No existing smoke school relationship? Use the direct OpacityVision VR portal to create your account and follow the student certification path.
Go to the student portalVirtual smoke school · EPA Method 9
VR Smoke School for EPA Method 9 Certification
OpacityVision VR is a virtual smoke school for eligible observers who need a flexible Method 9 certification path—and for the people responsible for keeping every student, facility, token, lecture requirement, test and renewal organized.
Provider-specific EPA approvalMeta Quest 2 minimumVR + in-person records
Choose the VR smoke school path that fits you
A walk-up student and a multi-facility employer should not be forced through the same purchasing and administrative experience.
Manage observers, facilities, primary contacts, tokens, certification status, expirations and both VR and in-person records in one company-level view.
Discuss a company accountSee the real OpacityVision VR experience
Students get a clear certification path. Company contacts get the program view needed to keep facilities covered and renewals moving.
How virtual Method 9 certification works
The dashboard keeps the real program terms visible and explains what each one means instead of hiding them behind vague wording.
Prepare the account
Confirm the student’s information, training provider, facility and assigned primary contact so the resulting record stays connected to the right organization.
Complete the lecture requirement
Complete the required Method 9 lecture and quiz when applicable, or document the allowed basis for satisfying the lecture requirement.
Practice and prepare
Review plume-reading guidance, confirm headset readiness and practice before using a token for an official certification attempt.
Confirm official eligibility
The portal shows whether the student has the required account, lecture, equipment and token conditions to begin the official test.
Take the certification test
Complete the required white- and black-smoke observations inside the approved VR workflow and within the official test session.
Track certification and renewal
Keep the certificate, expiration date, facility relationship and six-month recertification status available to the student and authorized contacts.
Equipment and browser requirements
Meta Quest 2 is the minimum supported headset. A later or equivalent headset must provide a compatible browser and WebXR support.
- Meta Quest 2 or a supported newer/equivalent device
- Working controller input and a comfortable headset fit
- Current browser with WebXR support
- Reliable internet, adequate battery and completed updates
- A safe indoor testing area free from interruptions
Official test session
The official test uses a 90-minute timer and browser-session controls. If a technical interruption occurs while time remains, the student may resume under the platform’s permitted recovery rules as long as the headset has not been removed. Removing the headset or ending the controlled session can prevent resumption.
Virtual smoke school pricing
Pricing depends on whether a student purchases as needed or participates through a company with an annual subscription. The $75 rate is not a general walk-up price.
For an individual or small group purchasing without an active company subscription.
Company administration, facility organization and access to subscribed token pricing.
The $75 token rate applies only to a company with the annual subscription purchasing 100 tokens in bulk.
| Subscribed company purchase | Rate per token |
|---|---|
| Single token | $200 |
| 10-token block | $150 |
| 25-token block | $125 |
| 50-token block | $100 |
| 100-token block | $75 |
Published rates are subject to the applicable pricing and token terms. General in-person smoke school course fees are commonly $250–$275 per observer before travel, lodging and paid time are considered.
More than a test inside a headset
OpacityVision VR connects the certification method to the operating system around it.
Students receive obvious next actions and can see lecture, practice, testing and certificate status. Primary contacts can act on students and facilities. Company administrators can view certification coverage across locations. Training vendors can preserve their own identity and customer relationships.
VR and in-person together
A company can use VR where it fits and in-person smoke school where it is preferred or required. Both certification paths can remain visible in the same organizational record.
EPA approval and state acceptance
OpacityVision VR’s provider-specific VR system is approved under ALT-152C for the procedures described in that approval.
That does not mean every headset application is approved, and it does not eliminate jurisdiction-, permit-, employer- or use-specific requirements. Confirm the applicable acceptance path before relying on VR certification for a particular activity.
Use accurate claims
Ask for the provider-specific approval, verify that the offered system matches it and review any state or local conditions that apply to your facility.
VR smoke school questions
Is VR smoke school the same as an online lecture?
No. The lecture requirement covers Method 9 knowledge and any required quiz or attestation. The VR certification test is the controlled plume-reading demonstration used to evaluate observer performance.
Can an individual enroll without choosing Opaque, Singleton or another vendor?
Yes. An independent student or small group with no existing smoke school relationship can use the direct OpacityVision VR portal at vr.opacityvision.com.
What headset do I need?
Meta Quest 2 is the minimum. A newer or equivalent supported headset also needs a compatible browser and WebXR support. Review the current equipment guidance before scheduling an official test.
Does a token include the lecture?
A certification token and the lecture requirement are separate unless the applicable purchase or training-provider program specifically includes lecture access. The dashboard shows each requirement separately.
Is the $75 token available to everyone?
No. The $75 rate applies only to a company with the $2,000 annual subscription purchasing a 100-token block. As-needed individual certification is $250, and smaller subscribed blocks use different rates.
Can a company track VR and in-person certifications together?
Yes. OpacityVision VR is designed to connect both paths to the same student, facility, primary contact, expiration and certification-history structure.
Is VR Method 9 certification accepted in every state?
Do not assume universal acceptance. The applicable regulator, permit authority, employer or use case may impose additional requirements. Use the state-acceptance resource and verify any facility-specific conditions.
Regulatory sources: U.S. EPA Method 9 and broadly applicable approved alternative test methods.
Plan the complete certification path
Review Method 9 certification requirements, compare VR and in-person smoke school, understand total certification cost, prepare for six-month recertification, or find a trusted training partner.