GBCI Begins Testing for New LEED^® Credentials

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) has begun testing candidates pursuing the new LEED Green Associate and new LEED Accredited Professional (AP) Operations and Maintenance (O+M) credentials.

According to Peter Templeton, president at GBCI, “LEED APs have become a force for change in the building industry, [and] the new LEED Green Associate credential will recognize professionals who possess the core green building knowledge to help bring about market transformation in related disciplines in the workforce.”

The LEED Green Associate credential is a first step for professionals who may later choose to become a LEED AP and who wish to jump-start their professional career into the green building industry. Candidates who receive the Green Associate credential show the demonstrable knowledge and skills needed in the allied professions and non-technical fields of practice related to green design, construction, and operations. It is a stepping-stone for the LEED AP O+M credential, which recognizes advanced knowledge in sustainable operations and specialized expertise in best management practices required for greening existing buildings.

To attain the LEED AP O+M credential, candidates must pass both the LEED Green Associate exam to show the general knowledge, and they must also pass a second operations and maintenance specialty exam.

“This highly specialized credential brings with it tremendous value at a time when retrofitting our existing building stock is critical to addressing energy dependence and climate change,” says Templeton. “It signifies practical knowledge and deep expertise in how to save energy, water, and money for the owners and operators of the 5.1 million existing commercial buildings in the United States, virtually all of which can benefit from the operational efficiencies LEED promotes.”

Additionally, the new LEED AP O+M credential is consistent with the knowledge base and requirements of the new LEED 2009 rating system released in April.

For more information on the exam structure, eligibility requirements, and maintenance programs for these credentials, visit www.gbci.org.