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Green Collar Jobs: What Professional Credentials Can Help Me Get a Job?

 

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Question:

Joyce asks: I am a vocational education instructor in a City College in NYC. We are designing a Green Collar Training for candidates of varying work and academic backgrounds currently on public assistance & looking for work. I'm gathering information on the most relevant credentials to offer our students to increase their options for entry level Green jobs. We already offer a 10 hr OSHA construction site safety certification. In your opinion, what would be the best most appropriate Green credential to offer? Would the Green Associate & LEED credential truly improve the job options for our students? Are there other credentials which may be more appropriate? Any recommendations are welcome!

Answer:
Advice provided by: Jill Bellenger, ASLA, LEED GA, CPH, 3 Design Consulting LLC
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Hi Joyce,

This is an excellent question because while you are correct in stating that LEED credentials would likely improve employment opportunities for the students, there are still a variety of other great programs to take advantage of.

If your students do not have the necessary experience working on a LEED registered or certified project to become a GA or AP, I would suggest taking a look at some additional green certification methods that can be extremely reputable in the job market.

I have seen green recent job openings in NYC and elsewhere that actually prefer energy auditing experience, Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification as an alternative to LEED knowledge and experience. Browsing job listings is a great way to see what employers are looking for.

Because you mentioned a focus on construction, here is a list of a few resources to get you started. Once a student receives any of these certifications, he or she is applicable almost instantaneously to any number of positions, which include training and educating others on how to become certified just as they did. Good luck!

* USGBC Green Advantage program for builders and building-related practitioners
* National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Program
* Building Performance Institute (BPI) Individual Certification & Company Accreditation
* Energy Star Resources for Contractors
* Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) Certified Energy Auditor or HERS Rater

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