HBDP – High-Performance Building Design Professional Certification

Why High-Performance Building Design Professionals Pursue the ASHRAE HBDP

• Elevate your reputation and career opportunities >> See survey data
• Demonstrate competency in critical high-performance building design knowledge and skills >> See who’s a HBDP
• NEW!  Following an industry-wide job task analysis, beginning June 1 exam content outline updates will take effect. Updates include a number of critical decarbonization tasks as well as a dedicated “Carbon Emissions Compliance" subdomain >> Learn more
• The HBDP digital badge guarantees enhanced recognition
• ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited personnel certification program, under ISO/IEC 17024 (ID #1139), ensuring fairness and validity

     

Why Employers Support the ASHRAE HBDP

• Recruit the most-qualified professionals
• Elevated reputation and credibility among current and potential customers
• Enhanced compliance with applicable local, state and federal requirements
• Provides clear, value-added professional development goal
• Greater employee job satisfaction and higher retention

Eligibility Checklist

• • Education and Work Experience
    • Government-issued or government-recognized license as a professional engineer or architect and a four (4) years of experience in building system design, OR
    • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field (e.g. building science, architecture, physics, or mathematics) and five (5) years of experience in building system design, OR
    • Associate’s degree or Technical degree or certificate in design, construction, or a related field and seven (7) years of experience in building system design, OR
    • High School diploma or equivalent and ten (10) years of experience in building system design
  • Code of Ethics
  • Pass HBDP Certification Exam. 
  • Note: beginning June 1, the following exam content outline updates will take effect:
    • 2025 06 01 ASHRAE HBDP Exam Content Domains and Subdomains
    • 2025 06 01 ASHRAE HBDP Exam Content Tasks

Download a Candidate Guidebook to learn more.

FAQs

These Certification FAQs can help.

Key Policies

Review key policies related to Request for Special Accommodations, Impartiality, Certification Complaint Process, Appeal of Certification Denial, and Guidelines for Suspending, Withdrawing or Reducing the Scope of Certification.

Please call 678-539-1105 or email with any questions.

APPLY FOR HBDP

Application Fees

ASHRAE Member: $495
ASHRAE Developing Economies Member: $295
Non-member: $745
Corporate Group: Email Tim Kline or call 678-539-1181 for a quote.

Exciting news! 

1.  Through May 31, apply to sit for the new HBDP exam form, using the Discount Code HBDP2025 to receive a 50% discount on certification application, with the following details:

• • The first 50 applicants will receive the 50% discount
  • Test against the new exam content outline during a June 1-30 window
  • Note: 140 exam questions and 3.0 hours of testing time.
  • Results released July 31

   2. Application for HBDP testing beginning August 1 will open in July. 

Note: Discount does not apply to Developing Economies “initial retake” applications.

Note: Non-native English speakers may apply to receive an additional 30 minutes of testing time.

Questions?

These Certification FAQs can help. Please call 678-539-1105 or email with any additional questions.

ASHRAE offers certification examination year-round.

Approved Certification Candidates may schedule their  computer-based exam at any one of over 1,000  test center locations worldwide.

Questions?

These Certification FAQs can help. Please email or call 678-539-1105 with any additional questions.

Get HBDP exam ready by following these few, easy steps:

• Review the Exam Blueprint in Appendix A of the Candidate Guidebook
• NEW! Take the 30-question, online Practice Exam today!
• Consider any publication or training resources for Exam Preparation
• Review Tips and Strategies for exam preparation
• Try these Sample Exam Items

Requesting an Extension

To request a 45-day extension of the 90-day deadline to schedule and take an exam, candidates must submit an application at least five business days prior to the end of the 90-day deadline. The administrative fee to initiate the extension is $50.00.

Apply for extension

Questions

These Certification FAQs can help. Please email or call 678-539-1105 with any additional questions.

Renew Your HBDP Certification

RECERTIFY HBDP

Recertification every three years helps ensure HBDPs maintain a level of continuing competence through acceptable professional development in subject matter related to their certification.

Application Fees

ASHRAE Member: $245
ASHRAE Developing Economies Member: $145
Non-member: $375

Eligibility Checklist

• Forty-five (45) Professional Development Hours (PDHs)
• Code of Ethics

Note:

• Acceptable evidence of professional development hours (PDHs) earned is supporting documentation issued by a third-party, which includes the name of the certificant and the date earned. In the case of continuing education, supporting documentation also must include the number of clock hours of participation, and a title indicating the subject matter.
• Beginning in 2025, three (3) PDHs may be earned per hour for the first course or workshop taught, then 1 PDH per hour for each of the next two subsequent equivalent presentations. Up to 15 PDHs maximum may be earned from teaching during the 3-year certification cycle.

Questions

These Certification FAQs can help. Please email or call 678-539-1105 with any additional questions.