LEED v4 AP Format

Timothy Nabholz

Miljöcertifieringsingenior (Environmental Certification Engineer)

Skanska

LEEDuser Basic Member

2 thumbs up

February 19, 2013

I have read that in order to achieve the LEED AP credit within LEED v4, the project will be requiring APs to be accredited with a "specialty appropriate for the project". My question is whether the format of the AP accreditation will be the same in v4 as v3, or if the specialties will be broken down further, ie. within BD+C into Healthcare, School, Data Centres, etc. I am doubting that this is the case but as I am preparing to write an AP in the next few months I am wondering if there would be any benefits or dangers in waiting for the v4 test to come out. I could see having a LEED v4 specialist on a project being an asset, but I wouldn't want to do that at the expense of being pigeon-holed into a specialty within a specialty. Thanks, Tim

Post a reply

Tristan Roberts

Representative

Vermont House of Representatives

LEEDuser Expert

7780 thumbs up

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 16:16

Tim, I doubt that would be the case.As far as waiting for the new test, I'd decide that based on whether you are already familiar with LEED 2009 or want to be, and want to be tested on that, or want to study and be tested on the v4 content.

Scott Bowman

LEED Fellow

Integrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC

LEEDuser Expert

377 thumbs up

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 16:58

Tristan, I agree with your comment. The discussions I have had with USGBC National all point to just having a specialty. Here is what the draft standard says; “At least one principal participant of the project team must be a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) with a specialty appropriate for the project.” So at most I would interpret this to mean that if the project is NC, you should have BD+C specialty, etc. There are no tests to give further specialty ratings other than BD+C, ID+C, EBOM, ND, or Homes. Hopefully someone from USGBC will comment. Since we will be using v2009 for at least three more years, I would not hesitate to take the test now.

Timothy Nabholz

Miljöcertifieringsingenior (Environmental Certification Engineer)

Skanska

LEEDuser Basic Member

2 thumbs up

Wed, 03/13/2013 - 14:17

Has there been any talk about when one must be accredited under v4? Ie. If someone were to wait until December to get accredited do we know if they could still do so under v3, or if they would have to do so under v4.

Tristan Roberts

Representative

Vermont House of Representatives

LEEDuser Expert

7780 thumbs up

Wed, 03/13/2013 - 14:18

I'm sure there will be a switchover at some point, but it has not been announced how that will be handled, or when.

LEEDuser Expert

472 thumbs up

Wed, 03/13/2013 - 14:27

There is a LEED v4 webinar this Friday, March 15 - https://usgbc.webex.com/usgbc/onstage/g.php?d=752827730&t=a - that is supposed to be recorded for those of us who can't attend. Maybe multiple folks can ask the question about when the LEED Professionals exams will switch over so that we can get an answer on the timing.