Green Building Products and Programs

Green Globes Professionals (GGPs) and Green Globes Assessors (GGAs) offer different services and require different areas and levels of expertise. Factors that help determine which credential to apply for include relevant experience, which type of service you’re qualified to offer, and the nature of the business relationship you wish to have with the Green Building Initiative and/or clients. Candidates interested in pursuing the GGP certification desire to become expert users of the Green Globes tools and system, and they generally perform consulting services. Candidates interested in pursuing the GGA certification desire to become contractors to the Green Building Initiative —performing building certification assessments as assigned—and will be subject to conflict of interest limitations with respect to Green Building Initiative engagements and clients.

GGPs are individuals who receive formal training at the Green Globes user level and are qualified to offer project management, technical support, and consulting for Green Globes projects. The GGP designation is advantageous for:

• Existing Green Building Initiative clients who desire both formal training and credentialed employees to facilitate Green Globes building assessments
• Independent consultants or property management firms seeking to offer their clients a greater breadth of sustainability assessment services
• Government organizations that require experienced staff to facilitate green building assessment projects
• Industry professionals who simply desire formal certification and training related to building sustainability and Green Globes

Individuals with the GGP designation can market their services directly to clients and will receive a listing promoting their skills on the Green Building Initiative website.

GGAs are highly experienced industry professionals who complete extensive training and testing and are authorized to perform third-party assessments on behalf of the Green Building Initiative.

The GGA designation is valuable to individuals who want to leverage and increase their existing expertise to generate an additional revenue stream, while expanding their credentials through use of the GGA designation.

Assessors are under contract with and paid by the Green Building Initiative, which assigns all third-party assessments.

If you already have a Green Globes user account, please login first, then follow the instructions below. If you do not have a Green Globes account, proceed with the following instructions:

1. Verify that you meet the minimum qualifications for the credential sought
2. Download the personnel certifications application form
3. Complete the form electronically and save it on your computer
4. Access the personnel certifications online registration page
5. Select the certification product
6. Upload your completed application form (PDF or Word files)
7. Upload your resume (PDF or Word files)
8. Select your payment method and enter requested payment information
9. Check the boxes to accept the Green Globes Certification Agreement and the Green Globes Certification Materials End User License Agreement

Applicants are screened for minimum qualifications, geographic needs, and specialty skills by Green Building Initiative staff. The Green Building Initiative Technical Committee then evaluates candidates based on their qualifications, education, and experience with sustainability in practice. Only those individuals whose applications have been approved will be allowed to continue with training for the GGA program. Training will be available in one or more of the following formats: self-study materials, an online Learning Management System accessible via the Green Building Initiative website, live hosted webinar events, and in-person training sessions. For detailed information regarding the GGA selection, training, and credentialing process, download the Green Globes Assessor Certification Program Overview document.

Candidates must pass an exam administered either online or in person to become certified. Once all relevant training is complete, the Green Building Initiative will issue Instructions regarding completing the test and receiving your credential.

Green Globes Professionals (GGPs) and Green Globes Assessors (GGAs) participate in the process in different ways.

GGPs market their expertise in the use of Green Globes to building owners and facility managers who would like assistance with the building evaluation process. GGPs may be retained for everything from initiating the process, providing technical support, and completing the self-evaluation surveys, to managing all aspects of obtaining a Green Globes rating and certification (with the exception of third-party assessment, which can be done only by an authorized GGA).

GGAs participate in the process by conducting third-party assessments of buildings that have undergone an initial online user self-evaluation using a Green Globes subscription. Once the building owner has placed an assessment order online, the Green Building Initiative assigns a GGA to perform the third-party assessment. GGA duties include a variety of functions related to the assessment process, such as documentation review, on-site visits, completion of worksheets, development of assessment reports, and communication with clients regarding their certified ratings.

No, the Green Building Initiative does not guarantee assignments or offer territorial exclusivity. The Green Building Initiative assigns assessors based on demand as well as factors such as geographic proximity, qualifications, expertise with the specific building type, cost and fair distribution of assignments.

The Green Building Initiative assigns specific assessors based on factors such as geographic proximity, qualifications, expertise with the specific building type, cost and equitable distribution of assignments.

No. To protect the integrity of the Green Globes system, GGAs are under contract with and paid by the Green Building Initiative. They may not accept payment directly from clients for third-party assessments or for any service that could potentially impact a building’s Green Globes rating.

Conflict of interest guidelines exist to protect the objectivity and integrity of the Green Globes system and ensure that third-party assessors have no incentives to personally influence a building's rating. Despite the fact that third-party assessments are subject to a quality audit, review, and approval by a senior Assessor, conflict of interest limitations are still an integral component of credible third-party assessments.

All GGAs must sign an agreement with the Green Building Initiative and adhere to both conflict of interest and disclosure requirements.

While GGPs are experts in the use of the Green Globes system, they are not required to have the education, knowledge base, or training necessary to conduct a third-party assessment, nor are they bound by the conflict of interest agreements that ensure an objective and credible building rating. Furthermore, since GGPs can be users, building owners, architects or engineers on the project, or employees or contractors to those requesting a building certification, it is possible they may have a vested interest in the rating assigned to a building. In order to protect and ensure the objectivity and validity of any third-party verification and building certification, all Green Globes third-party assessments must be performed by a Green Globes Assessor (GGA) who is authorized and assigned on behalf of the Green Building Initiative.

In April 2010, Green Globes became the first American National Standard for new commercial green buildings through ANSI/GBI 01-2010. Once the standard has been embodied in a new online assessment tool, Green Globes Assessors (GGAs) for New Construction may apply for and pursue the new Green Globes Certified Assessor designation. Unique minimum qualifications, training, exams, and mentorship requirements are anticipated for the Green Globes Certified Assessor program. Existing GGAs will be given preference and opportunity to pursue the new credentials.

Individuals with expertise in the use of Green Globes may complete the required training and exam to become Green Globes Professionals (GGPs).

Although a previous GGP designation is not required to become a Green Globes Assessor (GGA), GGPs who gain additional high-level experience may choose to pursue advanced certification.

Separate credentials are required because different experience, skill sets and training are needed to conduct credible and thorough third-party assessments of new versus existing buildings. Furthermore, industry professionals typically possess functional expertise in either: 1) design, engineering, and construction of commercial buildings or 2) operations, maintenance, and management of commercial buildings, or in some cases both. Thus, the separate designations not only augment the credibility and quality of the third-party assessment performed for Green Globes certification, but enable participation of the broadest pool of qualified individuals within their area of expertise and interest.

Green Globes Professionals must renew their designation every two years. For information on requirements and costs related to renewal, please reference the Green Building Initiative Price Lists.

As the Green Globes protocol, online tool, and assessment/certification process evolve, there will be additional mandatory training requirements for GGPs to stay current and be able to accurately support Green Globes building projects. In general, such training will be made available at negligible cost to GGPs. However, major new product launches may result in a mandatory training/testing fee as part of recertification.

Applicants already possessing a Green Globes user account should first login. Account holders can apply or manage their personnel certification/application process from links provided within the user account home menu or from the registration/purchase page.

Applicants not possessing a Green Globes user account can simultaneously create a new Green Globes account and apply online by completing the online registration form.

Applicable discounts and rebates are authoritatively listed in the Green Building Initiative Price List. Although candidates may purchase parts of the total certification program separately, discounts are made available only as part of a complete package purchase. A Professional Licensure discount, if selected by the applicant, is applied on purchase of the package and deducted from the final amount due and payable. Certified GGPs are also eligible for one subscription rebate for each of the three subscription types: NC, CIEB, and CIEB Healthcare. After remitting payment for the subscription, those eligible may request a rebate by emailing GGAdmin@thegbi.org.  If approved, a rebate check will be mailed to the GGP within 30 days of request.

The Green Globes Professional (GGP) and Green Globes Assessor (GGA) personnel certifications offered by the Green Building Initiative are intended for use on Green Globes building projects within the USA. Candidates outside the US may become GGP or GGA certified through the Green Building Initiative but may apply their credentials only on Green Globes building projects within the USA.

Assessors who complete the program and are certified in an active capacity then are asked to sign a contract with the Green Building Initiative that details the compensation, work responsibilities, and policies and procedures. Assessors are assigned by the Green Building Initiative on a project by project basis and always have the upfront option to refuse any assignment offered (in the event they have other duties / responsibilities / conflicts). Individual assessment projects can require anywhere from 15 to 80 hours in total, spread over a month or so, depending on the assignment and building specifics. Each project may require a site visit to assess the facility as well as the creation of reports and letters regarding the assessment results. Compensation is on an hourly basis at an agreed upon rate up to a do not exceed maximum per project type. Travel expenses falling within Green Building Initiative policy are also fully reimbursed. A travel premium, for time spent traveling to and from the client site may or may not be applicable to certain assignments.

The personnel certifications are specific to an individual. Organizations can have both Green Globes Professionals (GGPs) and Green Globes Assessors (GGAs) on staff. However, the conflict of interest limitations that are necessary to protect the credibility of Green Globes ratings would prohibit a firm from providing both GGP (consulting) and GGA (third-party assessment) services for the same client/project.

All Candidates who complete the GGA training program requirements—excluding the mentoring assignment—are considered credentialed GGAs. However, because the Green Building Initiative has a limited demand and need for Assessors to actually perform third-party assessments for building rating/certification, the Green Building Initiative notifies candidates up front whether they are approved to obtain the credential in an active capacity or an inactive capacity. Those who obtain the credential in an active capacity are eligible for a mentoring assignment, which must be completed successfully before subsequent independent assessments may be assigned. Candidates who obtain the GGA credential in an inactive capacity may later be asked to activate, at which point they would need to successfully complete a mentoring assignment and then be eligible for additional assessments. However, because the demand for assessment is difficult to predict, the Green Building Initiative cannot provide any guarantees to later activate assessors certified in an inactive capacity.