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Maintaining multiple credentials

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How do I maintain multiple LEED credentials?

The first LEED with specialty credential earned will be automatically designated as your primary credential. Any subsequent LEED credentials earned will be considered your secondary credential(s). The reporting period for your secondary credential remains the same as your primary credential.

If the primary and secondary specialties are not earned at the same time, the CMP requirement for the secondary specialty is prorated for the reporting period in which the secondary specialty was earned

If you renew a LEED credential early and earn another LEED specialty, your CMP requirements for that specialty do not begin until your new reporting period.

Rules for maintaining multiple specialties:

If you are a LEED AP with multiple specialties, you will need to complete 6 additional hours of LEED-specific CE hours per reporting period for each additional specialty.  For example, if you hold both a LEED AP BD+C and LEED AP O+M, you will be required to document 36 CE requirements during your reporting period:

  • 24 General or LEED rating system-specific hours
  • 6 LEED BD+C-specific hours
  • 6 LEED O+M-specific hours

If you are a LEED AP with specialty and you earn the SITES AP or WELL AP, all of your LEED CE hours (including LEED-specific) can count toward your 24 general CE hours for SITES and/or WELL, so you would only need an additional 6 SITES-specific hours and/or WELL-specific hours. This is like adding a LEED specialty.

Likewise, all hours reported for SITES or WELL CMP (including SITES-specific and WELL-specific), can be counted as LEED general CE hours.

Note:  The LEED (USGBC) and SITES dashboards for reporting CMP activities are unique; therefore, you will need to report all CE hours in each dashboard. This also applies to courses taken through Education @USGBC, Greenbuild sessions and regional USGBC courses for SITES.

Prorating

If the primary and secondary specialties are not earned at the same time, the CMP requirement for the secondary specialty is prorated for the reporting period in which the secondary specialty was earned. The reporting period stays the same. Please see the chart on the “Prorating”section of the CMP Guide.

 

How much is my credential renewal if I hold more than one LEED AP with specialty credential?

The cost for credential maintenance renewal for LEED APs with more than one specialty credential is $100. Credential holders with multiple LEED AP with specialty credentials are not charged extra to maintain multiple credentials. Please refer to the question “What is the cost for credential maintenance renewal?” for additional details on early and late renewal fees.

Why is my credential being dropped?

As a multiple LEED credential holder, you must earn and report a minimum number of continuing education (CE) hours for all of your LEED AP with specialty credentials in order to renew them.  If you meet the minimum number of CE hours for at least one of your LEED AP with specialty credential and not the others, the system will allow you to renew that credential, however, it will inform you that to proceed with the renewal process, you will need to drop the LEED AP with specialty credential that is missing CE hours. 

During the payment process, you will be asked to confirm your understanding that by not fulfilling the CE requirements your LEED AP with specialty credential (e.g., LEED AP O+M, LEED AP ID+C, etc.) will be dropped and no longer valid. The only way to reinstate the dropped credential will be by re-testing and passing the exam.

If you do not wish to drop your LEED AP with specialty credential, please exit out of the renewal process and earn and report your missing CE hours.

If you have any questions or concerns about your credential renewal, please contact us.

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