Hands-On, Practical Training & Certification for Professional Thermography

Time to Get Qualified!

Get professional thermography training at fraction of the cost.

• If you have an infrared camera but don't know how to use it
• If you have new employees that need training
• If you're a plumber, electrician, insulation installer or other trade professional and want to stand apart from your competition
• If you're tired of your dead-end job and are looking for a new career in thermography

You need this course!

Employers

Sending your employees to infrared training is expensive! As local small business owners, we understand that financial burden and the costs of employees being out of the office for a week. 

Independent Business Persons

Home inspectors, plumbers and installation installers. We provide infrared training that will qualify you in the basics of infrared. This is an affordable and useful course that will pay for itself in one service call to your customers.

New Business Startups

If you're thinking about starting up your own infrared inspection company, there aren't many resources for you learn more about the infrared industry (other than a biased sales representative or imager factory who is primarily interested in making a sale).

The Northwest Infrared Difference

Our courses are taught by non-nonsense, field experienced thermographers who will explain the black, white and gray of the industry.

From Level III certified Thermographer and owner and operator of Northwest Infrared, Brent Foster offers a no-nonsense, no-fluff training course that will ensure you are qualified to:

• Effectively and efficiently operate an infrared camera
• Collect high-quality data to give to customers
• Evaluate homes and buildings for issues such as trapped moisture under flat roofs, heat loss, overheated electrical, mold investigations and much more
• Write up professional reports interpreting the data
• Clearly understand the ins and outs of infrared scanning

Brent Foster is a former building inspector and has specialized training and certification in building science applications and years of hands-on experience as a thermographer.

Learn from an Expert

Get the Advantage of Years of Experience 

With an extensive background in structural and mechanical building evaluation, Brent has performed and authored thousands of written reports and opinions on building defects for the public and the legal community. Brent offers a complete program which includes the latest technology with sound business practice in thermography training.

The Science

What IS Infrared Thermography?

Thermography is the science of taking pictures of heat. Infrared allows us to "see" and "measure" the thermal energy (or heat) an object puts off. 

Because everything above absolute zero emits heat (yes, even ice cubes emit heat) infrared imaging allows us to see what the naked eye cannot see to directly pinpoint problem areas.

What Thermography Reveals

In a thermal imaging camera (also called an infrared camera), you can see problems like:

• Wiring mistakes in relays and switches
• Gas, air or steam leaks in pipes
• Overload issues in motors or pumps
• Moisture in walls, roofs or floors
• Gaps in insulation in ceilings and walls
• Component failures in circuit boards
• Any issue where temperature - hot or cold - is an issue

Benefits of Thermal Imaging

Easier, faster, safer.

Thermal imaging is a simple way to make your job easier, faster and safer. This is a cutting edge technology that will give you a competitive advantage in:

• Inspecting buildings (commercial and residential) and equipment
• Perform routine maintenance
• Verify that repairs have been made correctly
• Find and diagnose potential issues before they become costly problems

- Prevent Problems Before they Occur - 

You will be able to save your customers or employer thousands of dollars of costly downtime with a simple scan and analysis. 

How This is Different From Other Training

Most traditional infrared thermography certification courses carry a steep price tag--up up to $1,800 per student, per course.

This doesn't include the cost of food, hotels, and airfare. Courses usually last a week and are held in Boston or somewhere along the East Coast.

These courses are taught in a classroom setting with curriculum that is heavily theory-based. There is very little (if any) hands-on application, especially in building science. And in most courses, you won't even get to touch an actual infrared camera.

When you successfully pass the test (there is no guarantee that you will pass), you will leave the course with a technical certification. But in most cases, you won't be shown how to apply everything you just learned. 

It's hard to sell technical knowledge to your customers when it doesn't help you deliver practical and measurable value to them.

Save over $3,000 on tuition and travel expenses (that's 90% savings).

Training You Can Use

What You'll Get From Our Courses

In a Northwest Infrared Course, you will be taught specifically how to use an infrared camera and how to apply it in real life.

You will be qualified in:

• Operation of the imager 
• Interpretation of the images
• Report writing 

The course is a one-day course. We keep our course size small so everyone gets hands-on experience with one of our 6 imagers that we provide for use during the course (at no additional cost to you).

If you have your own imager, bring it! We'll show you how to use it. If you don't have an imager, do NOT buy one before you take the course. Part of the course covers important information on what to buy (and all the features you do NOT need).

As a Special Bonus

Ongoing Phone Mentoring 

We understand that it is impossible to remember everything we will teach you in a one-day course. We offer ongoing mentoring for our students via phone at no additional charge for you and your employees as long as you need it.

The Course Curriculum

What You'll Learn

What is thermal imaging, limitations of the technology, the purpose of imaging, Delta T, Emissivity, Reflectivity, Transparency, what imager to purchase, learn to use the imager you have, common mistakes, report writing, minimum camera specifications, image capture, what is not possible, image quality, taking temperatures, Qualitative v/s quantitate thermography, active v/s passive imaging, thermal mass, imager adjustment, imager maintenance, locating moisture, locating heat loss, conduction, radiation and convection and much more.

The Details 

Course Certification

At the completion of the course certificates will be issued to each student to show completion of the course. Many employers accept this completion of this course for for continuing education requirements. 

Where is the Course?

Course will be held in Olympia/Lacey area.

Specific location will be determined before the course.

Tuition 

The total fee for the course is $450.00 each student.

When you join us for a course, we'll buy you lunch!

Average Cost to Attend Northwest Infrared Thermography Course:

Tuition: $450
Airfare: $0
Hotel: $0
Food: $0 (lunch provided)
____________________________
Total Cost per Person: $450 (90% savings from traditional thermography course)

Payment Methods

Cash, check and major credit cards accepted. Payment is due at the course session on the day of the course unless otherwise agreed upon.

Additional Training

We have found that many students have interest in shadowing a seasoned inspector in the field. We do offer this type of service for an additional fee. 

If you would like additional training on a specific target such as electrical, heat loss, low pitch roofs, block walls and or any other specialized fields we do offer these types of trainings.

Why Northwest Infrared?

In short,Brent has seen it all in his years as a building inspector, Certified Level III Thermographer and small business owner. And that's good news for you!

Infrared equipment is not a Polaroid where point and shoot will yield usable information without the knowledge of heat transfer, infrared science and building construction.

When you take this course, you'll be learning from someone who has the education, training and experience to help you get the most out of applying infrared technology to your industry.

Course Bonuses

What you won't get in other courses...

• Hands-on training (not just a lecture on theory and history of thermography).
• A casual, fun learning environment. Life is too short to be bored stiff.
• Focus on practical application based on years of field experience
• Top-of-the-line infrared cameras for you to use during training.

And our students' favorite...

• Ongoing mentoring and phone support. Have a question about interpreting results, writing a report, using the equipment? We've got your back. You get access to a real person who has real answers at no extra charge.

Get Qualified

Save Money, Save Time, Get Started

Save over $3,000 and get hands-on training and practical information that you can USE. We offer continued support as long as you need (you won't find that anywhere else!). 

Classes fill up fast. So call and get registered today.

Monthly Courses

Other Courses We Teach

• Residential Heat Loss

• Use of blower door with Infrared

• Insulation verification

• Moisture mapping the interior of a building.

• Flat roof evaluation

Group Discounts

We also offer group discounts! If you have several employees to train, we can give you an additional discount.  Give us a call for details.

In-House Training

If you're looking for training on a specific topic or if you need in-house training for your team, we can bring the course to you. Give us a call and let us know what you need.

Ready to Get Qualified?

We offer courses monthly. Get started by calling our office. We'll answer any questions you may have and get you signed up for the course you're interested in.

No-Risk, Satisfaction Guaranteed

If you decide the course is not for you by the time we break for lunch, just let us know.  We'll refund your tuition. No questions asked. 

Just Need a Scan or Other Services?

Not ready to take the course, but still need a infrared scan? We can help!