Lighting Certification Renewal Guidelines

All LCs must renew their certification every three (3) years. All certification cycles begin on January 1 and end on December 31.The renewal cycle begins January 1 of the year immediately following successful completion of the LC examination.

Certification Credit Unit

The basic NCQLP renewal unit is called a Lighting Education Unit (LEU). In general, one LEU is earned for each contact hour of lighting education.

LCs can maintain their LC status by meeting one (1) of the following criteria within each three-year cycle:

1. Earn 36 LEUs in the areas that qualify as professional development. LCs maintain documents for two (2) years.
2. Earn 18 LEUs and document 25 years of experience in lighting, utilizing the forms provided via the NCQLP website. (The 25-year Form must be submitted, only once, when 25 years of service is reached.)
3. Take and successfully complete the current LC examination in the third year of the cycle.

Time Requirements for Each Cycle

Units may be acquired as of the first day of the year following the examination for successful LCs. All LEUs for a three-year cycle may be earned in any one year. All units must be earned and submitted during the current cycle.

1. Lighting Continuing Education Courses.
2. Industry Lighting Education.
3. College/University Lighting Courses.
4. Masters/PhD Degree Lighting Studies.
5. Lighting Educational Speaking/Teaching.
6. LC-Authoring and Publishing Lighting Materials.
7.  Lighting Recognition.
8.  Lighting Industry Leadership.
9.  Lighting Course Development.
10. Online Continuing Education Courses.

Lighting Certification Renewal is a self-reporting system. Each LC is responsible to know their renewal date, maintain their LEUs and submit a sufficient number to meet renewal requirements as well as to keep their online profile current.

LC’s must submit their LEUs online.  No emails or faxes will be accepted.

1.  The NCQLP Registry of Certified Lighting Professionals includes all those LCs who are currently certified. LCs are responsible for updating their contact information online through NCQLP’s website whenever any change occurs to ensure a correct listing is on the LC Registry.
2. For each three-year cycle, LCs must report all LEUs to NCQLP. The deadline to submit your LC renewal is December 31 of the year in which the certification cycle ends. Names of nonrenewing LCs are then removed from the Registry. However, NCQLP has instituted a grace period of one month, through January 31. Once renewed, LCs name will be reinstated.
3. For those LCs who miss the postmarked deadline of January 31, the Board of Directors has provided an extension to the grace period through March 31. To renew after January 31, but by March 31, the certification renewal fee is $575. Of course, in order to renew, each LC must submit the required number of LEUs. No certification renewal materials will be accepted after March 31.
4. Please note after submission of the renewal form, the system will only accept LEU’s earned within the next three-year cycle.
5. Updated certificates will be sent by March 31st to all successful certificates.

The Certification Renewal Fee is $400 ($575 February 1) Certificate renewal fees must be paid when the three-year LEU reporting form is submitted. The fee of $400 ($575 February 1) must accompany the renewal. 50% of the fee will be refunded for any submitted renewal that are not approved due to any reason (i.e. insufficient/incomplete information). LCs wishing to renew their certification by retaking and paying for the examination in the third year of their cycle are not required to remit the $400 renewal fee, but they need to notify, NCQLP on their examination application that this will be their
method of certification renewal.

Only lighting-related activities that promote continued learning and education in the field beyond the baseline covered by the examination may be submitted for LEU credit. Personal development and specific manufacturers’ product oriented or marketing presentations do not qualify for LEU credit, except as noted in category 1.5. Taking a review course on basic lighting, such as “The Fundamentals of Lighting,” does not qualify as continuing education nor do preparation hours for any test or examination.

Lighting Related refers to areas of education or professional experiences that directly contribute to the LC’s ability to perform work in the lighting field. Please note that education or activities that contribute to the LC’s general knowledge, such as business tax law or accounting or human psychology, are not “lighting related” because they do not directly help the LC do better lighting work. Courses on general topics can be included if at least 25% of the course deals with lighting or its control or the power generation for it. Courses on operating a business are applicable if the course is aimed at the specific needs and issues of a lighting design business, lighting representative agency, lighting manufacturer, or similar activity. Following are some examples of activities that DO and DO NOT qualify as “lighting related.”

As under 10.0, online Courses longer than two (2) hours must be reviewed by the NCQLP Certification Renewal Committee for the level and LEUs that can be earned if they are to be submitted for renewal. Please confirm with the course provider that an NCQLP Certificate of Registration has been obtained by them from NCQLP. A copy of this certificate should be received by you from the course provider
for your records.

Do Qualify

• Seminars attended on green buildings. These qualify because lighting is such a large part of green building design.
• Education in building emergency systems, as long as lighting is 25% of the systems discussed.
• Seminars on light pollution or light trespass.
• Life cycle economic analysis, if it includes formulas or procedures that apply to lighting cost analysis.
• Presentations on photographing lighting installations.
• Sales training from a manufacturer that includes unbiased education in lighting calculations, lighting quality, luminaire materials and their durability.
• A seminar on wind power generation or photovoltaic power generation if the power is used in part for architectural lighting or signage as opposed to irrigation pumping.
• A course or presentation on vision and the physiology of the human eye.
• Seminars on energy codes for entire buildings, as long as lighting is specifically covered in the seminar.
• Electrical engineering for buildings, provided that 25% or more of the course addresses power distribution for lighting.
• Online lighting courses over 2 hours reviewed by the NCQLP Certification Renewal Committee for the number of LEUs that can be earned.

Do Not Qualify

• Mechanical engineering technology updates.
• Architectural history courses.
• Courses in tax law or insurance not specifically targeting lighting businesses.
• Photography course which is a general course or a specific course on photographing flowers, for example, which is not lighting related.
• Photography course which is a general course or a specific course on photographing flowers, for example, which is not lighting related.
• Course in sales techniques.
• ASHRAE or AIA section or conference meetings, unless the topic is specific to lighting.
• Seminars on building envelope energy code compliance.
• Seminars on controls for environmental and fire systems.
• A general course on marketing, such as “Writing Better Business Letters,” “Persuasive Speaking,” or “Time Management.”
• A review course on basic lighting, such as “The Fundamentals of Lighting.”
• A general seminar on patent and copyright law.
• Online lighting courses over 2 hours which have NOT been reviewed and registered by the NCQLP Certification Renewal Committee.
• Preparation time for examinations/courses.

are to evaluate their own continuing education and professional development activities and determine the appropriate number of LEUs earned based on the information outlined in this publication and are responsible for meeting the deadline. An LEU Reporting Form is available in the guidelines or online through the NCQLP website for all LCs to use in cumulatively recording their LEUs for each certification cycle. LCs must complete the renewal fully and provide all required information, including specific activity dates and activity titles. A course/seminar should be listed exactly as the title appears in the course description. Units earned are based on contact hours. In general, one LEU is earned for each one (1) hour of lighting education.

Completing and retaining documentation is the responsibility of each LC. LCs must maintain all records for two (2) years following the end of each certification cycle. NCQLP will conduct annual audits of a sampling of LCs scheduled to renew their certification in any given year and reserves the right to request records from any LC as a part of this process. Those LCs who are being audited must forward their complete documentation to the NCQLP for review. When an LC is being audited, detailed instructions will accompany all audit requests. Failure to comply with audit requests will result in immediate and automatic termination of LC status by NCQLP.

Both the NCQLP name and the NCQLP mark (the circle with the centered LC) are trademarked as the property of NCQLP and are reserved for the official purposes of the NCQLP organization only.

Once Lighting Certification has lapsed, the only way to become Lighting Certified again is by sitting for and successfully completing the LC Examination.

The National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) is a non-profit corporation founded in 1991 to serve and protect the well-being of the public through effective and efficient lighting practice. Through a peer review process, the NCQLP establishes the education, experience and examination requirements for baseline certification across the lighting industry.

Same course may be submitted only once per cycle. * One contact hour is 50 to 60 minutes of classroom time.

AIA Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

ASID, IIDA Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

IES Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Other CEU Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Lighting-Related Business Development Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour Course must be specifically promoted as a lighting-related business course. A maximum of only six (6) LEUs per cycle may be earned in this category.

LEED Seminars/Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour Seminars/Courses must be lighting related. LEUs are determined by the portion that is lighting related.

Lighting Related Examinations

a.   Examination must be intermediate to advanced level with a minimum 60% lighting related.
b.   Content covered; level of testing; sample of the testing documentation; information on the certifying organization; testing methodology; and proctoring procedures are the basis for review.
c.   If a certifying organization is submitting, the renewal cycle requirement for maintaining the certification must be stated.

Whole Building Controls Courses:
a.   The course must be 60% lighting and lighting controls related.
b.   It must emphasize energy reduction through the use of effective lighting control design techniques.
c.   It has to be a design based course that demonstrates integration technologies and how they impact a lighting design.
d.   The course cannot be an HVAC Building Management System offering a short lighting integration discussion, but must be primarily on lighting and lighting control.

Industry Lighting Education
Same course may be submitted only once per cycle. One contact hour is 50 to 60 minutes of classroom time.

Manufacturers’ Lighting Education Courses, Seminars, etc. Credits Determined By: Contact Hours
LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour. Credit for noncommercial/nonmarketing section only.
A maximum of only 12 LEUs per cycle may be earned in this category. 

Government Lighting Education Courses, Seminars, etc.
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Attending Local Program Meetings
Credits Determined By: Meetings Attended LEUs: One (1) Per Two (2) Meetings Half credits will not be accepted. Exact dates and topics must be provided on the LEU Reporting Form. These credits are given for non-social events.

Attending Regional/National International Lighting Conferences and Tradeshows
Credits Determined By: Event Attendance LEUs: One (1) Per Conference or Trade Show Must be officially registered for event.

Non CEU Courses, Seminars, etc.
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Same course may be submitted only once per cycle.

Undergraduate Lighting and Lighting- Related Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Graduate Level Courses and Research
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Adult Continuing Education Courses
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Masters Thesis
Credits Determined By: Completed Manuscript LEUs: 36

PhD Dissertation
Credits Determined By: Completed Manuscript LEUs: 36

Lighting Educational Speaking/Teaching

A maximum of 18 LEUs may be earned in this area per cycle. Add one (1) LEU if first time taught. Same course may be submitted only once per year.

Teaching Lighting Courses, Seminars, etc.
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Tradeshow Educational Presentations
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

Conference Presentations
Credits Determined By: Contact Hours LEUs: One (1) Per Contact Hour

A maximum of 18 LEUs may be earned in this area per cycle by authors.

Journal and Magazine Articles
Credits Determined By: Published Page LEUs: Two (2) Per Page (Photos excluded)

Lighting Ordinances, Manuals, etc.
Credits Determined By: Published Page LEUs: Two (2) Per Page (Product literature excluded)

Design Guides, Practices, Technical Memorandums, etc.
Credits Determined By: Published Page LEUs: One (1) Per Two (2) Pages (Includes IES Handbook)

Lighting-Related Engineering and Design Books
Credits Determined By: Published Text LEUs: 36
This category is not subject to the 18 maximum LEUs per cycle limit.

A maximum of nine (9) LEUs may be earned in this area per cycle.

Association/Society Lighting Design and Lighting-Related Awards
Credits Determined By: Award Received
LEUs: 1, 2 or 3 Per Award
Local: one (1) credit. Regional: two (2) credits. National/International: three (3) credits. Credit will be granted only if LC has received the highest award in an awards program.

Technical Achievement Awards
Credits Determined By: Award Received
LEUs: 2 per Award
Includes member organization Fellow Award

Must be national or international level position. A maximum of 18 LEUs may be earned in this area per cycle.

NCQLP and NCQLP Member Organization Officer
Credits Determined By: Years Served
LEUs: Three (3) Per Year

NCQLP and NCQLP Member Board/Council Member or Committee Chair
Credits Determined By: Years Served
LEUs: Two (2) Per Year

NCQLP and NCQLP Member Organization Committee or Task Force Member
Credits Determined By: Years Served
LEUs: One (1) Per Year Includes final judging for The Illumination awards.

NCQLP Member Organization District or Regional Chair
Credits Determined By: Years Served
LEUs: One (1) Per Year

Mentoring Programs

a.    A nationally established and recognized lighting industry mentoring program.
b.    Must have specific mentoring and reporting guidelines for participants.
c.    Program should include an Application Form and Approval From to describe all participants.
d.    An Annual Reporting Form showing the interaction, dates, and overall progress of all participants to be included with the LCs renewal form.
e.    The time length of mentoring commitment must be outlined.
f.     I f the participants work for the same company, the submission must be approved by an independent entity.
g.    There must be a minimum of 6 hours of engagement between participants per year. There is a maximum of 6 LEUs per cycle for the mentor.
h.   The independent organization must provide a signed document of completion to the participants.
i.    T he participants submit the program to the NCQLP at the participants renewal cycle.

Applies only to new lighting courses with three (3) or more contact hours in Categories 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0. The new course must contain significant new material and cannot just be a rearrangement of an existing course, and it must have been created within the current certification cycle. NOTE: The LEUs are for course development only, not for teaching.)

Creation of New Lighting Courses
Credits Determined By: Course Contact Hours
LEUs: One (1) Per Course Contact Hour

Continuing education courses longer than two (2) hours must be reviewed by the NCQLP Certification Renewal Committee and an NCQLP certificate obtained by the LC from the course provider for the LC’s file. Up to 18 LEUs may be earned for each individual online course submitted.