The Foundation Level exam assesses foundational competencies such as numeracy, low-rise housing construction and renovation, building envelope, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, building science principles and the house-as-a-system concept. As such, the competency profile for this exam is not based on any specific EnerGuide Rating System - v15 or Natural Resources Canada reference material. The competency profiles for all of the EnerGuide Rating System v15 exams are maintained and available at the Natural Resources Canada online resource centre. For instructions on how to access the online resource centre, please see section 9.2.

Organizations such as Natural Resources Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation publish a variety of reference material available online which covers some of the competencies and learning objectives identified in the Foundation Level exam competency profile and which can be helpful to candidates to prepare for the exam. Candidates are also encouraged to review and study applicable reference material published by any other reputable organization or author in preparation for this exam.

Although the competency profile for the Foundation Level exam includes competencies and learning objectives in the areas of communication and computer skills, these are not assessed during the exam. However, candidates are expected to be competent in these areas.