High-Performance Building Design
Professional Certification

ASHRAE has developed the HBDP program in close collaboration with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and with input from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Building Initiative (GBI). Candidates who earn the HBDP certification will have demonstrated a well-rounded understanding and knowledge of how HVAC&R design is integrated into high performing buildings to achieve the overall goal of producing a sustainable HVAC&R design.  

See a list of the 100+ individuals who are already certified.

The HBDP examination is $295 for ASHRAE members and $415 for non-members.

 Certification FAQs

Steps for earning a certification

The HBDP examination is now available worldwide and at your convenience.

 View some Sample Exam Items.
Tips and Strategies for ASHRAE Certification Examination Preparation 

1. Read the Guidebook  
2. Complete the Application.
3. After ASHRAE approves your application, you will receive information about how to register for the HBDP examination at a testing center worldwide. You must register for and take the examination within 90 days of the approval of your application.  

Questions? Feel free to contact us at certification@ashrae.org.

Related Resources

Resources available to help prepare for the HBDP examination include, but are not limited to, the following:

Packages Available through ASHRAE Purchase these publications as a package and save 33%!
• High-Performance Building Design Professional (HBDP)
Design Guides
• ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction, and Operation of Sustainable Buildings, 2nd Edition (2006)
• ASHRAE/AIA/IESNA/USGBC/USDOE Advanced Energy Design Guide For Small Office Buildings: Achieving 30% Energy Savings Toward a Net Zero Energy Building (2004) (Print edition)  *(A free download of this publication is available here.)
• ASHRAE/AIA/IESNA/USGBC/USDOE Advanced Energy Design Guide For Small Retail Buildings: Achieving 30% Energy Savings Toward a Net Zero Energy Building (2006) (Print edition)  *(A free download of this publication is available here.)
Standards and Guidelines
• ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 —Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
• ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007—Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
• ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004—Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings and 2007 update
• ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 Users Manual
• ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005 —The Commissioning Process
• ASHRAE Guideline 1-1996 —The HVAC Commissioning Process
• ASHRAE Guideline 4-1993 — Preparation of Operation and Maintenance Documentation for Building Systems
• ASHRAE Guideline 14-2002 — Measurement of Energy and Demand Savings
Additional Training
• Fundamentals of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 – ASHRAE eLearning course
• Fundamentals of ASHRAE Standard 62.1
• Fundamentals of Sustainable Buildings and High Performance Systems Design (GREENGUIDE)
• Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Retail Buildings
• Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings
Additional Training from ASHRAE Learning Institute that May Be Scheduled Later
• Compliance with Standard 90.1– ASHRAE Seminar
• Exceeding the Requirements of Standard 90.1-2007– ASHRAE Seminar
• The Commissioning Process in New and Existing Buildings – ASHRAE Seminar
• Complying with Requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007– ASHRAE Seminar

ASHRAE does not warrant that participation in or use of any of the above resources will guarantee successful completion of the examination. Nor does ASHRAE warrant that all information presented in all of the above resources is noncontradictory. However, ASHRAE will do its best to avoid testing contradictory, out-of-date, or inaccurate information. 

ASHRAE does not warrant that this program or its examination certifies a candidate’s technical competence or technical ability to design any part of a facility’s HVAC&R system. Furthermore, nothing about this program or its examination is intended to replace, override, or conflict with licensing requirements for design engineers, architects, or other building professionals.

Questions? Feel free to contact us at certification@ashrae.org.