Credential Maintenance

The Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) is designed to expand the knowledge and experience base of LEED Professionals. The program is also designed to facilitate a LEED Professional’s continuing professional development. Beginning with the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP Operations + Maintenance (O+M) credentials, followed by LEED AP Homes, Building Design + Construction (BD+C), Interior Design + Construction (ID+C), and Neighbor Development (ND), all credentials awarded for passing any LEED examination given by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) must be maintained on a 2-year cycle through the accumulation of continuing education (CE) hours.

LEED professionals must earn their required CE hours during the 2-year period following the date GBCI awarded their credential. This 2-year period, called the CMP reporting period or, simply, reporting period, begins on the exam date or the CMP enrollment date and ends 2 years minus 1 day from the start date (except for LEED Professionals who passed the LEED Green Associate or a LEED AP (with specialty) exam before August 3, 2009*). (LEED Professionals will continue on the same cycle unless the credential is not renewed.)

At the end of the 2-year reporting period, LEED Professionals are required to have completed their continuing education requirements. If LEED Professionals do not complete these requirements and/or do not report their hours to GBCI, the credential expires. For more information on expiration, see the Non-compliance section of the CMP Guide.

Continuing education (CE) hours

The term “CE hours” refers to hours earned from credential maintenance activities. LEED APs must earn 30 CE hours biennially (6 of which must be LEED-specific hours) and LEED Green Associates must earn 15 CE hours biennially (3 of which must be LEED-specific hours) to maintain their credential. CE hours are calculated differently depending on the activity; see the Activities sections of the CMP Guide for an outline of credential maintenance activities and the CE hours possible.

View the list activities you can pursue to receive CE hours.

Education Reviewing Bodies (ERBs)

ERBs are organizations that review and approve professional development courses, live presentations, and self-study courses based on predetermined criteria for instructional design and technical content. Once approved, such programs will be accepted by GBCI as approved continuing education for LEED Professionals. Learn more about ERBs.

Reporting credential maintenance

LEED Professionals must self-report all of their CE hours online through My Credentials. No additional documentation will be required unless audited.
LEED Professionals will be able to begin self-reporting their CE hours in My Credentials after November 1, 2009, when the reporting module is launched. GBCI recommends that you maintain a record of any CE hours you complete between the launch of the CMP program on August 3, 2009, and the launch of the reporting module.

Renewal

Once LEED Professionals have completed the CMP requirements for their credential, they may renew their credential and pay the $50 CMP renewal fee on My Credentials at any time during their reporting period without altering its start and end dates. However, LEED Professionals must renew their credential within the 30 days following the end of their reporting period. If the credential is not renewed within 30 days of the end date, the credential will expire. For more information on expiration, see the Non-compliance section of the CMP Guide.

Fees

LEED Professionals are responsible for a biennial $50 CMP renewal fee at the time of renewal. If this fee is not paid in the 30 days following the end of the reporting period, the credential will expire. Payments will be accepted only in US dollars. This fee is waived for the first renewal for all LEED APs without specialty (credentialed under the New Construction, Commercial Interiors, and Existing Buildings exam tracks) who enroll in accordance with the Enrollment Guide.

Audits

GBCI credentialing staff will conduct random audits of CE hours submitted for renewal for the most recent reporting period. The goal of the auditing process is to ensure compliance with CMP requirements. When audited:
  • The LEED Professional is notified of the audit and may be asked to send documentation of hours that were reported by him/her.
  • The reported CE hours and supporting documentation will be reviewed by staff and a determination will be made as to whether the hours are accepted or denied.
  • The LEED Professional will receive a confirmation from the GBCI staff regarding findings of the audit and any further action required.
If any CE hours are denied during the audit and a deficiency is determined, a deficiency notice will be sent to the LEED Professional. Additional hours must be reported electronically and submitted with supporting documentation within 90 days. However, all additional hours reported must be earned before the end of the LEED Professional’s reporting period. The LEED Professional will remain listed in the LEED Professional Directory and remain authorized to use his/her credential’s title and logo during the 90-day period following the notice. If the deficiency remains after the 90-days, the credential will expire; the individual will no longer be listed in the LEED Professional Directory nor be authorized to use the credential’s title or logo. For more information on expiration, see the Non-compliance section of the CMP Guide.

Maintenance through retesting

Because the purpose of the program is not to measure or guarantee continuing competence, the LEED Professional of the future, whether LEED Green Associate or LEED AP, will not be required to sit for additional examinations after fulfilling initial credentialing examination. However, LEED Professionals do have the option of maintaining their credential through retesting (without completing continuing education). LEED Professionals maintaining through retesting must take the required exam between 3 and 12 months from the end of their reporting period. (No testing will be allowed more than 12 months or less than 3 months from the end of the reporting period; see the chart below for details.) In order to retest, LEED Professionals must apply (including meeting eligibility requirements) and register for the required exam through My Credentials and are responsible for all applicable fees. LEED Green Associates are required to take the LEED Green Associate exam; LEED APs are required to take only the LEED specialty exam.

If LEED Professionals wait until their credential expires (24 months after their exam date), they must test like all new candidates. They will not maintain the same cycle reporting period; a new reporting period will begin on their exam date if they pass the exam. Also, individuals whose LEED AP credential has expired must retake both parts (LEED Green Associate and specialty exam) of their exam to regain the credential.