The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was established as a separately incorporated entity with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council. GBCI administers credentialing programs related to green building practice. These programs support the application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry systems such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating Systems™.
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.
The Green Building Certification Institute will also oversee the development and implementation of a maintenance program for LEED AP credential holders. Development of this program has begun and details will be announced (in 2008). Establishing maintenance requirements for LEED Accredited Professionals will ensure that the credential continues to distinguish those building professionals who maintain current knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED Certification Process with their thorough understanding of green building principles and practices and of the LEED Rating System.
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024
The American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) accreditation
for professional credentialing programs is a rigorous third-party verification
program which puts forth both initial and continuous requirements to ensure
minimum credibility, integrity and excellence for organizations and programs
providing credentials to the public. Based on ISO Standard 17024, this
accreditation program evaluates the structure, governance, security and
validity of professional credential programs.
Achieving ANSI Accreditation is a goal of the LEED
Professional Accreditation program and facilitating the program’s move into a
separately incorporated entity, the Green Building Certification Institute,
accomplished a significant organizational and strategic condition of 17024. Read
more about the American National Standard Institute.