When the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) began creating its LEED rating system, the organization realized there was a need in the marketplace for a person or group of people who possessed detailed knowledge of the rating system. The USGBC worked to fill that need by creating a program where a person could become credentialed as a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). The LEED AP designation allowed individuals to outwardly demonstrate both their knowledge and commitment to sustainability by having the LEED AP behind their name.
The USGBC also saw that its credentialing program was a way to grow support for the organization while, at the same time, having a somewhat accurate count of those who supported the mission of the USGBC. The USGBC’s credentialing program was straightforward: a person attended an educational seminar produced by and taught by a designated USGBC LEED faculty. That person would study the examination preparation material and then successfully pass the examination. After passing the examination, the LEED AP designation was given. That process worked well in the early days of the program, but as the popularity of the LEED rating system grew, the number of LEED accredited professionals also grew. In the first three years of the program, the amount of people who became credentialed as a LEED AP grew from nothing to more than 10,000 individuals.
This growth introduced a cadre of people claiming to know all of the “ins and outs” of the rating system. There were two main flaws with the early version: Anyone who sat through the educational seminar was qualified to sit for the examination, and once individuals acquired their LEED AP designation, they could keep it for life. The relative ease of becoming a LEED AP created an opportunity for those with little understanding of building science or detailed understanding of design and construction to become accredited. Looking at the directory of LEED APs was almost like looking at a “who’s who” of product sales professionals and manufacturers’ representatives.
One reason for the large numbers (approximately half by some accounts) of non-design professionals seeking their LEED accreditation was because the newness of the system and the products used in a LEED building. Much of the design community at that time was trying to figure out how to comply with the rating system. Salespeople representing their products as green by a salesperson who was a LEED AP meant that if you used the product in your building, it would help get the project certified. There were even advertisements placed by some manufacturers claiming to contribute to numerous LEED credits, even though the products had little to no contribution. If you were a salesperson, having the LEED AP behind your name got you into a lot of doors in those days.
This situation changed with the advent of LEED 2009, which revamped the rating system and entire program. Somewhat misleading by the title, LEED 2009 was launched in 2010 and was the newest version of LEED. The LEED rating system and the electronic portal (LEED Online) were fully upgraded, and the new version of LEED resulted in the birth of the Green Buildings Certification Institute and the LEED credentialing program. The credentialing program was amended to address the flaws of the initial program.
These changes included a more rigorous qualification process, three tiers of accreditation and the requirement for continuing education credits for those who wanted to maintain their credentials. No longer could someone simply pass an examination to be a LEED AP.
Under the guidelines of the new credentialing program, a person first must determine what level of credentialing they might be qualified for: LEED Green Associate, LEED Accredited Professional or LEED Fellow. To qualify as a Green Associate candidate, a person must have experience working on a LEED registered/certified project or be in the design and or construction industry for a minimum of five years. These requirements must be met and evidenced with a letter of attestation or other proof before a person is allowed to sit for the examination.
Once a person has worked in the industry for a given period of time as a Green Associate, they can then qualify to sit for the LEED Accredited Professionals examination. The third category of LEED fellow is reserved for those who have been an Accredited Professional for a minimum of 10 years and have a long history of advocacy and volunteerism with the USGBC. The increased rigor of the requirements of eligibility went a long way in correcting one of the major flaws of the original system.
The other flaw identified in the early days was the issue of the lifelong LEED AP designation. The USGBC addressed this issue by again adding rigor to the system. If a professional wants to remain a Green Associate, Accredited Professional or Fellow, they must comply with the requirements of the system. One of these requirements is to sign a code of ethics. The code clearly states that if a person is found to misrepresent themselves or be found in violation of the code, the USGBC can revoke their accreditation. Another step in correcting the problem came when the USGBC required each professional to pay a yearly fee.
The final corrective action was to require each professional to attend continuing educational seminars pertinent to the LEED rating system or other matters of sustainability. The number of continuing education credits required is dependent on what level of accreditation a person holds. A LEED Green Associate must attend 7.5 hours per year, whereas an AP is required to complete 15 hours per year.
The changes to the USGBC’s accreditation program introduced with LEED 2009 went a long way to elevate the credential status of a LEED AP or Green professional. The designation means that a person has not only worked in the field and understands the requirements of the rating system, but also stays current with the information, systems and products that go into a green building.
Thomas Taylor, a 30-year veteran of the construction industry and noted expert on sustainability, is the general manager of St. Louis-based Vertegy. His recent book, “Guide to LEED 2009: Estimating and Preconstruction Strategies,” provides step-by-step information about the LEED 2009 for New Construction process. To learn more about Vertegy or Thomas’ new book, visit www.vertegyconsultants.com for more information.