Certifying Agents

Professional Credentials and Responsibilities

A Certifying Agent is an individual accredited by the Florida Green Building Coalition to evaluate a home with respect to the criteria contained in this Standard for the purposes of verifying that the qualifications for a Florida Green Home Designation have been achieved. A Certifying Agent must be an independent, third party verifier and cannot be on the payroll of any company that is responsible for the construction of the home, nor can the Certifying Agent stand to profit from the certification of the project. The Certifying Agent is entitled to be compensated for the verification work that they perform and may act as a consultant if their scope does not fall within the restricted conditions stated below.


How to Become an FGBC Certifying Agent

Certifying Agent Roles & Responsibilities

Certifying Agent Status Policy

FGBC Certifying Agent Requirements

All four requirements must be successfully completed in order to become an FGBC Certifying Agent.

REQUIREMENT # 1

One year experience in the home building industry: Verification of experience will require written references to such activity in at least one of the below listed professions:

  • Residential trade contractor or builder experience either on the jobsite or in management
  • Superintendent or other jobsite supervision
  • Licensed or qualified home inspector or certified energy rater
  • Residential design or architectural work
  • Residential land development management
  • Green building verification for another green certification
  • Construction consulting or training

REQUIREMENT # 2

14 hours of Green Home Construction Continuing Education completed in the last two years.

  • Courses must specifically emphasize Green Home construction techniques and concepts - FGBC accepts courses offered by other organizations 
  • Course description/syllabus must be submitted with Home Certifying Agent Application
  • Review of course work completed by the applicant is subject to FGBC approval
  • Instructors may receive CE credits once for teaching an approved course

REQUIREMENT # 3

Successful completion of two-day Florida Green Home Certification Training and exam Register for the Course Today!!

Once you have completed the course you will need to contact Mary Evans at info@floridagreenbuilding.org to schedule the exam.

REQUIREMENT # 4

Complete the FGBC Certifying Agent Registration Form and submit to FGBC with your payment and supporting documentation.

All FGBC Certifying Agents are required to be members of FGBC.

FGBC Certifying Agents receive a certificate and identification card verifying their credentials.

What does the privilege of becoming a Certifying Agent allow?

As an accredited certifying agent you now have the ability to evaluate a home with respect to the criteria contained in the Florida Green Home Designation Standard.

Certifying Agent Roles & Responsibilities

  • Applications for certification must be complete and submitted by an FGBC Registered Certifying Agent in "Active" status.
  • FGBC reserves the right to return incomplete applications to the Certifying Agent without review.

The following constitutes a complete application:

  • Completed FGBC Home Standard Checklist
  • The FGBC Green Home Standard Application and checklist must be filled out in its entirety including builder information and signature, complete address of the home, and Certifying Agent information and signature.
  • Certifying Agent Financial Interest Disclosure Form for each Agent/Builder relationship.
  • Any required submittals for elected points.
  • Check made payable to FGBC for the correct green home processing fee.

Certifying Agent Status Policy

Any certifying agent that has taken the 2-day FSEC course and passed the exam no longer has to retake the course to become active again.

A maximum of 2 Certifying Agents may claim credit for a single project for the purpose of status

Active Status

  • Up to date on fees and have certified at least one home according to the newest version of the Green Home Certification Standard
  • Attendance at 50% or more Homes Standards meetings will count as newest version certification for active status.

Inactive Status

  • Up to date on fees but have not certified at least one home according to the newest version of the Green Home Certification Standard.  
  • Must review the new standard update video/course. There is no charge for this. Just an update on the new standard. 

Expired Status

  • Not up to date on fees and have not certified homes in over 3 total years.
  • Must be current on membership and certifying agent fees.
  • Must take the Home Specialist Course and pass the  exam. This is an online course and there is a fee of $150.