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.
Trust & Confidence
Credentials instill trust and confidence in not only you as an individual, but also as a business.
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.
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.
Requirements
Education:
High School Graduate, 2-Year College, Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level, Senior Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
Online, In-Person
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:
N/A
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 buildings and systems energy performance, economics, and environmental impacts.
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:
N/A
Registered Apprenticeship Programs
ABC offers U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs that combine classroom and hands-on training, leading to an apprenticeship certificate upon completion.
Requirements
Education:
None
Experience:
Student
Accreditation:
Industry-Recognized (Widely sought after by employers)
Delivery Format:
In-Person
Property Administrator Certificate (PAC)
For professionals who manage the overall operations of a building or a portfolio of buildings. Keep your property in top operational condition, inside and out. Learn how to manage the ongoing operation and maintenance of building systems and to maximize building efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Requirements
Education:
N/A
Experience:
N/A
Accreditation:
N/A
Delivery Format:
Hybrid
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
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
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 and construction.
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 Property Manager® (CPM®)
Owners, investors, and employers know that if you hold an IREM Certified Property Manager® designation, you have the knowledge to maximize the value of any property, in any asset class. With the CPM designation, property managers have the potential to make over two times more than the average property manager salary in the U.S. As a CPM, you’ll know more, do more, and earn more, anywhere you manage.
Requirements
Education:
None
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
Industry-Recognized (Widely sought after by employers)
Delivery Format:
Hybrid
Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP)
The BEAP certification validates competency to assess building systems and site conditions; analyze and evaluate equipment and energy usage; and recommend strategies to optimize building resource utilization.
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Mid-Level
Accreditation:
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited
Delivery Format:
In-Person
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.