LEED Credentials

LEED Green Rater

LEED Green Raters provide verification services for LEED residential projects and play a critical part in the LEED certification of residential buildings. With tens of thousands of registered projects, the demand for qualified LEED Green Raters is growing every day. They are individuals authorized by GBCI to perform verification services, based on their demonstrated experience and expertise in residential green building and verification.

What is a Green Rater?

LEED Green Raters must be involved with the project from the design phase (prior to a preliminary rating, as required by rating system) and throughout the construction process and are responsible for:

  • Providing on-site verification services for registered LEED residential projects
  • Verifying that the project is designed and built to the rigorous requirements of the LEED rating system through documentation review and onsite verification
  • Assembling the project submittal package for submission to GBCI for certification review
Project teams interested in certifying a residential project must contact a LEED Green Rater.

Step One: Complete the LEED Green Rater Training

The LEED Green Rater Training is designed to prepare qualified participants to provide verification services on LEED residential projects. This two-part training is available to anyone who wishes to dive deeper into the certification process for residential project and mandatory for professionals pursuing the LEED Green Rater certificate.

Part 1: Online course modules

Part 1 of the training (free of charge) consists of online training modules that provide an overview of the LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 residential rating systems.

Part 2: Instructor-led 1.5-day LEED Green Rater Workshop

Part 2 consists of a 1.5-day instructor-led workshop. This highly interactive workshop (available for a fee, live online or in-person) delves deeper into the what and the how of the verification services you will provide. Following the training, participants will be eligible to access an online assessment ($45 fee). A certificate of completion is issued upon passing the assessment.

Register for the LEED Green Rater Training Part 2 Instructor-Led Workshop.

Step two: Apply to become an approved LEED Green Rater

Complete the application process to become an approved LEED Green Rater and be recognized as a professional who is qualified to provide verification services to LEED residential projects.

  1. Demonstrate that you have a thorough understanding of the LEED rating systems by holding a current LEED AP: BD+C or LEED AP HOMES credential
  2. Complete the LEED v4 Green Rater Training and pass the assessment as described above
  3. Complete the LEED Green Rater Application Form, sign the LEED Green Rater Agreement and meet the following commitments:
    1. Affirm that you have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the field of residential construction (e.g. energy rater, general contractor, building inspector, etc.). You will need to provide both the dates of your practice in the field of residential construction, and provide two professional references that can attest to your experience.
    2. Affirm that you have a thorough understanding of basic building science in the areas of building envelope, heat transfer, moisture transfer and air transfer, as demonstrated through at least one CEU for each topic area
    3. Agree to meet GBCI quality metrics and abide by their conflict of interest policies as outlined in the LEED Residential Quality Assurance Manual
    4. Confirm that you will meet the requirements for a minimum amount of LEED Green Rater activity (verify 2 projects every 2 years)
Every two years, LEED Green Raters must renew their application by signing the LEED Green Rater agreement and associated commitments.

LEED Green Raters are required on the following LEED rating systems:

  • LEED BD+C: Homes v2008
  • LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise v2008
  • LEED BD+C: Homes v4
  • LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise v4
  • LEED Residential BD+C: Single Family v4.1
  • LEED Residential BD+C Multifamily v4.1
  • LEED Residential BD+C: Multifamily Core and Shell Development v4.1

Step three: Join a LEED Residential Provider Organization

Step three: Join a LEED Residential Provider Organization

Once you have become an approved LEED Green Rater, you are required to join or contract with a LEED Residential Provider Organization. LEED Residential Providers provide quality assurance alongside the LEED Green Rater for the verification services and support the verification process. Once you find an organization to work with, you can begin working as a LEED Green Rater on LEED Residential projects. There are two options to satisfy this requirement: 

  1. Select from a list of existing LEED Residential Provider Organizations to find one that best aligns with your business model.  
  2. If none of the existing organizations meet your needs, you may apply to become a LEED Residential Provider if you meet GBCI’s quality assurance requirements.  
    • Submit an application to become a LEED Residential Provider Organization. 
    • If approved, sign a provider contract with GBCI.

Step four: Maintain your LEED Green Rater designation

Once you have become an approved LEED Green Rater, you will need to renew your designation. In order to renew, you will be reporting that you've met the active status requirement of serving as a LEED Green Rater on a minimum two projects each two years. This is to ensure that you remain current and exercised in your knowledge of the LEED Residential rating systems. These projects can be at any stage, and while they are required to be registered, they do not need to be certified when you apply for renewal. There are two steps to renew your designation:

  1. Complete the online renewal application
  2. Download the LEED Green Rater Agreement (link available in the online renewal application), and submit a signed copy to greenrater@gbci.org
GBCI will then review your renewal application and respond to you by email.

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LEED Credentials

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