As the current USGBC LEED NC 2.2 certification exam comes to an end on June 30th, 2009, aspiring candidates are justifiably concerned about new standards and criteria for being a LEED AP. We see a chicken and egg problem in the eligibility requirements for LEED exams. On one hand, AP's will need significant professional sustainable/green building development experience to qualify for the new exam. On the flip side, companies do not like to recruit individuals in visible green positions unless they are certified as a LEED AP. Hence the key question is - how does a fresh graduate or environmental engineer or a young designer should appropriate green industry expertise?

This seemingly daunting barrier may be surmounted through the Green Associate (GA) exam, where the eligibility requirements are much less stringent. Certain courses or professional work experience may substitute for the equivalent workload to be documented. Having a GA under the belt enhances the potential of a LEED candidate to seek green employment and accumulate the required experience for LEED AP certification. Needless to say, even that would be a challenge in this tough economy. There is however one bright spot from a building development perspective. Too often, construction and architecture companies complain that the LEED AP they hire for credit applications are not knowledgeable enough about the full development lifecycle and are often an "embarrassment" to clients. The extra experience would enable LEED AP's to be far more confident and deliberate about their advice and recommendations.

Of course, current LEED AP's would need to recertify their credentials to the USGBC within a period of 2 years. The key to success of LEED would be the customer adoption rate in building development. Perhaps LEED for Homes, releasing in summer of 2009 will create a much greater driver among companies to offer LEED services at the individual level - and then the business shall skyrocket.

Gogol