People who have written to USGBC and GBCI recently specifically about the continuation of the current exam have been told that the new exam will not be released any earlier than June of 2009, and that the current exam will continue until then.
There is no firm information beyond that at this point. It seems to depend somewhat on who answers your email as to what they tell you, but nobody is saying that the current test will end any sooner than spring or summer of 2009.

If the previous switch of LEED versions and accompanying test versions is any indication: when they switched the test to the current version (2.2) they announced switchover dates and deadlines to test, but then extended those deadlines by several months at least two different times.

citizen-

don't worry 'bout needing new accreditation or about not being able to wrap up a project that's registered in v2.2.

the last time the usgbc went through this, there was a reasonable overlap period that folks could choose which certification system to use. there was also plenty of time for testers to get up to speed for the AP exam.

Thank, Bloo. This adds helpful stoking to my fire of procrastination....

Thanks also, TK. I was asking regarding taking the exam, and have been operating under the belief that if I didn't take it before the end of December, I'd be facing a new (and harder) exam January 1st. It sounds lke that is NOT the case.

This just in...

http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=84

Yikes, but thanks, Vman.

They really are going to milk this thing, aren't they?

I just got this email earlier today. Not exactly sure what it means but I passed the test 3 1/2 years ago, at which point they told me that I was a LEED AP, and I don't intend to change or alter this on any of my formal documents any time soon. I don't intend to pay anyone to keep it there either.

Also if someone would like to present an argument to me as to why being a part of this organization doesn't increasingly look like a racket, I would like to hear it.

I'm with you WonderK - LEED/USGBC/GBCI is increasingly starting to resemble NCARB.

Those F*cking Bastards.

Damn...

huh? what was that chart all about?

solar panels/grass on the roof/water system/grass pavers/low-e glass....

what did i miss....


do i get credit if i have a crackhead cut the grass with a push mower for a 5 dollar rock?........ i'm cutting my overhead costs and not poluting the air with a gas mower.... +237 points

it's not like they didn't warn us that eventually there would be continuing education requirements and possible maintenance fees coming down the pike.


I'm also disappointed in the limited categories for LEED-AP+, but they are leaving a huge opening for the sustainable sites initiative and for engineers/ASHRAE to create their own accreditation system. So where would I fit? AP+BD&C or AP+ND?

it's like they are not even thinking about planning/landscape or urban design issues beyond 'neighborhoods'.

Why can't they also have LEED-AP+ for each of the LEED sections, or AP+ health care.



Barry
LEED-AP v2.1

Barry, does that mean you understand what's going on? Someone please tell me the AREs use less ambiguous language than these people do while trying to take my money? Or else I may as well not take them....

wK-

There has been ongoing discussions about continuing education requirements for leed-aps even before I took the exam. The fees are also predictable, especially with how quickly the USGBC has grown.

The two year grace period is much fairer then anything NCARB has forced interns to do- and it's only $25/year to keep your listing.

what isn't fair is the requirement that folks MUST have LEED registered project experience. The last time I had the pleasure of submitting a ream of paper to the USGBC was back in 2004. Convincing a client to spend an additional $100k for paperwork when they can spend that money on PVs is a no brainer.


the experience requirement is what will most likely cause lots of folks to loose their credentials.

Also the LEED products are not all made equally. Folks that do CI or CS or homes don't have everything it takes for BD&C.

I'd also like to see discipline accreditation versus the produce driven system they jsut devised. LEED-MEP, LEED-Structural, LEED-Civil, LEED-Landscape (that would be the sustainable site initiative) would reflect the real world knowledge and skill sets being used. hell even a LEED-real estate, LEED-finance, or LEED-home decor accreditation would advance the market.

Or maybe they should just not have LEED at all and people can design smarter buildings and maybe actually save lots of money instead of wasting it on their system.

The more I think about it, I find the whole process irritating. A little background, I'm a LEED AP and have even given some contributions to the latest version of LEED 3.0 - NC. I've never liked the idea that a project automatically receives a credit for employee a LEED AP, which has nothing to do with the actual building. I also bothered with the idea of it converting into a licensed professional, as if it is somehow even remotely on par with being a licensed architect or engineer. The whole process seems counter to the goal of getting more environmentally friendly buildings built. Why have LEED AP's in the first place? Why charge them maintenance fees and force them to acquire continuing education credits? Most of the requirements require other professionals to do the work of determining if the individual credits are met anyways.

What a frustrating joke this aspect of LEED is becoming. I like USGBC, and I like the progress the LEED standards and credits have made, and will continue to make, but this part of the process seems to be off track.

WonderK
Or maybe they should just not have LEED at all and people can design smarter buildings and maybe actually save lots of money instead of wasting it on their system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

unfortunately that doesnt seem to work

the vast majority of clients and owners need the incentive of a LEED mark on their building to get them to do it

now if these LEED requirements would be built into the codes, that would be one thing
but enough people wont just do it on their own


plus some buildings (like one i am working on now) can get extra funding for sustainable features through the marketing aspect being able to call your building LEED certified will bring.

its a shame since its the owners who need to be convinced that their buildings need to be sustainable since they are the ones paying for it. eventually LEED will be obsolete, but it isnt right now
and it is certainly not a perfect system
but i just passed my exam on friday, and it definitely wont hurt to have that during these economic times

i agree that continuing education isnt really necessary for LEED AP's

it is not part of your license, so you shouldnt need to reup anything with it
that is just a money making thing

i didnt read anything about this
i wonder how available these continuing education credits are, and how easy or difficult it will be to get them

From the information on the GBCI website, I can't really tell what will happen to current LEED APs. Will they have to take a new test in their chosen area of expertise and prove experience on a LEED project?

or do you just have to pay the new fees and get the continuing education credits?

Can anyone decipher this?

we have two years to cough up $50 or watch our LEED-AP designation fade into dust. not that they have any legal recourse except trademark infringment if you keep using those initials.

Treekiller, you are right, they likely won't go around policing people for leaving the LEED AP on their business cards and email messages, but I imagine they will take away the credit you get for having a LEED AP on the project (assuming you are the only LEED AP working on it).

Also, I get the sense they are also trying to push for firms to get some sort of collective LEED accreditation. Maybe they are gearing up for firms to pick up the tab just like many of them have to do for continuing education credits?