Green Building Certification Institute

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) is a newly incorporated entity established with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council to manage the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP) Exam.

While the U.S. Green Building Council handles the development of the LEED Rating System and offers LEED-based education programs, the LEED Professional Accreditation program is independently administered under the Green Building Certification Institute to allow for balanced, objective management of the credential. GBCI manages all aspects of the LEED Professional Accreditation program including exam development, registration, and delivery. This separation into two organizational entities brings the credentialing program closer toward meeting standards for programmatic excellence put forth by ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024.

Creation

GBCI, launched on November 20, 2007, was formed to allow for balanced, objective management of the LEED Professional Accreditation program, including exam development, registration and delivery. The creation of GBCI will ensure that the LEED AP program will continue to be developed in accordance with best practices for credentialing programs. To underscore this commitment, GBCI will undergo the American National Standards Institute accreditation process for personnel certification agencies complying with ISO Standard 17024.

LEED AP Exam

The LEED Accredited Professional Exam is a test administered by Prometric for GBCI. LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System. More than 50,000 people have become LEED APs since the exam's creation in 2001.

There are several versions of the exam which correspond to the various versions of the LEED system, including LEED-NC (New Construction and Major Renovation), LEED-EB (Existing Building) and LEED-CI (Commercial Interior). The exam is open to all individuals interested in the LEED green building rating system. A LEED AP is generally recognized as an expert in the field of sustainable design. The exam is formatted in a computerized multiple choice format with instant scoring after completion. Many study resources exist for exam candidates from the U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC chapters and other authors. The exam costs $300 for employees of national member companies of the USGBC and $400 for everyone else. The LEED Accredited Professional Exam (LEED AP) consists of 80 questions, and is scored on a scale of 125 to 200, with a score of 170 required to pass.

References

See also

• LEED
• U.S. Green Building Council
• LEED certified buildings
• LEED Accredited Professional Exam
• sustainable architecture
• Energy conservation
• Environmental design
• Renewable energy
• Passive house
• Zero energy building
• Permaculture
• Ecological footprint
• Green Globe

External links

• GBCI official website
• USGBC official website