It was a big year for the FGIA Education department, with increases in program participation as well as the addition of new training programs for the betterment of the industry. We would like to thank our participants, including members and non-members, for continuing to prioritize professional development! Additional modifications and improvements will be ongoing as we begin 2026, so watch for updates on what is coming soon from our Education team. For now, read on for a roundup of what was accomplished this year.
Bill Briese Education Excellence Award
Engagement overall was high, as evidenced by FGIA’s participation numbers and the pool of eligible nominees for the 2025 Bill Briese Education award, which includes 10 corporate member companies based on their 2025 participation. This award recognizes significant support of and distinguished commitment to education excellence within FGIA.
Voting members of our Education Steering Committee will select the winner and the award presentation will be made at the upcoming FGIA 2026 Annual Conference.
To qualify, an FGIA corporate member company or employee must demonstrate ongoing support of and significant participation in FGIA education programs and initiatives, including.
- Purchasing large group education orders
- Significantly contributing or volunteering for education programs
- Integrating FGIA education into employee onboarding and career advancement
- Supporting multiple education programs offered by FGIA
InstallationMasters®
In 2025, we saw nearly 500 InstallationMasters participants across three program segments, resulting in the addition of hundreds of trained professionals in the industry:
- 329 Combined (Replacement and New Construction)
- 91 Replacement only
- 67 New Construction only
InstallationMasters instructor accreditation training dates for 2026 are already scheduled for April, July and December. Don’t miss out. Claim your spot now!
FenestrationMasters®
There was a 24 percent increase in FenestrationMasters participants in 2025 compared to the previous year. The latest version of the program, FenestrationMasters 3.0, was released in December 2024. This year, FGIA has had 110 program participants, including 61 FenestrationAssociate and 49 FenestrationMaster candidates. We’re excited that participants have found success in utilizing these streamlined and interactive programs to achieve their professional goals!
IG Fabricator Workshop
FGIA held the popular in-person Insulating Glass (IG) Fabricators Workshop in a new location this year! Thanks to the Intertek facility in Fridley, MN, for hosting, allowing for more participants than ever before. In 2025, 69 people participated in the workshop. The 2026 event will take place October 26-29 in Fridley, and registration will open in late summer 2026.
New Industry Training
Building on the success of Fundamentals of Fenestration, our intro-level course about windows, doors and skylights, FGIA released two new industry trainings: Fundamentals of Insulating Glass and Specifying Windows, Doors and Skylights Using NAFS. These programs were developed with the industry needs in mind and have been well-received in the marketplace.
All three saw success in 2025:
- Fundamentals of Fenestration: 35 participants
- NEW! Fundamentals of Insulating Glass: 47 participants
- NEW! Specifying Windows, Doors, and Skylights Using NAFS: 14 participants
Next in 2026
A revamped InstallationMasters training program is targeted to launch by the second quarter of 2026. Based upon feedback from our instructors and installers, the InstallationMasters Combined Program manual is being revised to simplify language and remove extraneous/repetitive content. We also plan to launch a Spanish-version of the program with translation work being overseen by an ad-hoc work group comprised of participants native or fluent in Spanish with qualifying industry experience.
Other significant program updates for 2026 include:
- Highly visual and engaging training presentation
- Modified exam format
- Open- versus closed-book
- Beta testing underway to utilize iPads for final exams versus scantron sheets
- Expanded training opportunities/materials for Spanish-speaking participants
- Streamlined instructor training to focus on one primary credential, with multiple training paths
- This would allow accredited instructors to be able to teach Combined, Replacement or New Construction classes, depending on participant needs.
And, don’t forget – if your company is trying to use those 2025 training dollars this month, FGIA has a solution for you. Reach out to [email protected] to discuss your options, meant for any budget.
