Explore Credentials That Help Build Your Career
The Careers Building Communities Credentials Hub connects you to trusted credential opportunities from leading industry organizations — helping you discover what’s possible and when you may be ready to take the next step.
What Are Credentials?
Credentialing is an umbrella term for concepts such as professional certification, certificate programs, licensure, accreditation, and regulation. There are three main types of credentials:
In contrast to certification and licensure, a certificate program is an educational or training program that is used to teach learning objectives and assess whether those objectives were achieved by the student. Certificates may not include a credential.
Industry Examples:
- Facility Management Professional
- Construction Manager-in-Training
A certification is designed to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform a particular job and, upon successfully passing a certification exam, to represent a declaration of a particular individual’s professional competence. In some professions, certification is a requirement for employment or practice. Certifications requirements do not vary based on location.
Industry Examples:
- Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
Licensure tests an individual’s competence but is a mandatory process by which the government grants time-limited permission for that licensed individual to practice a profession. License requirements vary based on location.
Industry Examples:
- Professional Engineer (PE)
- Professional Surveyor (PS)
Why Credentials Matter
Grow Your Career
Credentials can help open doors to promotions, specialized roles, and leadership opportunities.
Build Industry Knowledge
Many credentials provide advanced technical, operational, financial, or management training.
Stand Out to Employers
Credentials show initiative, professionalism, and commitment to your career.
Expand Your Network
Many credential programs connect professionals with industry communities, mentors, and continuing education.
Stay Current
Credentials often include ongoing education requirements that help professionals keep pace with changing technology, regulations, and best practices.
When Might You Be Ready?
Entry-Level Professionals
You may be ready if you want to:
Build foundational industry knowledge
- Explore a career pathway
- Demonstrate commitment to employers
Mid-Career Professionals
You may be ready if you want to:
- Specialize in a focus area
- Advance into management or leadership
- Expand technical expertise
Experienced Professionals
You may be ready if you want to:
- Demonstrate advanced expertise
- Lead teams or projects
- Strengthen credibility with clients and employers
Explore Credentials
The built environment offers many career pathways — and each sector includes unique credentials that support professional growth. Explore examples of credentials connected to careers across the industry.
NCIDQ Certification
The NCIDQ Certification validates an interior designers knowledge, experience, and skills and is required for many types of interior design practice in regulated jurisdictions across North America.
Requirements
Education:
2-Year College
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP)
The Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP®) certification is the only ANAB-accredited certification specifically designed for professionals who manage the financial operations of construction companies. It validates expertise across key areas such as accounting
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP)
The BEMP certification validates competency to model new and existing buildings and systems with the full range of physics; and evaluate, select, use, calibrate and interpret the results of energy modeling software where applied to
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
In-Person
Certified Decarbonization Professional (CDP)
The CDP certification program validates competency of the decarbonization professional to assess, analyze, and develop effective and sustainable strategies that reduce/eliminate the life-cycle carbon footprint of new and existing buildings.
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
In-Person
Certified HVAC Designer (CHD)
The CHD certification validates competency to design HVAC systems to meet building/project requirements, including equipment, equipment sizing, load calculations, mechanical equipment room design, duct and piping design and layout, and develop HVAC plans for permit
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
In-Person
Healthcare Facility Design Professional (HFDP)
The HFDP certification validates competency to Incorporate standards and guidelines as well as unique healthcare facility requirements and design principles in HVAC system design.
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
In-Person
High-Performance Building Design Professional (HBDP)
The HBDP certification validates competency to design and integrate sustainable building systems, including HVAC&R, into high performing buildings.
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
In-Person
Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB)
LAAB evaluates landscape architectural degree programs objectively and judges whether a school's landscape architectural degree program is in compliance with the accreditation standards.
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Accredited Residential Manager (ARM)
To become an effective residential property manager, you need to know it all: budgeting, leasing, maintenance, risk management, resident relations and retention all while being accessible to your residents 24/7. And thats exactly
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Certified Construction Manager
CCMs are committed to excellence in construction management, career advancement, and the pursuit of knowledge. CCMs provide professional services which apply effective management techniques to the planning, design, and construction of a project or
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Certified Associate Construction Manager
CACMs understand the lifecycle of a construction program and project. They have experience and knowledge that can support the efforts of large-scale construction programs to help achieve a successful outcome for a project team.
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Construction Manager-in-Training
Earning the Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT®) designation is the entry point for the CMIT Program and the first step to help develop a successful career in the construction management industry. The CMIT is a professional credential
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Latest News
The Financial Times reported on the growing national movement toward skills-based hiring, apprenticeships, certifications, and industry training as employers increasingly prioritize practical competencies over traditional degree pathways alone.
Connecticut introduced more than 300 industry-recognized credentials available to high school students across fields including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and professional services.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced an additional $2.6 million in workforce development grants to help employers connect workers to occupational training and industry-recognized credentials.