Green Advantage® is an environmental certification for building-related practitioners - primarily contractors, subcontractors and trades people. Certified individuals have successfully passed the Green Advantage® Certification Exam demonstrating knowledge of current green building principles, materials, and techniques. Commercial, Residential, and Commercial/Residential Certifications are available, with a specific exam required for each. Because the green building field is rapidly changing, candidates must pass a Re-certification Exam every three years in order to remain Green Advantage Certified. You can learn more about Green Advantage by visiting the website at www.greenadvantage.org.
2. What is Green Advantage’s history?
Launched with funding from a US Environmental Protection Agency grant, Green Advantage® is the result of collaboration between the Nature Conservancy, Science Applications International Corporation, and the University of Florida. As a result of successful piloting and the work of scores of professionals assisting in the development of curricula, training and Exams, over 3000 building-related practitioners have taken the Green Advantage® Certification Exam.
3. What is Green Advantage’s relationship with USGBC?
Green Advantage® is a strong supporter of The U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC) and USGBC Chapters. From 2003 to 2005 Green Advantage had a formal educational partnership agreement with USGBC. During this period, the two organizations crafted a protocol to help ensure a complementary relationship between the certification offerings. Today, Green Advantage works with participating USGBC Chapters to promote the advancement of our respective educational missions and to share revenues from the trainings and certifications with Chapters. $25 of each Green Advantage Certification Fee goes to the local Chapter in whose territory a given practitioner taking the Exam lists as his/her principal work address. To find out more about how to become a participating USGBC Chapter, contact
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.
4. What is Green Advantage's relationship with DVGBC?
Delaware Valley Green Building Council has played a pivotal role in developing training in preparation for the Green Advantage Commercial Exam and in helping to evolve the Green Advantage protocol and testing. They have partnered with the University of Philadelphia to provide a very rich seminar format with both a designer and a builder teaching each training session. You can learn more about them by visiting www.dvgbc.org and clicking on Green Advantage.
5. How does Green Advantage® Certification relate to LEED® Accreditation?
According to the USGBC, "LEED® Professional Accreditation distinguishes individuals with detailed knowledge of LEED® project certification requirements and processes and a command of integrated design principles. LEED® accreditation is awarded to building industry practitioners who successfully demonstrate these proficiencies on a comprehensive exam." The USGBC encourages its members to become LEED-Accredited. Green Advantage® Certification is designed to be a non-competitive, complementary offering that supports LEED Accreditation. Intended primarily for individuals working within the construction industry - such as contractors, subcontractors and tradespeople, Green Advantage® Certification is recommended as an additional offering for developers, architects, engineers and designers who wish to be both LEED Accredited and Green Advantage Certified. Green Advantage® is not affiliated with any LEED products or trainings. Professionals interested in LEED Accreditation or training should look for classes that are specifically sanctioned by the USGBC for that purpose.
6. How can Green Advantage Certification help my project attain LEED Certification?
A LEED Innovation Credit has been granted if a significant percentage of a project's building force is Green Advantage Certified prior to the commencement of construction. Please click here for a description of the requirements.
7. How green is it?
Green Advantage ("GA") has invested substantial resources into developing Exams that are relevant and sufficiently comprehensive regarding the design and field issues that relate to building-related practitioners. GA utilizes experts in green building and statistical analysis to prepare and approve the Green Advantage Exam questions and to ensure state-of-the-art environmental certification for commercial and/or residential practitioners. Practitioners can sit for GA-Commercial, GA-Residential or GA-Commercial/Residential versions of the Exam.
8. How does an applicant prepare for the Exam?
Most people taking the Green Advantage® Exam prepare for it by taking training authorized by Green Advantage®. Applicants who wish to take an authorized training can either consult the Green Advantage website to register for scheduled trainings at www.greenadvantage.org, or sign up for a future training. Applicants taking authorized training can take the Exam open book.
9. What if I already have experience as a green building practitioner and prefer to take the Exam without training?
Applicants who feel they already have sufficient knowledge of green building concepts, techniques, practices, and materials may choose to take the Exam closed book, without authorized preparatory training. Those taking the Exam without authorized training are charged a Certification Fee of $175. Arrangements to take the Exam in this manner can be made by contacting Ruth at
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or 301-788-3791. The Exam can be taken in a pencil/paper format or online at participating community colleges.
10. How does an applicant register for the Exam?
Potential applicants can register for training or arrange to take the Exam without training by following the prompts provided on the GA website - www.greenadvantage.org.
11. How long is the Exam and how much time do I have to complete it?
As of September 15, 2006, applicants will have 90 minutes to complete the 60 question Exam.
12. Where and when do I take the Exam and how much does it cost?
The paper/pencil version of the Exam will be scheduled in a group setting within approximately one week of your taking authorized training. In the event that you are unable to attend the scheduled testing session following your authorized training, arrangements can be made for you to take the open book Exam at a participating community college or other authorized testing site. There is an additional fee of approximately $25 for these services. Exams must be taken within 90 days of completing authorized training.
If you wish to take the Exam without training, of if you are beyond 90 days of completion of an authorized training workshop, the Certification Exam will be administered in a closed book format at an authorized testing site for a fee of $175.
13. How much advance time do I need to arrange to take an Exam?
If you are not planning to take the Exam during the session associated with your training, it is recommended that you allow 10 business days lead time to make arrangements to take the open book Exam. You should contact Ruth at
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or call her at 301-788-3791 to make arrangements to take the Exam at a participating community college.
If you wish to take the Green Advantage Exam without training, please allow for 10 business days lead time to make arrangements to take the closed book Exam. Contact Ruth Snyder by using the information above to make arrangements.
14. If I fail the Exam, may I retake it?
Yes, practitioners may retake the Exam as many times as is necessary to achieve a grade of 75% or greater, but an examination fee of $125 will be charged prior to each examination. Green Advantage® recommends that individuals obtain further training before re-taking the Exam.
15. Whom do I contact to make arrangements to schedule an Exam outside of the regularly scheduled Exams?
Contact Ruth at
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or call her at 301-788-3791 to make arrangements to take the Exam at a participating community college.
16. Does the Certification expire?
In order to maintain an official certification, practitioners will need to take the Green Advantage® Certification Exam once every three years.
17. Is the Exam proctored?
Yes, the Exam is proctored.
18. How does Green Advantage® guarantee the integrity of the Certification process?
Applicants taking the paper/pencil version or electronic version of the Exam must do so during an authorized, proctored time. A photo ID is required in order to confirm the identity of anyone sitting for the Exam. The proctor will verify the individual's identification at the beginning of the Exam, and when completed, the proctor will place the Exam in a sealed envelope that will be sent to the Green Advantage for scoring.
19. How does Green Advantage use the funds?
Examination fees help support the creation, development and continual updating of Certification Exams, Exam proctoring, grading of the Exams, Certification Board activity, maintenance of a certified-practitioner database, and educational and related marketing programs. Green Advantage, Inc. is a non-profit organization.
