Training and Supporting our LEED Accredited Professionals

Over the past few years MCAA and MSCA have trained over 1,000 individuals in the mechanical contracting industry, enabling them to attain the status of a LEED Accredited Professional by passing exams given by the U.S. Green Building Council, and more recently, the independent Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

As LEED AP's, they are now among the most educated leaders in the industry's green building movement. Our commitment is to continue to assist our members in furthering their individual knowledge of the LEED green building rating system and construction process as they evolve.

2009 Changes to LEED Accreditation

The GBCI made some sweeping changes to the professional accreditation program in 2009, and the program continues to evolve. Dave Hubka presented a one-hour webinar on December 17th that discussed how the program changed and options are for maintaining and enhancing your green building credentials.

Here is a quick overview. Individuals who already achieved the LEED AP designation have some choices as to how to maintain their status in the future. Individuals seeking LEED Accreditation will now be able to choose among several levels of accreditation for people with different levels of interest and expertise in green building.

Anyone that earned a LEED AP under prior to June 2009 has several choices. MCAA members may be interested in enrolling in the new program to become a LEED AP BD+C (the Building Design and Construction specialty that replaced the New Construction accreditation) or a LEED AP O+M (Operations and Maintenance specialty that replaced Existing Buildings). The GBCI is giving you two years to choose to enroll by signing an ethics policy, agreeing to a $50 maintenance fee (waived until 2011), and agreeing to take 30 hours of continuing education every two years. To enroll you can either choose Option 1, to take the BD+C or O+M exam, possibly the harder option, or Option 2, to meet certain continuing education requirements in various categories.

Existing LEED AP's who do not want to enroll in the ongoing program can continue to use LEED AP as a designation. The New Construction or Existing Buildings designation will not be used going forward, however.

Those who are not yet accredited but want to pursue LEED Accreditation can aspire to three new levels of accreditation:

LEED Green Associate -- Also known as the “core” testing level, the LEED Green Associate is for people that support the LEED rating system, but do not necessarily have to know all of the details of the rating system to use it in their work. The exam tests for basic green building knowledge and is the same across all rating systems. That said, reports are that it's not a walk in the park, and preparation will be the key to successfully passing the exam. A prerequisite is that you must be involved in a sustainable field of work or study, you agree to pursue 15 hours of continuing education every 2 years, and pay a $50 maintenance fee every two years. MCAA developed a comprehensive program that will enable you to meet the eligibility requirements and prepare you for the exam. Visit our LEED Green Associate Training program website for more information.

LEED AP+ -- This accreditation level will include the core LEED Green Associate exam as part of its testing, and also include another two-hour exam on one of five specialization areas: Commercial Building Design & Construction (formerly New Construction); Existing Buildings Operation & Maintenance (EBOM, formerly EB); Commercial Interior Design (formerly CI); Residential; or Neighborhood Development.

Even before you apply to take the LEED AP+ exam, you must meet the requirement that you worked on a LEED project -- by either having a letter from an owner or GC attesting your participation or by being the person responsible for a LEED credit through LEED online. Upon passing the exam, to maintain your LEED AP+ status you need to pay a $50 maintenance fee every two years and take 30 hours of continuing education every two years.

LEED Fellow -– This accreditation is designed to recognize the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the LEED community. To become a LEED fellow, you demonstrate contributions to the standards of LEED as well as take part in a peer review of your project portfolio. Additional details on this accreditation are being announced at Greenbuild 2010..

Visit the website of the GBCI to learn more about the LEED AP professional accreditation track and credentialing maintenance requirements. A separate company, Prometrics, administers the actual examinations.

We know this is complicated. Need more information on your options?

  • Dave Hubka presented a one-hour webinar on December 17, 2009 that discussed how the program has evolved and what your options are for maintaining and enhancing your green building credentials. To view the archived program, click here.
  • For information for mechanical and plumbing contractors, Sean can help. Contact Sean McGuire.
  • For information for service contractors, Barb can help. Contact Barb Dolim.