It’s easy for anyone to claim green building know-how, but providing proof of such expertise for clients can be much more difficult. Earning a professional designation can beef up your credentials and improve your ability to market your services to clients who are specifically seeking a green builder.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) launched its Certified Green Professional (CGP) program at the 2008 International Builders Show, and since then nearly 700 builders have earned the CGP designation. The first class of CGPs was inducted in May at the NAHB’s National Green Building Conference.
To earn the designation, a builder must take the two-day, 16-hour Green Building for Building Professionals training session and complete a University of Housing business management course, or hold another designation. CGP candidates also must have two years of building industry experience and have been involved in the construction of at least one home in the past 24 months, adhere to a code of ethics, and commit to completing 12 additional hours of continuing education.
According to Calli Schmidt, NAHB’s director of environmental communications, the organization is currently revising the CGP coursework to reflect the requirements of the soon-to-be-released ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard. NAHB also is developing a Master CGP designation. Visit www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=74697 for a list of locations where the Green Building for Building Professionals course is currently offered.
Remodelers can get in on the act, too, by earning the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) Green Certified Professional (GCP) designation. NARI recently updated the applicant requirements for its GCP exam. Previously, those applying for the GCP were required to have three years of green remodeling work within five years of overall remodeling experience—and be able to illustrate those three years.
Unfortunately, NARI had no yardstick against which remodelers could measure their green remodeling experience. That discouraged many remodelers from applying. So NARI altered its GCP exam requirements to five years of remodeling experience plus 16 hours of continuing or formal education in green or sustainable remodeling practices. This opens the door for many more remodelers to take the exam and earn the GCP designation. Visit www.nari.org/certify for information on the Green Certified Professional exam.
