Cheaper to re-write the exam

Jean, do you mean cheaper to "re-take" the exam, as one of the paths available to maintaining your LEED AP+ credential? A lot of people have similar complaints right now, from what I hear. Have you been able to find any methods to obtain CEUs that would work for you? I have heard that a variety of methods including self-study or giving presentations are available. We are planning a webinar on this topic for Feb. 23rd -- stay tuned.

I couldn't disagree more. Continuing education is critical to keeping up with what's happening in the trade. If you think that taking the exam will help you, you must've forgotten what the exam was like. Remember, the CMP program will still exist for you even if you re-test. You will just avoid the first prescriptive program. You still need to have the 30 hours etc. As an Architect, I'm required 18 credits a year...So what, it's not a big deal..

Neil - I don't think this is true. You can do Credential Maintenance through retesting - see page 6 of the CMP Guide. Note: you only have a 9 month window each 2 years in which to do so. I do think the cost will be an issue, as well as the time to document (which it seems has gotten a bit easier over the last few months on the website). In my job, I will have no problem getting enough CMP hours, but it probably will be cheaper and easier for me to retest every two years. There are ways to earn inexpensive or free hours, but only about 24 (assuming you have LEED projects you can work on). The remainder will have to be earned through paid classes. Doesn't take many of those to equal the cost of retaking the exam. Obviously none of this speaks to the general value of continuing professional education - but it's important to figure out how we're supposed to dot the i's and cross the t's. Another interesting implication - advanced professionals will likely take advanced classes. These are less likely to be free or inexpensive. Seems like there's a situation where the more advanced a practitioner you are, the more expensive it is to maintain your LEED credential.

Re-testing will work the first time to bring you up to the current level, you can't just retake the exam every two years to meet your CMP requirements...

Neil, if I'm not mistaken you can retest every two years to maintain your credential. This is covered in the CMP guide.

Regarding the cost of CEUs: There is an HVAC equipment manufacturer that provides free CEUs to anyone. Some are even LEED specific. After the webinar you take a short quiz online. Upon successful completion you can download a completion certificate. All their webinars have been approved by the USGBC. Currently they have (15) Free CEUs, (6) of which have been approved as LEED specific.

David, please share the link where we can find the webinars you mentioned. Thanks.

Here's the link Anu: http://www.trane.com/COMMERCIAL/ContinuingEducation/ContinuingEducation.aspx?i=2534

Thanks David..a very useful link.