A Simple Guide to LEED

Continuing Education

Another valuable presentation from the world’s leading

green building network:

Too maintain LEED accreditation, you need to stay up-to-date on green building best practices through

the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).

Photo: Flickr via Victor1558

LEED CMP Rules

LEED Green Associate (GA)

• 15 CE hours every 2 years

• 3 hours must be LEED-specific

LEED AP• 30 CE hours every

2 years• 6 hours must be

LEED-specific

Credential Maintenance Program

• There are five categories:1. Sustainable Sites

2. Water Efficiency

3. Energy & Atmosphere

4. Materials & Resources

5. Indoor Environmental Quality

Credential Maintenance Program

• LEED-Specific Continuing Education must by approved by GBCI or USGBC, and relate to current rating systems’ “processes, procedures, or concepts,” including specific credits or pre-requisites, credit intent, strategies and updates to LEED.

How do you earn CE credits?

GBCI specifies 4 opportunities.

1. Education2. Volunteerism3. Authorship

4. Project Experience

Education

• Attending or leading courses from registered providers, self-reported courses and presentations, Greenbuild, & college and university courses.

• Courses must be reviewed by GBCI & from a registered provider.

Education

• Attending or leading courses from registered providers, self-reported courses and presentations, Greenbuild, & college and university courses.

• Courses must be reviewed by GBCI & from a registered provider.

1 CE hour per education hour;

Instructors receive 2 CE hours for course

development

Education

• There is no limit on hours earned, but credits for program instruction are only counted once no matter how many times you teach the course.

Education

Examples• GBCI-Approved Course Catalog• USGBC Principles of LEED Series• All-in-One CMP Packages• Green-Buildings.com Webinars• GreenBiz Events• Building Green Events

Volunteering

• Committee & volunteer work for USGBC, local USGBC chapters, GBCI, or other organizations that support the LEED system.

Photo: Habitat for Humanity

Volunteering

• Committee & volunteer work for USGBC, local USGBC chapters, GBCI, or other organizations that support the LEED system.

1 CE hour per participation hour.

Volunteering

• These hours cannot exceed more than 50% of the total required CE hours.

• LEED-specific volunteer hours are determined on a case by case basis.

Volunteering

Examples• USGBC Volunteer Opps• Local USGBC Chapter Volunteer Opps• GBCI Volunteer Opps• Habitat for Humanity

Authorship

• Publishing digital or print articles or books that are related to LEED or green building.

Authorship

• Publishing digital or print articles or books that are related to LEED or green building.

3 CE hours per article & 10 CE hours per

published book.

Authorship

• No limit for this type of CE. • LEED-specific authorship hours are

determined on a case by case basis.

Authorship

Example• Write original articles for Poplar Network

LEED Project Participation

• Paid or unpaid work on a project that is registered for LEED certification.

LEED Project Participation

• Paid or unpaid work on a project that is registered for LEED certification.

1 CE hour per LEED credit earned; 2 CE hours per project for

being project administrator

LEED Project Participation

• No limitation on the number of these CE hours.

• LEED Project Experience hours don’t require pre-approval.

LEED Project Participation

Examples• GreenStep LEED Professional Project

Experience Program

Don’t forget to report your hours in order to get credit!

Otherwise you won’t be able to brag about your LEED skills with other innovative LEED professionals like

Claire Moloney, from Ridgefield, CT.

Reporting Your CE Hours

• Self-report to GBCI by signing in online and logging your activity details in the “Report CMP Activity” section.

• For authorship, complete the appropriate GBCI form and upload the text and link of your submission.

Want to learn more about green building & connect with other environmental &

LEED professionals?

Become a free member of Poplar Network today!