Continuing Education Course Criteria

Introduction
Attending education courses that have been approved by GBCI is the one of the primary methods by
which GBCI credential holders fulfill the requirements to maintain their GBCI credentials.

GBCI’s Continuing Education (CE) Course Criteria describes the framework and requirements for
education courses to be approved for GBCI Continuing Education Units (CEU). Continuing Education
credit is allocated at a rate of 0.5 CEU per thirty minutes of educational contact time.

1. Standards for Course Approval: Qualification of Learning Objectives

Course content is organized around a minimum of 4 learning objectives for
Criterion #1
participating attendees
On-demand GBCI verif ies that at least 4 learning objectives have been entered into
Article/Print the course application.
GBCI On-demand Online
Verification Live Facilitator-led/
by Course Online
Type Live Tour
Live GBCI verif ies that 4 learning objectives have been entered for each
Conf erence/Summit session in the conference spreadsheet.

For LEED-specific credit, course subject matter relates to LEED

Criterion #2 For SITES-specific credit, course subject matter relates to SITES
For WELL-specific credit, course subject matter relates to WELL
On-demand GBCI verif ies that:
Article/Print 1. Three f ourths of the learning objectives are rating system specific –
see relevant topics in Appendix A and sample learning objectives in
On-demand Online Appendix B.
2. The course/event specifies the rating system(s) and version
Live Facilitator-led/ discussed at least once in the course title, description, or learning
Online objectives. For LEED courses, the LEED specialty needs to be
Live Tour included
3. The course teaches to the current version of the rating system:
Live Conf erence/ • LEED v4 (all rating systems) and/or LEED v4.1
GBCI Summit • WELLv1 and/or WELL v2
Verification • SITES v2

Notes:
i. A course that references a rating system version that pre-dates that
referenced in the currently published credential, will only be approved for
general CE hours.
ii. A course that discusses rating systems that are not in their final version (i.e.
they are in Pilot or Beta) require a slide clarifying that the content of the
rating system is subject to change. See Appendix C.

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 Continuing Education Course Criteria

2. Standards for Course Approval: Integrity of Content

Criterion #3 Course subject matter and learning objectives relates to green building

On-demand GBCI verif ies that at least three fourths of the learning objectives and the
Article/Print course content are related to green building, which includes human
On-demand Online health and well-being, sustainability, equity, and/or resiliency with
GBCI Live Facilitator-led/ respect to the built environment.
Verification Online
Live Tour Note: this criterion applies to general CE courses and rating system specific CE
Live courses
Conf erence/Summit

Criterion #4 Information delivered is fact-based

On-demand A course submitter attests that course content is based upon sound
Article/Print research, logic, and expertise. Information in course materials is
On-demand Online reviewed by GBCI with the expectation that material is fact-based, rather
Live Facilitator-led/ than opinion based. Subject matter expert reviewers may require course
Online presentations to include links to publicly available, third-party citations
f or any assertions made.
Live Tour
GBCI Slide decks with speaker notes are required for GBCI approval.
Verification Alternately, if a slide deck is not used, such as in a tour or panel
discussion, a detailed timed outline submittal is required.

Live Due to the one-time nature of a conference or summit, GBCI does not
Conf erence/Summit require f ull program materials to be submitted. When submitting a
conf erence or summit, a conference template must be submitted with
the inf ormation for all conference sessions.
Certificates of completion are only awarded to participants who complete the
Criterion #5
course
On-demand On-demand Article/Print/Online course submissions should include an
Article/Print outcome-based, quantifiable assessment tied to the course’s learning
objectives.
On-demand Online
Live Facilitator-led/ A certif icate of completion needs to be provided for all course formats.
GBCI Online
Verification Live Tour For On-demand Article/Print/Online courses, participants are required to
by Course Live achieve an assessment score of 80% or higher to complete the course
Type Conf erence/Summit and earn CEU.

All live sessions (Live Facilitator-led course/panel discussion/webinar,

Live Tour, or Live Conference/Summit) require that participants attend at
least 80% of the event.

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 Continuing Education Course Criteria

3. Standards for Course Approval: General

Criterion #6 GBCI course approval period
On-demand GBCI course approval is valid for three (3) years from the date of
Article/Print approval. However, Live Conference/Summit approval is for a specific
On-demand Online scheduled one-time event only.
GBCI Live Facilitator-led/
Verification Online An expiring or expired course is required to be resubmitted to GBCI for
Live Tour approval (standard course review fees and timelines apply).
Live
Conf erence/Summit

Criterion #7 Course is not described or advertised as exam preparation

On-demand To ensure the course is not described or advertised as exam preparation,
Article/Print GBCI reviews the f ollowing:
On-demand Online • course title & description
GBCI Live Facilitator- • slide deck and speaker notes (if a slide deck is utilized)
Verification led/Online • course/event materials (if utilized) title and description of Live
Live Tour Conf erence/Summit as depicted in the conference spreadsheet
Live
Conf erence/Summit
Commercial logo can only be shown on the first and last slides of a course
Criterion #8
presentation*
On-demand GBCI reviews the slide deck and confirms that logos are only present on
Article/Print the f irst and last slides, and that only current USGBC or GBCI logos are
On-demand Online used.
Live Facilitator- Course materials must be included in a submission for approval. The only
led/Online exceptions to this requirement are for Live Tour, Live Conference/
Live Tour Summit, and panel discussion. However, in an instance where a Live
GBCI Live Tour or Panel Discussion does include a slide deck, then the slides
Verification Conf erence/Summit should be submitted to GBCI f or review.
by Course
Type Notes:
The GBCI CMP and Education Provider logos were discontinued in 2014;
their continued use is not permitted.
To request the most current USGBC & GBCI logo, contact
marketing@usgbc.org
. Exception: logos for non-profits or local/regional/national governments and
their agencies are permitted within a presentation as long as it isn’t
associated with a product.
Course approval is not retroactive, you must submit your course in advance of
Criterion #9
the first course offering
On-demand A course must be submitted at least 25 business days in advance of
GBCI
Article/Print the f irst course offering to allow sufficient time for GBCI review, and to
Verification respond to any course review comments.
On-demand Online
Live Facilitator- Until a course has been approved by GBCI, it may NOT be promoted or
led/Online marketed as approved for CE hours nor may it be referred to as ‘pending’
Live Tour approval.

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 Continuing Education Course Criteria
Live
Conf erence/Summit

4. Terms + Conditions
When submitting a course to GBCI, the course provider acknowledges GBCI’s published
criteria by which their course will be evaluated (this document) by agreeing to GBCI’s Terms &
Conditions at the time a course review is purchased.

5. Audit Expectations
A course submitter agrees to maintain their records for two years following course delivery.
GBCI periodically audits approved courses; should you be contacted by GBCI, please be ready
to share course rosters, course promotional materials, learning assessment results, and
Certificate of Completion documentation.

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 Continuing Education Course Criteria

Appendix A. Rating System-Specific

LEED RATING SYSTEM – SPECIFIC
1. LEED Rating System: Prerequisites & Credits (Intents, Requirements, Innovation Strategies)
Weightings, Pilot Credits
2. Strategies implemented to achieve LEED prerequisites, credits and/or to improve performance
in a category
3. Related Credits/Credit Synergies
4. LEED Project Rating System Navigation/Eligibility (Minimum Program Requirements, Project
Boundary, Compliant Space Types)
5. LEED Addenda
6. Alternative Compliance Paths
7. LEED Documentation & Submission (Documentation Requirements, LEED Online)
8. LEED Certification Model - Credit Interpretations, Process of Review & Certification, Appeals,
Review Phases and Timeline, Appeals, LEED Volume process, Proven Provider process, O+M
Recertification, Campus, Scoring
9. Synergies between LEED and WELL, SITES, other USGBC or GBCI rating systems, or building
codes (course must be primarily focused on LEED)
10. LEED Project Team Member Roles
11. Rating system development process/updates
12. Benefits or Incentives of LEED Buildings
13. LEED building performance: Energy, Water, Waste, Transportation, Human Experience
14. LEED Zero
15. TRUE Zero Waste (applies towards LEED O+M specialty only)

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 Continuing Education Course Criteria
WELL RATING SYSTEM – SPECIFIC
1. WELL Rating System: Concepts, Features and Optimizations (Intents, Parts, Requirements,
Weightings)
2. Strategies implemented to achieve WELL features and optimizations and/or to improve
performance in a category
3. Related Features/Feature Synergies
4. WELL Project Types
5. WELL Addenda
6. Alternative Adherence Paths and WELL Equivalencies (international and other)
7. WELL Documentation or verification matrix
8. WELL Certification Model – Registration, Performance Verification, Certification Recertification,
Curative Actions and Appeals, WELL Scoring
9. Synergies between WELL and LEED, SITES, other USGBC or GBCI rating systems, or building
codes (course must be primarily focused on WELL)
10. WELL Project Team Member Roles
11. Rating system development process/updates
12. Benefits or Incentives of WELL Buildings
13. WELL Performance Verification process (conditions, scheduling, testing, results, etc.)
14. WELL Body Systems

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 Continuing Education Course Criteria
SITES RATING SYSTEM – SPECIFIC
1. SITES Rating System: Prerequisites and Credits (Intents, Requirements, Weightings)
2. Strategies implemented to achieve SITES prerequisites, credits and/or to improve performance
in a category
3. Related Credits/Credit Synergies
4. Eligible sites
5. Sites Addenda
6. Sites Documentation
7. SITES Online
8. SITES Certification Process
9. Synergies between SITES and LEED, WELL, other USGBC or GBCI rating systems, or building
codes (course must be primarily focused on SITES)
10. SITES Project Team Member Roles
11. Rating system development process/updates
12. Benefits or Incentives of SITES projects

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Appendix B. Sample Learning Objectives

These learning objectives contribute to a course approval as rating system-specific because they
contain a Rating System-Specific element.
• Discuss updates made to LEED v4 water efficiency requirements in the LEED v4.1 O+M
This sample learning objective would contribute to course approval as Rating System-
Specific for LEED O+M because it addresses item 1 under “LEED-specific” in Appendix A
- “LEED Rating System: Prerequisites & Credits”, as well as giving the rating system
(LEED O+M) and version (4.1)
• Articulate how USGBC and LEED Committees address current and future energy issues,
solutions, and strategies, in LEED 4.1 O+M, through the LEED credit development process.
This sample learning objective would contribute to a course approval as Rating System-
Specific for all LEED rating systems because it addresses item 11 under “LEED-specific”
in Appendix A - “Rating system development process/updates” as well as giving the
rating system (LEED O+M) and version (4.1)
• State the strategies implemented to meet water quality requirements of the WELL building
Standard v1 in the Delos Headquarters project.
This sample learning objective might appear in a case study, and would contribute
to course approval as Rating System- Specific for WELL because it addresses item 12
under “WELL-specific” in Appendix A - “Benefits or incentives for WELL Buildings” as well
as giving the rating system (WELL) and version (v1)
The following learning objectives would not contribute to course approval as rating system-specific,
because they do not contain a Rating System Specific Element. They would contribute to course
approval for general CE hours.
• List three ways solar panels can improve building performance
Solar Panels are a general green building strategy and the performance improvement
indicated in the learning objective is not described through a LEED framework.
• Identify strategies for reducing potable water usage in buildings
Reducing potable water use is a general green building strategy and the resulting
reduction in water usage indicated in the learning objective is not described through a
LEED framework.
• Describe how Active Design principles impact building occupant’s health.
Active Design is a general green building strategy. The performance improvement is not
described through a LEED framework.

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Appendix C. Course Approval Slide

Courses that discuss rating systems that are in Pilot or being Beta tested require an additional slide
clarifying that the content of the rating system is subject to change.

For example, courses that discuss LEED v4.1 O+M beta include one slide which clearly displays the
following text:

“This course was approved in <Month> <Year> and describes the beta version of the LEED O+M
Rating System which was released in March 2018. This version of the rating system is subject to
change until it is approved by ballot.”

Similarly, for courses which discuss WELL v2 must include one slide which clearly displays the following
text:

“This course was approved in <Month> <Year> and describes the WELL v2 Pilot, which was
released in May, 2018. The WELL v2 Pilot is subject to change while in pilot.”

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