Jan 17 2012

LEED Green Associates Need Continuing Education

By admin
Green building professionals who want to achieve LEED Accreditation must first become a LEED Green Associate. One of the requirements of this certification is to achieve 15 hours of continuing education training every two years to maintain the credential.

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) created the credential maintenance program in 2009 when they developed the new version of the LEED Rating System. This version, affectionately called LEED v3, also created the tiered credentialing system, which nullified the LEED AP credential and essentially replaced it with LEED Green Associate and the advanced LEED AP with Specialty.

Under the old version of the LEED Rating System, LEED APs did not have to complete credential maintenance training. The GBCI has implemented continuing education requirements for LEED Green Associates and LEED APs with Specialty to keep LEED professionals knowledgeable and up-to-date on the green building industry.

LEED APs are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, of which six hours must be LEED-specific and related to the specialty credential the individual holds. LEED Green Associates are only required to earn 15 continuing education hours in a two-year span, of which three hours must be LEED specific and may pertain to any of the rating systems available.

If a LEED Green Associate fails to complete the required CMP hours, his or her credential will expire at the end of the two-year period. In order to regain their credential, the individual must take the LEED Green Associate exam again.

Because LEED is a fast-changing and growing field, accredited individuals have to make an effort to stay up-to-date on policies and procedures. The GBCI implemented the LEED CMP program to ensure that the LEED Green Associate credential remains relevant and distinguished within the industry.

Categories: Green Associate
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Nov 28 2011

After the LEED Green Associate Exam

By admin
Congratulations! You are now a LEED Green Associate. What’s next? If you have pursued this LEED Certification simply out of curiosity and interest, you may consider participating in a LEED project and utilizing your new-found knowledge in your business. If, after pursuing this certification, you see the value in advancing to the next tier in the LEED Rating System, then you are required (by the USGBC) to participate on a LEED Project before you continue to the LEED AP with Specialty designation.

The USGBC has a directory of all projects that have been registered with the intention of receiving a LEED Certification. The USGBC has been slightly vague about what constitutes participation in a LEED project. In the end, you must have a project administrator write a letter of attestation for you, as proof of your contributions. If you do not have the flexibility in your work schedule to participate in a live LEED project, you may consider taking an internship that will give you the equivalent credit. One such project is Everblue Training Institute’s LEED Project Experience Online. This is a five-week online internship that teaches students all about the documentation that is required in the LEED project process.

Once the USGBC has recognized and accepted your LEED Project Experience, they will deem you eligible to take the LEED AP with Specialty exam. It is again recommended that you enroll in a LEED exam prep course to increase your chances of passing the exam. Some LEED training companies will provide students who took the LEED Green Associate training with a discount if they return to that company for LEED AP training. Decide which LEED AP specialty is appropriate for you and your career. Follow the same study habits as you did for the LEED Green Associate exam, and see how well you do on the LEED AP exam!
Categories: Green Associate
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Dec 28 2009

Looking for LEED AP? Try LEED GA Instead

By greenassociate and has 241 comments.

Nine months into the transition from LEED v2.2 to LEED v3.0, it amazes me how much of a brand name LEED AP has become.  It’s what people search for, it is an industry brand name.  The LEED Green Associate is growing but with 1/20th the number of LEED APs, it has a long way to go to achieve it’s own brand awareness.  I personally think the USGBC should have made LEED AP the base tier and added a LEED Specialty Professional above the LEED AP.  That would have kept the LEED AP brand name and allowed the 120,000 legacy LEED APs the chance to truly upgrade their credentials – will any legacy LEED APs really take the LEED Green Associate? Probably not.

What’s done is done though.  The LEED Green Associate and LEED AP Specialty exams really is a better system.  People learn core green building concepts and LEED project process first before diving into the technical standards of a LEED rating system.  For most people, the LEED Green Associate satisfies their professional needs.  It is a national credential, it provides a conversational understanding of LEED, and it is simply a better exam.  It tests concepts and terminology vs arguably useless memorization or facts and figures that the previous exams tested.  In fact, I’m willing to bet that 90% of the currently 6000 LEED Green Associates will stop right there and never make it to a LEED AP Specialty.

So back to the branding issue.  Do you really need LEED AP?  I know that’s what most people look for but if you’re not actively involved in the design & construction of a LEED project as an Architect, Engineer, or Contractor you probably don’t need the LEED AP specialty credential.  If you just had LEED GA in your signature block, how many people would really know the difference between LEED GA and LEED AP?

Learn more about the LEED Green Associate credential by registering for an exam prep course. Take the exam and feel confident about your new knowledge of green building concepts!

Categories: Green Associate
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