

2. Training and refresher training must ensure practicality, suitability with the level, job requirements, and standards of each position.

3. The training program must ensure consistency with legal regulations, standards, technical specifications, while continuously updating advanced technological solutions and meeting international integration requirements.

Article 4. Content and Forms of Training

1. For energy management, the training content includes:

a) Legal knowledge on energy efficiency and rational use of energy;

b) Technologies, equipment, and energy-saving solutions;

c) Methods for establishing and operating an energy management system;

d) Procedures for developing, implementing, and monitoring energy use plans;

đ) Management and operation of measurement systems, data collection, and analysis;

e) Reporting methods and coordination mechanisms with regulatory authorities.

2. For energy auditors, the training content includes:

a) Legal knowledge on energy efficiency and rational use of energy;

b) Technologies, equipment, and energy-saving solutions;

c) Energy auditing procedures and methods;

d) Standards, technical specifications, and related technologies;

đ) Energy efficiency analysis and recommendations for energy-saving solutions;

e) Calculation of investment returns for energy-saving solutions.

3. Forms of Training

Training institutions organize training in direct, online, or combined direct and online forms, ensuring compatibility with physical conditions, training time, and the training programs specified in Article 5 of this Circular.

Article 5. Training Programs and Materials

1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade prescribes the training programs, materials, and refresher training programs, along with assessment criteria for the energy management training program; the training programs, materials, and assessment criteria for the energy auditor training program.

2. The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion periodically reviews, evaluates, and updates the training programs, refresher training programs, and assessment criteria for energy management and energy auditor training to ensure compliance with practical requirements.

Chapter III

ORGANIZATION OF TRAINING, REFRESHER TRAINING, AND ISSUANCE OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATES

Article 6. Conditions for participation in energy management training courses

Participants in energy management training courses must have a college degree or higher in energy-related majors or related engineering fields for key energy-consuming facilities in industrial production, construction projects, and service activities; a technical secondary school degree or higher for key energy-consuming facilities in agricultural production and transportation.

Article 7. Implementation of energy management training

1. Training institutions widely announce admissions through mass media and post notices at their premises. The admission announcement includes:

a) The purpose and requirements of the training course;

b) The program content, duration, training format, location, funding, and other necessary information about the training course.

2. Training institutions send written notifications to the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Support ten working days before the commencement date, providing information on the purpose, duration, training format, location, number of trainees, and instructors participating in the training course. In case of plan changes, training institutions must promptly notify the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Support.

3. Training institutions conduct training according to the curriculum issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and issue certificates of completion for energy management training courses to trainees as stipulated.

4. Training institutions may collect tuition fees from trainees in accordance with the law.

5. Training institutions are responsible for organizing capability assessments for trainees within five days following the conclusion of the training course. The Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Support oversees the process of capability assessment organization by training institutions.

6. Training institutions are responsible for reporting in writing to the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Support on the training process at their institution and requesting issuance of energy management certificates for qualified trainees within fifteen working days from the completion of the capability assessment.

Article 8. Documents for Issuing Energy Management Certificates

The application documents for issuing energy management certificates include:

1. A letter requesting issuance of the energy management certificate and a report on the implementation results of the energy management training course by the training institution.

2. A list of trainees attending the training course (including full information: name; date of birth; identification card/passport number; workplace; phone number; email address).

3. A copy of the certificate of completion of the energy management training course for each trainee.

4. The assessment results of trainees' capabilities.

5. A copy of the academic credentials of trainees participating in the training course.

6. One 3x4 cm photograph of each trainee participating in the training course.

Article 9. Procedures and Formalities for Issuing and Recognizing Energy Management Certificates

1. Training institutions submit one set of documents for issuing energy management certificates as prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 8 to the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Support via postal mail, direct submission, or online submission on the National Public Service Portal.

2. Within fifteen working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents, the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Support will review and decide to issue energy management certificates to trainees whose applications and capability assessment results meet the requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The model of the energy management certificate is specified in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

3. Individuals holding energy management certificates issued by authorized foreign organizations or international organizations recognized by mutual agreements between Vietnam and those countries shall be recognized as having energy management certificates in Vietnam in accordance with the law.

4. The energy management certificate is valid for five years from the date of issuance.

Article 10. Revocation of Energy Management Certificate

During the inspection and supervision process, if the Energy Management Certificate is found to be used for purposes other than those intended, in violation of regulations, or if the certificate holder does not meet the required capacity and job requirements as stipulated, the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry shall decide to revoke the Energy Management Certificate.

Article 11. Re-training and Reissuing of Energy Management Certificates Upon Expiration

1. Re-training in Energy Management

a) Prior to the expiration of the Energy Management Certificate, individuals who wish to reissue their certificate must register and complete the refresher training course on updating energy management knowledge as prescribed.

b) The training institution shall organize training according to the content of the re-training program issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

c) The training institution is responsible for organizing the assessment of the trainees' capabilities within three working days after the completion of the training course. The Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry shall supervise the process of assessing the trainees' capabilities.

d) The training institution is responsible for reporting in writing to the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry about the re-training process and requesting the reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate for qualified trainees within fifteen working days after completing the assessment of the trainees' capabilities.

2. Documents for Reissuing the Energy Management Certificate Include:

a) A letter requesting the reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate accompanied by a report on the results of the re-training conducted by the training institution;

b) A list of participants in the re-training course (including full information: name; date of birth; identification number; place of work; phone number; email address);

c) The assessment results of the trainees;

d) A copy of the previously issued Energy Management Certificate of the trainee;

đ) One 3x4 cm photograph of the participant in the re-training course.

3. Reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate

a) The training institution shall submit one set of documents requesting the reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article to the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry via postal service, direct submission, or online through the National Public Service Portal.

b) Within fifteen working days from the date of receipt of all valid documents, the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry shall examine and decide to reissue the Energy Management Certificate for trainees whose documents and capability assessment results comply with the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The validity period of the reissued certificate is five years from the date of issuance.

4. In cases where the Energy Management Certificate has expired, individuals wishing to obtain a new Energy Management Certificate must participate in the energy management training course as stipulated in Article 7 of this Circular.

Article 12. Replacement and Reissuance of Energy Management Certificates Before Expiration

1. If the Energy Management Certificate is torn, damaged, or lost, the certificate holder has the right to request a replacement or reissuance of the certificate.

2. Documents for Requesting Replacement or Reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate Include:

a) A request form for replacement or reissuance of the certificate (specifying the reasons for the request);

b) One 3x4 cm photograph.

3. Individuals requesting replacement or reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate shall submit the documents to the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry via postal service, direct submission, or online on the National Public Service Portal.

4. Within fifteen working days from the date of receipt of valid documents, the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry shall examine and decide on the replacement or reissuance of the Energy Management Certificate for the applicant.

Article 13. Delegation to issue energy management certificates

In cases where the delegation to issue energy management certificates is granted, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall implement such delegation in accordance with the provisions of the Government Organization Law and related legal documents.

Chapter IV

TRAINING AND ISSUANCE OF ENERGY AUDITOR CERTIFICATES

Article 14. Conditions for participation in energy auditor training courses

Participants in energy auditor training courses must hold a college degree or higher in the field of energy or related engineering disciplines.

Article 15. Implementation of training and issuance of energy auditor certificates

1. The training institution shall widely announce the enrollment information through mass media and post it at the training institution. The announcement content must include:

a) The purpose and requirements of the training course;

b) Course content, duration of training, training methods, location, costs, and other necessary information about the training course.

2. The training institution shall conduct training and organize the assessment of capabilities according to the course content and the set of capability assessment questions for energy auditors issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

3. Based on the results of the capability assessment, the training institution shall issue energy auditor certificates to trainees who meet the requirements as stipulated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

4. Training institutions may collect tuition fees from trainees in accordance with the law.

5. The training institution is responsible for retaining trainee records, training records, and issuing energy auditor certificates in accordance with regulations.

6. The format of the energy auditor certificate is specified in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular.

Article 16. Revocation of Energy Auditor Certificates

1. In cases where the holder of an energy auditor certificate uses it improperly, violates legal regulations, or lacks the capability to perform assigned tasks, they will be subject to handling and have their energy auditor certificate revoked. The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises and the training institution that issued the certificate have the authority to revoke the energy auditor certificate.

2. If irregularities in the training process or the examination for assessing energy auditors are discovered, the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises has the authority to revoke the energy auditor certificate issued.

Article 17. Recognition of Energy Auditor Certificates

Individuals holding energy auditor certificates issued by foreign organizations recognized by mutual agreements between Vietnam and those countries shall be recognized in Vietnam in accordance with the law.

Chapter V

MONITORING, SUPERVISION, AND RECORD KEEPING

Article 18. Supervision and inspection of training, certification of energy management and energy auditor certificates

1. The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises is responsible for supervising the training process, evaluating the capabilities of training institutions, inspecting training activities, management work, and the issuance of certificates for training institutions providing energy management and energy auditor training.

2. By December 31 each year, energy management and energy auditor training institutions are required to report on the implementation of training and certification activities to the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises, the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

3. Annually, the Director of the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises shall develop and implement a supervision and inspection plan for energy management and energy auditor training institutions; update the list of qualified training institutions and remove from the list those that do not meet the criteria.

Article 19. Archiving Records

1. Energy management training institutions and energy auditors shall be responsible for archiving records of training courses in accordance with the laws on archiving, including:

a) Admission files of students and lists of students who have received certificates upon completion of each course;

b) Lists of lecturers participating in teaching each course;

c) Registers for issuing energy management training certificates, energy management certificates (for authorized organizations), and energy auditor certificates.

2. The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Handicraft Promotion shall be responsible for archiving records of energy management certificate issuance and reissuance in accordance with the laws on archiving.

Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 20. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2026.

2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 39/2011/TT-BCT dated October 28, 2011, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade, regarding training and issuing energy management and energy auditor certificates.

3. Repeal Article 13 of Circular No. 38/2025/TT-BCT dated June 19, 2025, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade, amending and supplementing certain provisions on the delegation of administrative procedures in areas under the Ministry of Industry and Trade's jurisdiction.

Article 21. Organization of Implementation

1. The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Handicraft Promotion shall take the lead and implement inspections and supervision of the training process at energy management and energy auditor training institutions.

2. Relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular and submit comments and suggestions to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Handicraft Promotion) for guidance and resolution of arising difficulties and issues./.