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What's Happening from Environmental Building News
September 1, 2009
LEED AP Credential Maintenance Program Launched
The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) announced several changes to the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) program in November 2008. Among those changes was the addition of a credential maintenance program that would require those at all levels of LEED accreditation to obtain a certain number of continuing education hours every two years to maintain their status. The program, launched August 3, 2009, requires LEED APs to earn 30 hours every two years and LEED Green Associates, the new lower-tier credential, to earn 15 hours. Some of these hours must be LEED-specific, and some of those must be rating system-specific. LEED APs will also need to pay a biennial fee of $50. The launch of the credential maintenance program also starts the clock on a two-year transitional period that GBCI has set for “Legacy LEED APs,” those who earned their credentials under previous versions of the exam and without credentialing maintenance expectations. GBCI hopes that these professionals—over 130,000 of them—will opt into the program and its requirements, while also picking up a rating system-specific specialty with their credential (such as “LEED AP BD+C” for “Building Design and Construction”). Legacy LEED APs who don’t opt into the new system can still keep the credential, however.For more information:
Green Building Certification Institute
www.gbci.org
DISCUSSIONSReader-contributed comments related to EBN: 18:9 - LEED AP Credential Maintenance Program Launched. Comments are listed with newest at the top.
Opt-in or not
Posted by
Dave Intner
on Sep 15, 2009, 07:08 PM
GBCI addresses this on their FAQ site. (http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=110) My understanding is that, should you decline to opt-in, you would still be titled as a LEED AP (no "legacy" label) but could not declare a specialty. You would still be listed on the online directory, but without a specialty.
GBCI addresses this on their FAQ site. (http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=110) My understanding is that, should you decline to opt-in, you would still be titled as a LEED AP (no "legacy" label) but could not declare a specialty. You would still be listed on the online directory, but without a specialty.
Opt-In or Do Nothing?
Posted by
Noah Rollins
on Sep 15, 2009, 12:06 PM
I'm unclear on the result if I do nothing. I am LEED AP under the 2.2 exam. Is the truth that I can do nothing, and remain LEED AP, nothing changes for me, and USGBC just doesn't want people to know this? Or am I legally obligated to change my credential to "Legacy LEED AP"? Is it a professional violation to call myself "LEED AP" now, if I don't choose to participate in the CEU?
I'm unclear on the result if I do nothing. I am LEED AP under the 2.2 exam. Is the truth that I can do nothing, and remain LEED AP, nothing changes for me, and USGBC just doesn't want people to know this? Or am I legally obligated to change my credential to "Legacy LEED AP"? Is it a professional violation to call myself "LEED AP" now, if I don't choose to participate in the CEU?
Not so cumbersome
Posted by
Dave Intner
on Sep 4, 2009, 02:14 PM
My LEED AP is now one of four credentials I have which require CEU's. The $50 biennial fee is by far the least expensive. Most LEED-applicable CEU's count toward those other credentials, and (correct me if I'm wrong) you can self-report seminars and lectures not directly offered by USGBC.
Most professional credentials require CEU's; I don't think the GBCI has made the maintenance of the LEED AP credential more onerous than others in the industry.
My LEED AP is now one of four credentials I have which require CEU's. The $50 biennial fee is by far the least expensive. Most LEED-applicable CEU's count toward those other credentials, and (correct me if I'm wrong) you can self-report seminars and lectures not directly offered by USGBC.
Most professional credentials require CEU's; I don't think the GBCI has made the maintenance of the LEED AP credential more onerous than others in the industry.
New AP Credential
Posted by
Jim Nicolow
on Sep 3, 2009, 08:52 AM
Yesterday's GBCI webcast was more of an infomercial than an open discussion of the challenges of implementing the new system. After making a sustained commitment to increase our ranks of LEED AP's, including paying the one-time cost of the exam (like many in the industry), this cumbersome new credentialing program feels like a bait-and-switch designed to open up a new revenue stream for the USGBC/GBCI's.
I'm curious to hear what others think, particularly mid to large-size AE firms. Are you planning to upgrade all or some of your current LEED AP's? If so, are you leaving this up to the individual to track CEU's and pay the fees, or absorbing the process and fees? For the moment, we're going with "Option 3: Do nothing." Per yesterday's webcast, all current LEED AP's remain AP's in perpetuity, without the new fees or still-undefined CEU requirements.
Yesterday's GBCI webcast was more of an infomercial than an open discussion of the challenges of implementing the new system. After making a sustained commitment to increase our ranks of LEED AP's, including paying the one-time cost of the exam (like many in the industry), this cumbersome new credentialing program feels like a bait-and-switch designed to open up a new revenue stream for the USGBC/GBCI's.
I'm curious to hear what others think, particularly mid to large-size AE firms. Are you planning to upgrade all or some of your current LEED AP's? If so, are you leaving this up to the individual to track CEU's and pay the fees, or absorbing the process and fees? For the moment, we're going with "Option 3: Do nothing." Per yesterday's webcast, all current LEED AP's remain AP's in perpetuity, without the new fees or still-undefined CEU requirements.
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RELATED CATEGORIESLEED Credits
ID Credit 2
GREEN TOPICS
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DISCUSSIONS
Noah Rollins
Sep 16, 2009 RELATED LEED CREDITS
ID Credit 2
RELATED GREEN DESIGN
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So there is no official title with the word "Legacy." It is certainly good to continue your green education, especially as technologies are constantly changing. But I just don't see why someone would opt into the program. The specialty letters just don't seem important to me.