Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Green Advantage?
Green Advantage is an environmental certification for building-related practitioners - primarily contractors, subcontractors and tradespeople. 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.

2. What is the history of Green Advantage?
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 10,000 building-related practitioners have taken the Green Advantage Certification Exam. More recently, Green Advantage Board of Directors decided to pursue American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accreditation.

3. Why is Green Advantage pursuing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation?
At Green Advantage, we understand that our highest duty is to maintain the integrity of the Green Advantage Certification. This focus ensures that existing Green Advantage Certified Practitioners, candidates for certification, and those who use Green Advantage Certification in the hiring and selection process can trust that Green Advantage Certified will always mean:

”Empowered by current, objective, and relevant knowledge to make informed green building decisions.”

Green Advantage is committed to offering transparent, affordable, and high quality certification opportunities to building practitioners throughout the United States. In line with this commitment, Green Advantage is currently working to achieve American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation as a personnel certifying body.

ANSI is the sole US representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which promulgates industry standards and facilitates their adoption for goods and services ranging from food preparation to high tech manufacturing. A widely recognized partner of industry and government, ANSI also enables voluntary, consensus-based standardization throughout the United States by certifying compliance with internationally accepted standards of excellence.

Pursuit of ANSI accreditation is one more way that Green Advantage is continuously strengthening its offering, and represents another step towards facilitating greener building across the United States.

4. What is the Green Advantage relationship with USGBC, GBCI, and LEED Accreditation?
Green Advantage is a strong supporter of the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC), USGBC Chapters, and the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

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.

5. How can Green Advantage Certification help my project attain LEED Certification?
A LEED Innovation Credit has been granted if a significant percentage of an eligible project's building force is Green Advantage Certified prior to the commencement of construction. View Green Advantage Field Personnel Standard & LEED Innovation Credit for details.

6. 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 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.

7. How do I prepare for a Green Advantage Exam?
Most exam candidates choose to attend a preparatory training event of some sort prior to sitting for a Green Advantage Exam. While not required, attending a formal training event is highly recommended. View the Upcoming Trainings. In addition to studying materials presented in training, it is recommended that exam candidates fully review the Open Book Exam Reference sent upon paid registration as well as the Green Advantage Exam Overview. Please note that Green Advantage®, Inc does not provide, endorse or sponsor training organizations, faculty or curriculum. While we encourage academic and professional organizations to offer preparatory training, no information regarding trainings provided through this website has been verified by this webmaster or Green Advantage, Inc.

8. What if I already have green building experience and prefer to take the Exam without training?
While it is recommended, candidates for Green Advantage® Certification are not required to take training.

9. How can an applicant register and pay for the Green Advantage Exam?
How you register depends on who is paying the exam fee and whether you are taking the exam in a group setting or at a computerized testing center. If you are self registering for a computerized exam, follow the prompt from the Green Advantage website homepage, create a test taker account and proceed with registration and payment. If you are registering otherwise, visit the GA Exam Registration section of the Green Advantage website for detailed information.

10. How long is the Green Advantage Exam and how much time do I have to complete it?
The Green Advantage® Exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You will have 90 minutes to answer these questions.

11. Where and when do I take the Green Advantage® Exam and how much does it cost?
All Green Advantage Certification Exams (Commercial, Residential, or Commercial/Residential) cost $175.

Exams are offered in conjunction with group trainings, or can be taken individually at a testing site. If you sign up for a prep training for Green Advantage exams, you should confirm that the group training offers the exam to trainees at completion of the training OR, if you wish to schedule an individual exam at a testing center within the Green Advantage network, go to Register for Exam. If you choose to take the Exam at a testing center outside the Green Advantage testing network, a proctoring fee will likely be charged by the testing center; average $35. This fee is collected from you by the testing center. To register for an exam outside the GA testing network, contact exams@greenadvantage.org.

12. Is the $175 exam fee refundable?
No, the exam fee is non-refundable

13. How much advance time do I need to arrange to take the 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 exam at a testing center. You should contact exams@greenadvantage.or g to make arrangements to take the GA Exam at a participating testing center.

14. If I fail a Green Advantage Exam, may I retake it?
Yes, practitioners may retake a GA exam as many times as is necessary to pass, but an examination fee of $175 is charged prior to each examination. Green Advantage recommends that individuals obtain further training before re-taking the exam.

15. Does the Certification expire?
Green Advantage Certification is valid for three (3) years; the recertification date is listed on the certificate sent to all those who pass the Green Advantage Exam. Because the green building field is rapidly changing, candidates must pass an updated exam every three years in order to remain Green Advantage Certified.

16. Are the exams proctored, and what are the testing conditions?

Yes, all Green Advantage Exams are proctored. The proctor provides each examinee a copy of the Green Advantage Open Book Exam Reference™ (OBER™). The OBER™ is the only reference material permitted within the exam setting.

Note that this and all other policies and procedures are subject to change at any time by Green Advantage, Inc. The Green Advantage website, Open Book Exam Reference, exam and other materials, policies and procedures are continually being improved; input from training organizations, faculty and curriculum developers is encouraged and welcome. Ideas, concerns and suggestions may be forwarded to suggestions@greenadvantage.org.

17. Will Green Advantage share my information?
It is GA’s policy to release an individual's score, address, or other information only if the individual taking the exam approves. For example, many of those who are Green Advantage Certified choose to list their names and contact information in the Directory on the GA Website, while others prefer not to.

Green Advantage never shares or sells email addresses or personal information otherwise.

18. How does Green Advantage guarantee the integrity of the Certification process?
Applicants taking the paper/pencil version or electronic version of the GA 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 verifies the individual's identification at the beginning of the exam, and when completed, the proctor places the exam in a sealed envelope that is sent to Green Advantage for scoring.

19. If I lose my Certificate, can it be replaced?
Yes, we will be glad to reissue your certificate at any time during your certification; there will be a $10 charge to cover materials, shipping and handling.

20. How does Green Advantage use its revenues?
Examination fees and other revenues 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions