The Passive House Certification is a rigorous standard for energy efficiency. (If you don’t have certification, please read about obtaining your first Passive House certification.)

How to Renew

You must renew your certification every five years. To maintain the certification, either Designers/Consultants (e.g. architects, engineers, etc.) or Tradespeople must re-certify following two primary pathways:

  • the Credits Pathway, or
  • the Project Pathway

Both require specific documentation and are subject to fees, which vary for members and non-members.

Re-certification: Credits Pathway

Credits Pathway for Designers

  • Accumulate a minimum of 100 points through ongoing education and training.
  • A maximum of 70 points is allowed in one area (teach­ing, events or ad­vanced train­ing courses).
  • Fill out this form and submit proof of your credits to PHI.

Credits Pathway for Trades

  • Accumulate a minimum of 30 points through ongoing education and training.
  • A maximum of 20 points is allowed in one area (teach­ing, events or ad­vanced train­ing courses).
  • Fill out this form and submit proof of your credits to PHI.

Credit Pathway Explainer Infographic

Please find below an infographic that explains the Credits Pathway for Designers and Trades.

Re-certification: Project Pathway

Mandatory Requirements For Re-certification (Designers and Trades)

To gain re-certification following the Project Pathway for Designers and Trades you must:

  • Complete a project: complete a Passive House project within the last 24 months. The documented building must be:
    • In use: Completed and in use;
    • Certified: Certified as a Passive House, EnerPHit retrofit, or PHI Low Energy Building by PHI or a PHI certifier;
    • Listed: It must also be listed in the Passive House Institute database and the Passive House Canada database, with the applicant responsible for this listing.

Submit the project for evaluation, adhering to the below:

Required Documentation for Designers

If you have met the Mandatory Requirements for Re-certification, please fill out the below document to recertify through the Project Pathway for Designers:

  • Application for Qualification: Submit the application for the Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant qualification through project documentation. The application must have two original signatures.
  • Building Report: Provide a detailed description of the building using this template as a guide (docx).
  • PHPP Calculation: Include the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) calculation for the documented building in digital form. The file should be an unprotected Excel file.
  • Building Certificate: Attach a copy of the building certificate and specify the certifying body.
  • Project ID Number: Include the project ID number under which the building is listed in the online Passive House Institute database (www.passivehouse-database.org).
  • Designer’s Explanation: If the applicant is not the same as the designer of the building, submit an informal written explanation by the designer. This should state that the applicant was responsible for the planning aspects relevant to the Passive House Standard (see Section 3 of the Examination Regulations).
  • Educational Qualifications: If aiming for the Certified Passive House Designer title, include a copy of your educational qualifications (see Section 7 of the Examination Regulations).

Required Documentation for Trades

If you have met the Mandatory Requirements for Re-certification, please see the requirements for your specific trade:

If you have met the requirements above, please fill out the below document to recertify through the Project Pathway for Trades:

  • Application for Renewal: Submit the renewal application.
  • Work Documentation: Provide a work documentation report using this template as a guide (docx). You can see a sample report here.
  • Client’s or Designer’s Declaration: Include an informal declaration from the client, designer, or business owner confirming that you personally executed the work.

Re-certification Fees for Project Pathway

Find the fees required to renew your Passive House Certification for Designers and Trades through the Project Pathway

Designers

  • Members: $1050
  • Non-members: $1200

Trades

  • Members: $790
  • Non-members: $950

How to Submit your Documentation and Fees

To submit your documentation and fees, please contact [email protected] with your documentation. We will send you an invoice to be paid in advance of the review.

After we review your documentation, we send your package to PHI for final certification.