At some firms, it seems to matter more than others.... I know that Perkins+Will requires you to pass the LEED AP exam w/in a certain time of starting work there, I think it's six months to a year. They also require LEED AP (and licensure) to get promoted to "Associate" which presumably entails a salary increase and, I believe, a larger share of the bonus pool (assuming they are still doing bonuses....)
needless to say, they also reimburse for the cost of the test.
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
NO, BUT STRONGLY ENCOURAGED FOR YOUNGER STAFF
Does your firm pay for the exam?
YES
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
YES
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
NOT DIRECTLY, BUT IS CONSIDERED WHEN BONUSES AND RAISES ARE CALCULATED
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
NO
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
NOT REALLY, UNLESS YOU COUNT SOME OF THE YOUNGER STAFF BEING INVITED TO MANY MORE CLIENT MEETINGS AS A RESULT OF THEIR NEW "CREDENTIAL"
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
NO - but encouraged
Does your firm pay for the exam?
YES - Only if passed
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
YES
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
YES - during year end reviews
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
NO
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
NOT REALLY... just a congratulatory email to the whole office. although... we should send press releases to the local aia journal and business mags....
you can see a pattern starting to develop, which is fairly indicative of the situation out there...also, a lot of laid off people getting taking their LEED exams, and their ARE's (and learning REVIT)...the goal there is to make themselves more marketable; my contribution below:
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No, but strongly recommended..
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Yes, only the test you pass
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Yes, we have study materials
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
No.
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
No, but see first answer.
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
No - unless being mentioned on the weekly staff meeting counts!
Just to be the devil's advocate for a moment about employee expectations:
1. Why, pray tell, would it necessarily be a firm's responsibility to pay for an employee's professional credential - a credential that employee will enjoy for his/her entire career, while the average tenure of junior professional staff at a typical firm is maybe 3-years, at best?
2. Why would it not be more appropriate for the firm to expect all of it's professional employees to be, and remain, fully qualified in all areas relevant to that person's work? And then provide appropriate promotion and compensation based on actual ability, knowledge, qualifications and performance?
3. Do we have our thinking backwards, maybe?
I'm all for firms supporting continuing ed and stronger credentials. I just get a little weary of the seemingly pervasive view here that firm's are primarily responsible for teaching you everything you really need to know in order to have a career and for keeping you current with respect to your knowledge and credentials.
There was a time when a professional was fundamentally responsible for advancing his/her own career.
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No but encouraged
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Yes only if you pass. That reminds me...
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Yes
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
$500, but stopped after the first batch of LEEDers and I wasn't one of those
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
No
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
Listed on website, announcement, etc.
Now with that out of the way, I'm going to comment on firms paying for employee professional advancement. In my opinion, no professional should take this for granted. At the same time, firms should do this out of professional courtesy if the firm is financially capable (but who is, especially now?) Two things to consider with architecture firms is that
1. There seems to be many more smaller or boutique firms compared to other professions, meaning less room for overhead
2. Architecture firms seem to be less profitable (if profitable at all), meaning less room for overhead
3. There seems to be more of a conflict of interest in architecture. In other fields, advancement is almost formulaic meaning that if you gain a credential, it basically means you can automatically charge more for your services. The architectural field seems much less formulaic or predictable because it is less quantifiable. Also, the more credentials you accumulate, the more mobile you become, and more capable of being out on your own. I don't remember the exact statistics, but I think there are a much larger # of architects that are self-employed or are partners than most other professions.
paying for professional development is a good business investment for two reasons:
-increases staff productivity and abilities
-improves staff retention
Those firms that don't invest in their employees are going to loose out in the long run.
Personally, I'd rather stay at an office that cares about my career path and helping me advance up the ladder then somewhere that just wants to exploit my abilities. So the more I know, the more I can/will do for the office.
Back in the pre-burst bubble economy, it was a challenge to recruit and retain qualified folks who could produce. I know lots of folks that jumped around looking for better salaries/better portfolio projects. When I was last looking around for a job, I cared what sorts of professional development opportunities presented. Paying for LEED-AP is small potatoes - I like going to national conferences - something that costs about $1200+/per event, and I'm getting ready to take the AREs. I can't afford to pay for these with my current salary, so I certainly want to find an office that will include these as part of my compensation package, along with paying all my professional association dues, registration fees, et cetera...
Treekiller nailed it - assuming most of your "peer" firms in your region pay potential staff roughly the same, one of the best ways to differentiate your firm from others in competing for quality staff members is professioanl development/education opportunities. Yes I realize that I may lose up to half my interns that we hire and invest time in mentoring and training and educating during their 3 years of IDP, but the half that stays hopefully transition into your next generation of architects and project managers etc etc - gotta have the long-term view with staff if you have a practice with long-term client relationships.
Benefits from LEED AP?
I am trying to get a sense of what bonuses or benefits firms offer to emplyees who have passed the LEED exam.
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No
Does your firm pay for the exam?
No, but I was reimbursed for time out of office while taking test
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Study sesssions, and 'underground' study materials
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
10% pay cut, unrelated
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
Promotion?
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
Glittery stars and a sign on my desk
At some firms, it seems to matter more than others.... I know that Perkins+Will requires you to pass the LEED AP exam w/in a certain time of starting work there, I think it's six months to a year. They also require LEED AP (and licensure) to get promoted to "Associate" which presumably entails a salary increase and, I believe, a larger share of the bonus pool (assuming they are still doing bonuses....)
needless to say, they also reimburse for the cost of the test.
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
NO, BUT STRONGLY ENCOURAGED FOR YOUNGER STAFF
Does your firm pay for the exam?
YES
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
YES
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
NOT DIRECTLY, BUT IS CONSIDERED WHEN BONUSES AND RAISES ARE CALCULATED
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
NO
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
NOT REALLY, UNLESS YOU COUNT SOME OF THE YOUNGER STAFF BEING INVITED TO MANY MORE CLIENT MEETINGS AS A RESULT OF THEIR NEW "CREDENTIAL"
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
NO - but encouraged
Does your firm pay for the exam?
YES - Only if passed
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
YES
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
YES - during year end reviews
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
NO
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
NOT REALLY... just a congratulatory email to the whole office. although... we should send press releases to the local aia journal and business mags....
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No, but strongly recommended..
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Yes, only the test you pass
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Yes, we have study materials
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
No.
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
Yes.
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
No.
you can see a pattern starting to develop, which is fairly indicative of the situation out there...also, a lot of laid off people getting taking their LEED exams, and their ARE's (and learning REVIT)...the goal there is to make themselves more marketable; my contribution below:
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No, but strongly recommended..
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Yes, only the test you pass
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Yes, we have study materials
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
No.
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
No, but see first answer.
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
No - unless being mentioned on the weekly staff meeting counts!
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No but strongly encouraged
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Yes only if you pass
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Yes
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
$500 incentive on passing
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
No
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
Send out an email to the company and a high five.
I flat out refuse to do it. .._. .._ _._. _._ LEED.
why
F
.._.
U
.._
C
_._.
K
_._
._..
.
._
_..
?
it's a pretty cool system, i learned a lot.
Just to be the devil's advocate for a moment about employee expectations:
1. Why, pray tell, would it necessarily be a firm's responsibility to pay for an employee's professional credential - a credential that employee will enjoy for his/her entire career, while the average tenure of junior professional staff at a typical firm is maybe 3-years, at best?
2. Why would it not be more appropriate for the firm to expect all of it's professional employees to be, and remain, fully qualified in all areas relevant to that person's work? And then provide appropriate promotion and compensation based on actual ability, knowledge, qualifications and performance?
3. Do we have our thinking backwards, maybe?
I'm all for firms supporting continuing ed and stronger credentials. I just get a little weary of the seemingly pervasive view here that firm's are primarily responsible for teaching you everything you really need to know in order to have a career and for keeping you current with respect to your knowledge and credentials.
There was a time when a professional was fundamentally responsible for advancing his/her own career.
No, most professional firms will pay for continuing education and training. Just not architecture firms.
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
I don't have a job.
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Paid for it myself while unemployed to add some shazam to my resume.
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
I don't have a job.
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
$0
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
Promotion? I don't even have any motion.
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
Some people at a career fair thought it was good that I had it. But I didn't get a job.
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam?
No but encouraged
Does your firm pay for the exam?
Yes only if you pass. That reminds me...
Do they offer study materials or study sessions?
Yes
Did you get a salary bonus? How much?
$500, but stopped after the first batch of LEEDers and I wasn't one of those
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion?
No
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement?
Listed on website, announcement, etc.
Now with that out of the way, I'm going to comment on firms paying for employee professional advancement. In my opinion, no professional should take this for granted. At the same time, firms should do this out of professional courtesy if the firm is financially capable (but who is, especially now?) Two things to consider with architecture firms is that
1. There seems to be many more smaller or boutique firms compared to other professions, meaning less room for overhead
2. Architecture firms seem to be less profitable (if profitable at all), meaning less room for overhead
3. There seems to be more of a conflict of interest in architecture. In other fields, advancement is almost formulaic meaning that if you gain a credential, it basically means you can automatically charge more for your services. The architectural field seems much less formulaic or predictable because it is less quantifiable. Also, the more credentials you accumulate, the more mobile you become, and more capable of being out on your own. I don't remember the exact statistics, but I think there are a much larger # of architects that are self-employed or are partners than most other professions.
paying for professional development is a good business investment for two reasons:
-increases staff productivity and abilities
-improves staff retention
Those firms that don't invest in their employees are going to loose out in the long run.
Personally, I'd rather stay at an office that cares about my career path and helping me advance up the ladder then somewhere that just wants to exploit my abilities. So the more I know, the more I can/will do for the office.
Back in the pre-burst bubble economy, it was a challenge to recruit and retain qualified folks who could produce. I know lots of folks that jumped around looking for better salaries/better portfolio projects. When I was last looking around for a job, I cared what sorts of professional development opportunities presented. Paying for LEED-AP is small potatoes - I like going to national conferences - something that costs about $1200+/per event, and I'm getting ready to take the AREs. I can't afford to pay for these with my current salary, so I certainly want to find an office that will include these as part of my compensation package, along with paying all my professional association dues, registration fees, et cetera...
Treekiller nailed it - assuming most of your "peer" firms in your region pay potential staff roughly the same, one of the best ways to differentiate your firm from others in competing for quality staff members is professioanl development/education opportunities. Yes I realize that I may lose up to half my interns that we hire and invest time in mentoring and training and educating during their 3 years of IDP, but the half that stays hopefully transition into your next generation of architects and project managers etc etc - gotta have the long-term view with staff if you have a practice with long-term client relationships.
(currently unemployed, but was employed when i took and passed the exam)
no
no
yes
no
no
no
No wonder so many architects are self-employed. I can't recall the benefits of working at a firm. Remind me??
@ straw..."because we really are like a family."
But I have a family already. A nice one.
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam? NO
Does your firm pay for the exam? YES, BUT ONLY IF YOU PASS
Do they offer study materials or study sessions? YES
Did you get a salary bonus? How much? NO
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion? NO
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement? NO
*why did i study for this ridiculous test again??! and totally agree with strawbeary- what is the benefit of working at a firm???
Does your firm require you to take the LEED exam? NO
Does your firm pay for the exam? NOW THEY WILL, THEY DIDNT WHEN I TOOK IT...2 YRS AGO
Do they offer study materials or study sessions? STUDY MATERIALS - YES, STUDY SESSIONS - NOT ON FIRM TIME
Did you get a salary bonus? How much? HA.
Is passing the exam a requirement for a promotion? NOT IN THE LEAST
Do they do anything special to recognize your achievement? STAFF-WIDE CONGRATULATORY EMAIL, IF THAT COUNTS :)
ps- did anyone just get the USGBC email with pics of their new office in DC??
OH SO THAT'S WHERE MY TEST FEE WENT!
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