Training and Events

Becoming a Green Star NZ Accredited Professional

The first step to accreditation is to attend both levels of Green Star NZ Accredited Professional (GSNZAP) course. Once you have attended the course, you will need to sit the GSNZAP exam. Further details on the training and the exam are provided below.

Green Star NZ Accredited Professional Training

View the courses & dates and register online here.

Green Star NZ Accredited Professional Exam

In order to become a Green Star NZ Accredited Professional, once you have attended the GSNZAP training course, you will need to pass the GSNZAP exam. Upon completing the Level 2 GSNZAP course, NZGBC will provide you with the information you will need in order to book your exam which is run externally at locations around New Zealand.

Details About The Exam:

  • The Green Star NZ Accredited Professional exam is administered by Prometric. Click here for the Prometric website.
  • The exam costs $175 plus GST per person payable to Prometric.
  • Anyone who completed Green Star training using either Office Version 1 or Office 2009 Technical Manuals can sit the exam.

Please note that the cost of the exam is not covered by the course costs.

IMPORTANT UPDATE - June 2010

Due to an update in our processes to make it easier for projects to submit Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs) later in the submission process, CIRs are now able to be submitted at the Round 1 Assessment. This process improvement has resulted in the following exam question now being obsolete - while we wait for this to be corrected on the exam system, please answer the following question with answer c).

Question: A Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) can be submitted at all but one of the following stages during the certification project:

  • a) Registration
  • b) Eligibility
  • c) Assessment 1
  • d) Checkpoint

The Exam Format:

The exam consists of 100 Multiple Choice questions in four sections relating to Green Star NZ:

  • Section 1: Principles and Framework - Asks questions about the overarching principles, background and framework to Green Star NZ.
    • Tip: take a look at your Level 1 and Level 2 handout notes again. Principles and framework are discussed in the Introduction of your Technical Manual.
  • Section 2: Processes - Asks questions about the certification and submission processes.
    • Tip: useful information is provided in the "Achieving Certification" section of the Introduction in the Technical Manual, and don't forget to take a look at your Level 2 handout notes again.
  • Section 3: Definitions and Terminology - Asks questions about terminology used within the Technical Manual and definitions of some of the acronyms used.
    • Tip: there is a glossary section at the back of your Technical Manual, as well as some definitions in the "Achieving Certification" section of the Introduction.
  • Section 4: Categories & Credits - Asks questions about the Categories and Credits within Green Star NZ.
    • Tip: refresh yourself on the Credits that appear in the eight categories plus innovation - what is being addressed by each category? Do you understand the difference between the Design and Built ratings? Have you looked at all four of the Green Star NZ Excel tools online (i.e. Office, Education, Office Interiors and Industrial) to see the differences in Credits addressed by the different tools. 

Sections 1-3 have 20 questions in each section and Section 4 has 40 questions. The exam is "closed book" so you cannot take anything, such as the Technical Manual, into the exam room. The pass mark required is 75%.

Two sample questions are provided below. Please note that there are no "past papers" available. The tips provided are to give you a sense of what the exam covers and you should not limit your revision to those areas.

Sample Questions:

At what phase of a project is there the greatest potential for 'greening' a building ?

  • a) site selection
  • b) construction
  • c) commissioning
  • d) concept design

Management credits aim to do all of the following except:

  • a) prescribe housekeeping technologies
  • b) reduce greenhouse emissions through commissioning
  • c) reduce environmental impact during construction
  • d) encourage operational environmental principles during design.

After You Have Completed The Exam

Immediately after you sit the exam, you will receive a candidate score card indicating whether you have passed the exam. The pass mark required is 75%. Your details will be forwarded to the NZGBC.

Please allow six to eight weeks for your Accredited Professional details to be uploaded onto our database of Green Star NZ Accredited Professionals and for your certificate and Green Star NZ Accredited Professional logo to be sent to you.

Are you an Accredited Professional in Australia or South Africa?

Effective March 2010

Are you a GSAP from Australia or South Africa? If yes, you may be able to sit the GSNZAP exam without doing the NZ training course.

If you have previously completed the equivalent to Level 1 and 2 Green Star NZ training in either Australia and/or South Africa and can provide us with evidence of this then you may be eligible to sit the Green Star NZ Accredited Professional exam without attending the NZ training course.

NZGBC currently allows active GSAPs from Australia to sit our NZGBC Green Star exam without doing the NZ training. Processes within NZ and Australia are closely (although not exactly) aligned and the differences in the details of the Technical Manuals is clear to those familiar with using Green Star Technical Manuals from other countries.

IMPORTANT :: For confirmation of your eligibility to sit the GSNZAP exam without completing the NZ Level 1 and 2 training courses, please email office@nzgbc.org.nz with your supporting documentation.

GBCA have agreed to reciprocate this arrangement, offering the same with the following conditions on a case by case basis:

GBCA will require from those that are applying for this exemption:

  1. That they have attained NZGBC GSAP status and have been working and actively involved with a NZ Green Star project(s)
    • Documentation Requirements:
      • GSNZAP Certificate
      • Letter stating involvement on the Green Star NZ project from NZ Manager/Developer
  2. That they have attained their GSNZAP training within the last 12 months
    • Documentation Requirements:
      • GSNZAP Certificate