Free Practice Questions for Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC)
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Free CESample Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In passive building science, the three primary transport mechanisms that the building enclosure must control are heat, air, and moisture. Which mode of heat transfer is controlled primarily by adding continuous insulation across the enclosure?
2Phius uses a unit of envelope-area-normalized air leakage for its airtightness criterion. What is this unit?
3Under the Phius performance (modeled) path for low-rise residential projects, the typical maximum air leakage target is closest to which value?
4A blower-door test reports air leakage measured at a reference pressure difference. What is the standard test pressure used to express the Phius CFM50 metric?
5The energy-modeling tool used for Phius certification verification, developed in partnership with Fraunhofer IBP, is:
6A linear thermal bridge at a junction (for example, a wall-to-slab connection) is quantified by which coefficient and unit?
7Phius and passive house practice define a connection as 'thermal-bridge-free' when, using exterior dimensions, the linear thermal transmittance psi-value satisfies which criterion?
8Which software is commonly paired with the Phius Thermal Bridge Psi-Value Calculator to model two-dimensional junction heat flow?
9A passive building relies on continuous mechanical ventilation. Compared with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) additionally transfers:
10Balanced mechanical ventilation in a passive building is characterized by which airflow relationship?
About the Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Exam
The Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) credential certifies professionals to design and document buildings to the Phius passive-building standard. Earning it requires completing Phius CPHC training and passing a two-part exam: a Phase I online multiple-choice and multi-select exam weighted at 70%, and a Phase II four-week design exam weighted at 30%, with a combined 70% required to pass. The curriculum spans building science, high-performance enclosure assemblies, thermal-bridge-free detailing, airtightness, HVAC and ventilation, baseload and renewable energy systems, WUFI Passive energy modeling, and the Phius certification process and standards.
Exam sponsor: Phius (Passive House Institute US). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Two-part exam: Phase I is an online multiple-choice and multi-select exam (weighted 70%, scored immediately within a 3-hour window); Phase II is a four-week design exam graded against a guided rubric (weighted 30%).
Time Limit
Phase I within a 3-hour window; Phase II about four weeks to complete
Passing Score
Combined 70% minimum: (Phase I x 0.70) + (Phase II x 0.30).
Exam / Certification Fees
Included with CPHC training registration; retakes $150, reschedule design exam $25, recertification $150.
Exam sponsor websiteReported exam pass rate: Not publicly reported by Phius. Phius does not publish CPHC first-time pass rates in the opened official sources. Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Building Science Principles
Heat, air, and moisture transfer; conduction and insulation; dew point and condensation; thermal comfort and radiant asymmetry; vapor control; and drying potential.
Building Assemblies and Thermal-Bridge-Free Detailing
Control-layer hierarchy, continuous exterior insulation, framing factor, rim joists, slab edges, rainscreens, service cavities, and high-performance window installation.
Thermal Bridges
Linear psi-values (W/m-K) and point chi-values (W/K), exterior-dimension methodology, THERM modeling, the Phius psi-value calculator, and structural thermal breaks.
Airtightness
CFM50 per square foot of gross enclosure, blower-door testing at 50 Pa, performance vs prescriptive limits (0.060 vs 0.040), mid-construction testing, and penetration sealing.
HVAC and Ventilation Systems
Balanced ventilation, HRV vs ERV, sensible/latent recovery effectiveness, heat pumps and COP, right-sizing, frost protection, dehumidification, and duct/fan efficiency.
Baseload and Renewable Energy Systems
Plug loads, domestic hot water and heat-pump water heaters, electrification, solar PV generation, source vs site energy, and net-zero source-energy strategies.
Energy Modeling with WUFI Passive
Static energy balance, annual heating/cooling demand, peak loads, hygrothermal moisture analysis, treated floor area, U-factor/R-value/UA, and the verification workflow.
Phius Certification Process and Standards
Phius CORE and ZERO tiers, climate-specific cost-optimized criteria, the Certification Guidebook, QA/QC, submission documentation, and the two-part CPHC exam structure.
Preparing for the Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Combined 70% minimum: (Phase I x 0.70) + (Phase II x 0.30).
- Assessment: Two-part exam: Phase I is an online multiple-choice and multi-select exam (weighted 70%, scored immediately within a 3-hour window); Phase II is a four-week design exam graded against a guided rubric (weighted 30%).
- Time limit: Phase I within a 3-hour window; Phase II about four weeks to complete
- Exam / certification fees: Included with CPHC training registration; retakes $150, reschedule design exam $25, recertification $150. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Phius CPHC exam structured?
It has two parts: a Phase I online multiple-choice and multi-select exam weighted at 70%, and a Phase II four-week design exam graded against a rubric and weighted at 30%.
What score do I need to pass the CPHC exam?
A combined minimum of 70%, calculated as (Phase I online score x 0.70) plus (Phase II design score x 0.30).
What software does Phius certification use for energy modeling?
Phius uses WUFI Passive, a dynamic energy and hygrothermal modeling tool developed with Fraunhofer IBP, to verify projects against the certification criteria.
How many questions are in this practice bank?
This practice bank contains exactly 100 original questions for exam ID phius-cphc.