Green Certifications

If you would like another certification program to be added, please contact us with the proper link to the web site, or a brief description of the certification program.

The following are some of the educational and trade certifications that may impact green jobs. For LEED, see the US Green Building Council and the Green Building Certification Institute, below.
American Council on Education: ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE has a membership of over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education associations within the United States. Its College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT) evaluates courses and examinations taken outside traditional degree programs and recommends whether college credit should be granted.
Association of Energy Engineers: AEE
Certifications for: Certified Green Building Engineer; Certified Energy Manager; Certified Carbon Reduction Manager; Certified Sustainable Development Professional; Certified Energy Auditor; Certifed Building Commissioning Professional; Certified Business Energy Professional; Certified Measurement and Verification Professional; Certified Energy Procurement Professional; Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional; Distributed Generation Certified Professional; Certified Geoexchange Designer; Certified Power Quality Professional.
Building Owners and Managers Association: BOMA
BOMA is an association of building owners and managers who typically hire property managers and maintenance personnel. Webinars are offered by the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program("BEEP")and the Sustainable Operations Series("SOS"). Webinar titles include, among many others, "How to Benchmark Energy Performance" and "Building an Energy Awareness Program". BOMA offers its premiere course, "Foundations of Real Estate Management", around the country. See also BOMI, which provides several BOMA-related certifications.
Building Owners and Managers Institute: BOMI
BOMI offers the following certifications: Real Property Administrator; Facilities Management Administrator; Systems Maintenance Administrator; and Systems Maintenance Technician. It also offers a host of courses, most of which are ACE-recommended for college credit, such as "Energy Management and Controls" and "Building Design and Maintenance".
Building Performance Institute: BPI
Offers certifications in residential and commercial instruction nationwide, and has partnered with community colleges such as Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y.
Energy Star Certification: Energy Star
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to protect the environment through certifying energy efficient products and practices.
Energy Star/ New Jersey Energy Star Homes: NJESH
A New Jersey ENERGY STAR Home is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) to be at least 15% more energy efficient than a standard home. To receive certification as a New Jersey Energy Star Home, a home must reach an index of 85 points or less on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scale for rating energy efficiency.
Green Advantage: Green Advantage
Green Advantage provides a standard green construction course - one each for residential and commercial - that lasts just one day, after which passing an exam gives a Green Advantage certification. Green Advantage has a working relationship with LEED and the USGBC, but is not directly affiliated.
Green Building Certification Institute: GBCI
GBCI provides the LEED Advanced Professional (LEED AP) certifications for building professionals. While it is affiliated with USGBC, it is technically an independent nonprofit organization.
Institute of Green Professionals: IGP
IGP offers courses, and the following designations which require experience, education, and testing: MIGP Member of the Institute of Green Professionals; FIGP Fellow of the Institute of Green Professionals.
ISO Standards for Environmental Quality: ISO
ISO 14064 - Greenhouse Gases - Specifies principles and requirements for quantification and reporting of greehouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, and the validation and/or verification of GHG assertions.
ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems - Specifies requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects that the organization identifies as those which it can control or influence. It does not itself state specific environmental performance criteria.
LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is administered by USGBC. See the US Green Building Council and the Green Building Certification Institute.
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners: NABCEP
NABCEP offers national, credentialing and certifications for renewable energy professionals. NABCEP began that work by creating a certification program for solar electric installers - referred to as the NABCEP(tm) Solar PV Installer Certification. As of October 2008, 587 individuals have passed NABCEP’s PV Installer Certification exam, and more than 85 individuals have passed NABCEP’s solar thermal(solar hot water and pool heating)exam.
US Green Building Council: USGBC
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is administered by USGBC. LEED currently is the leading green building rating system, and is available in Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Courses in how to make a building LEED-ready are offered by USGBC. For LEED AP certification for building professionals, see theGreen Building Certification Institute.