Accreditation and Certification

The various accreditations and certifications applied to renewable energy education and training give official recognition that the program has met specific required standards and professionalism for that field.

1. LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
   LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built to a measurable environmental standard. LEED provides a voluntary Green Building Rating System, to certify green building design, construction and operations.

   LEED also provides professional Accreditation as a LEED Green Associate (GA) and as a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) indicating knowledge and understanding of the LEED rating systems.

   • LEED Green Associate
     The LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations, in non-technical fields of practice.
   • LEED Accredited Professional
     The LEED AP credential signifies advanced knowledge in green building practices; and also indicates the ability to specialize in a particular LEED Rating System (Operations + Maintenance, Homes, Building Design + Construction, Interior Design + Construction or Neighborhood Development).
   • LEED AP Fellow credential
     GBCI is working to develop a third designation, currently referred to as the LEED AP Fellow credential. This would create a higher level credential distinguished by years of experience and by achieving continuous improvement in the green building field. This credential is still under development.




2. NABCEP – North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
   The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board that includes representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certificants, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades. NABCEP’s goal is to develop voluntary national certification programs that promote renewable energy; provide value to practitioners; promote worker safety and skill; and promote consumer confidence. NABCEP offers certifications and certificate programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America.
   
   
   • NABCEP Entry Level Certificate
     The NABCEP Entry Level Certificate Program is designed for those individuals wanting to get into the solar field; it is a way for them to show they have aquired basic knowledge, comprehension and application of key terms and concepts of photovoltaic (solar electric) system operations. The certificate confirms that the student has passed an industry-specific exam based on learning objectives developed by industry experts.




3. IREC – Interstate Renewable Energy Council
   IREC, a non-profit organization, is the North American Licensee for the Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) International Standard #01021 for the Accreditation and Certification of Renewable Energy Training Programs. This International Standard specifies requirements for competency, quality systems, resources, and qualification of a curriculum against which trainers and training programs can be evaluated. This international framework ensures legitimacy of what’s being taught and by whom.