Institute Will Handle Personnel LEED Certs

WASHINGTON, DC-A new green building certification entity is launching to manage the LEED Professional Accreditation program, a task that until now had been handled by the US Green Building Council. Called the Green Building Certification Institute, the new organization will, like USGBC has done, certify the LEED bona fides of people in the industry seeking such credentials. GBCI was established with the support of the council.

In January, USGBC will transfer responsibility for the LEED Professional Accreditation program to GBCI, which will manage all aspects of the LEED AP program including exam development, registration and delivery. The institute will also oversee the development of the maintenance program for LEED AP credential holders.

The goal of establishing independence between the green building standards setting processes and the personnel certification administration was a key driver in GBCI’s formation, Peter Templeton, VP of education & research, tells GlobeSt.com. “The development of standards, the industry education initiatives and the certification of personnel all need to be separate efforts,” he says.