Certification Process
Read about how the CaGBC is streamlining the LEED Canada certification process
LEED® Certification distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting the highest performance standards.
Registration to LEED Canada provides projects with a declared intent to certify. After registration a project may be referred to as a LEED Candidate or LEED Certification Candidate and the project will be listed in the CaGBC’s public database (owners may choose to decline this profiling opportunity). Following registration, the project team begins to prepare documentation and calculations to satisfy the prerequisite and credit submittal requirements in order to begin the certification submission process.
Certification Methodology (pdf) – a summary of the certification process for all LEED Canada commercial rating systems. Applicants should also review the introductory sections of the applicable LEED Canada reference guide, as well as the LEED Letter Templates for the applicable rating system, for full submission details. The methodology for appealing a certification is included in this document. Note that LEED Canada for Homes projects follow a different certification process.
Internal Completeness Check Tool for LEED Canada NC v1.0 – When applicants provide their initial submission for certification, CaGBC staff use this tool to perform a completeness check in order to be able to request from the applicant all outstanding information that is vital to the first review of the project. The tool does not provide a detailed list of submittal requirements, but uses comment boxes to alert staff to check for necessary
information that is often missing or not clearly articulated. This internal tool is offered to applicants as resource; it should not be included with submissions, but rather used as a tool to check the completeness of the first submittal package before it is sent to the CaGBC. The tool is specific to LEED Canada NC v1.0 projects as this is the most common project type registered and certified by the CaGBC. Given that this is an internal tool, the document is only provided in the working language of the Council (English).
Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) Methodology (pdf) – guidance in preparing CIRs and their utilization in project submissions. Does not apply to LEED Canada for Homes projects. CIR appeal methodology is included in this document.
LEED Brand User Guidelines (pdf) - learn how to use the LEED brand when promoting your organization.
How long does the certification process take?
LEED certification is a process of submission and third party review. LEED Canada v1.0 projects follow a 3-stage certification process, while LEED Canada 2009 projects follow a 2-stage process. The process is illustrated in the Certification Process Flowcharts and detailed in the Certification Methodology. As illustrated in the flowcharts, the CaGBC requires a minimum of 65 working days for LEED Canada v1.0 projects and 50 working days for LEED Canada 2009 projects. Additional time
is required for project teams to respond to preliminary reviews; currently, preparing responses is requiring teams approximately an equal amount of time.
While the timelines presented are for guidance only, the CaGBC is committed to performing certifications in as timely a manner as possible. Project teams should recognize that complicated files may require more time, and that the quality of submissions is also an important factor that can contribute to delays in the certification process. Finally, the volume of projects can result in delays.
In order to ensure your application for certification proceeds efficiently, we encourage new and experienced LEED Canada NC 1.0 project team members to consider investing in the one-day LEED Documentation workshop. This workshop provides insights into the review strategies of the CaGBC Certification Assessment teams, from the point of view of the reviewer. The workshop is delivered by past and current CaGBC Reviewers, so bring along your review questions for them!
Certification review delays: The review of new projects submitted for certification typically begins within one week of receipt. Currently, only projects certifying under LEED Canada for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance are experiencing a delay (approximately three months). We sincerely apologize for the delay and any inconvenience it may cause your project team. We remain committed to ensuring the timely processing of applications, and will provide regular updates to this page.
What happens after the final review?
Upon completion of the project’s final review, and confirmation of the final review by the LEED consultant, the owner will receive a congratulatory email from the CaGBC, asking them to confirm the certification and the final project name. Only once confirmation is received is the project considered certified. The owner will be provided with a plaque and certificates to display in their project, and will be given the opportunity to purchase additional plaques upon request. Professional photos and a project profile will be requested, to assist the CaGBC in
promoting the project. The latter are optional.
In the case of LEED Canada for Homes projects, applicants receive notification following the final review. Certificates are mailed to the registrant, and a plaque may be purchased.
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