Whether you are already in the building industry, or if you are considering a career in construction, there are certain key qualifications that will secure your future. Since the field of green building is so diverse, there are many branches in which you can specialize. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does cover the most commonly utilized qualifications.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is run by the Green Building Council which describes it as “a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.” The Green Building Council offers courses and qualifications for professionals in the green building industry.
These qualifications will enable you to plan, inspect or build LEED certified buildings. You can see a complete collection of the courses on offer here. Once you have achieved your LEED credentials, maintenance courses need to be taken from time to time in order to retain your certification. An added advantage for professionals already in the industry is that the Green Building Council offers online eLearning courses which can be delivered to your desktop. This enables you to achieve your credentials in your spare time. Learn more about the eLearning program here.
Become an R-2000 builder
The R-2000 certification is the vestige of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The course consists of a combination of theory and practical instruction on the energy efficiency standards, administrative processes and the quality assurance procedures of the R-2000 certification. Once certified, R-2000 builders sign a license agreement with NRCan and can apply to have homes which they have constructed R-2000 certified. Once your qualification has been attained, refresher courses need to be taken every two years in order for you to retain your license.
Passive House Consultant
The Passive House building code is an alternative to LEED certification for home owners. This rigorous standard for building energy efficiency results in structures that utilize very little energy. Passive House certification originated in Germany (Passivhaus) and is widely utilized in Europe. 
The standard is not confined to homes and other structures like schools, supermarkets and office buildings can also be built to Passive House standards. The Passive House certification will qualify you to implement Passive House principles in all structures. There are a number of institutions worldwide that offer Passive House courses which will cover local climatic conditions and building materials. You can also attain your Passive House certification through the Green Building Council.
BOMA Best
The BOMA Best certification offers yet another alternative to the LEED or Passive House standards. This nationwide program was launched in 2005 and is gaining popularity. The BOMA Best standard can be applied to a number of different building types including offices, multi-unit residential buildings, shopping centres, open air retail plazas, and light industrial buildings. Visit the BOMA Best site here for more information about certification courses and materials.