Recertification FAQs

HOW MANY CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS (CEHs) DO I NEED FOR RECERTIFICATION?

DBIA and Assoc. DBIA credential holders must complete a minimum of 24 continuing education hours (CEHs) during the recertification cycle. At least 12 CEHs must come from DBIA education programs and/or approved DBIA leadership activities. Up to 12 CEHs may come from related industry professional development. Validating DBIA certification with CEHs ensures your knowledge remains current in the design-build industry.  View more details in the CEH section on the Recertification page. 

WHERE CAN I VIEW MY COMPLETED CEHs AND RECERTIFICATION PROGRESS?

Login at dbia.org and go to Certifications> Recertification Options, then click ‘Recertify Now.’ Use the left-side menu to jump to the ‘Review and Confirm’ section to view a complete summary of meeting the recertification requirements; a “✔” indicates meeting the requirement, an “X” is incomplete. You can also view a CEH summary in each section by clicking on the left-side menu for each of these categories: DBIA Activity from Online Transcript, Design-Build Activities, DBIA Leadership and Related Industry Professional Development. 

DOES RECERTIFICATION HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY ONCE I HAVE ENOUGH CEHs? 

Recertification is not automatic. Certified individuals are responsible for submitting their recertification application and ensuring all requirements have been met and submitted before their recertification expiration date. Login at dbia.org and go to Certifications> Recertification Options, then click ‘Recertify Now’ to access your online recertification application. 

NOTE: DBIA recertification is separate from the annual DBIA membership renewal.  

I ATTENDED A DBIA CONFERENCE OR EVENT, BUT THE CEHs ARE NOT SHOWING IN MY TRANSCRIPT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If CEHs are not listed in the ‘DBIA Activity from Online Transcript’ section of your online recertification application, then go to the section labeled ‘Design-Build Activities’ and click the ‘Add’ button to manually add the missing credits. View your full education record by visiting DBIA’s Learning Center and click My Transcripts/CEHs on the left-hand side. To be considered eligible, activities must be completed within the dates of your recertification cycle. 

CAN I EARN ALL OF MY REMAINING CEHs THROUGH ONLINE COURSES, WEBINARS OR ON-DEMAND LEARNING? 

DBIA offers a wide range of approved education opportunities throughout the year, including conferences, regional events, webinars and on-demand courses. Consider attending DBIA’s November Design-Build Conference & Expo which offers at least 12 CEHs. 

WHEN DOES MY RECERTIFICATION CYCLE START AND END? 

If you recently received a recertification notice, then your recertification cycle spans 2 calendar years and expires on December 31, 2026.  

If you earned your certification in 2024, then the start date of your initial recertification cycle is longer than two years; your start is when you passed the exam and the expiration is 12/31/2026.  

WHAT TYPES OF NON-DBIA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT QUALIFY FOR CEH CREDIT?

Related professional development in fields such as engineering, architecture, construction, design, and project management may count toward recertification requirements, up to the allowable maximum of 12 CEHs. Eligible sources may include ACE, AGC, ACEC, CMAA, USGBC or University-based programs. Project-based experience is not eligible for CEH. To submit completed these types of CEHs, login at dbia.org and go to Certifications> Recertification Options, then click Recertify Now, then navigate to the Related Industry Professional Development section within your online recertification application.  

HOW DO I SUBMIT CEHs EARNED OUTSIDE OF DBIA?

Industry-related education from organizations such as ACE, AGC, ACEC, CMAA, USGBC and other professional associations may be eligible for recertification credit. To submit completed non-DBIA CEHs, login at dbia.org and go to Certifications> Recertification Options, then click ‘Recertify Now’ then navigate to the Related Industry Professional Development section within your online recertification application. Acceptable education should directly support your success as a design-build professional. Project-based experience is not eligible for CEH. Documentation such as certificates or transcripts are not required. DBIA reserves the right to audit professional development activities submitted for DBIA recertification.  

WHAT IS THE FEE FOR RECERTIFICATION?

If you hold the Assoc. DBIA or DBIA credential, the recertification fee is $150 ($50 for DBIA members). To access your recertification application, login at dbia.org and go to Certifications> Recertification Options, then click ‘Recertify Now.’ Online payment can be made after completing the submission of your CEHs.   

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CERTIFICATION HAS LAPSED?

If you are past your two-year recertification cycle, you have options to restore your certification. 

Less than 31 Days: If your certification expired less than 31 days ago, then you can still recertify through the online recertification process without any additional fees. 

Less than 12 Months: LAPSED: If your certification has been expired more than 31 days but less than one year, then you are still eligible to restore your certification but must take additional steps.  For restoration, you must complete 24 CEHs, pay the recertification fee plus a $235 restoration fee ($125 for DBIA members). 

More than One Year: EXPIRED: If your certification has been expired for more than one year, you must retake the DBIA certification exam. For restoration by exam, you must pay the retake fee plus a $300 restoration fee ($175 for DBIA members). 

DO CREDITS FROM MY TRAINING FOR ASSOC. DBIA OR DBIA COUNT TOWARDS THE 24 CEH REQUIREMENT?

Training completed prior to certification cannot be claimed for your recertification Continuing Education Hours (CEHs). Visit DBIA’s Learning Center at https://education.dbia.org for education opportunities.  

DO ASSOC. DBIA CREDENTIAL HOLDERS ALSO HAVE TO RECERTIFY?

Yes. All Designated Design-Build Professional credential holders – Assoc. DBIA and DBIA – are subject to the same recertification requirements, including the 24 CEH requirement. Only if you have recently earned the DBIA Professional credential after earning the Assoc DBIA, then maintaining your Assoc DBIA is no longer required.

HOW DO I MOVE FROM ASSOC. DBIA TO DBIA PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION?

If you have the Assoc. DBIA®, you can earn the DBIA® certification after the hands-on design-build experience has been met. Completion of the DBIA eligibility requirements and a $150 application fee are required. Also, your Assoc DBIA must be current to be eligible for DBIA certification. Contact certification@dbia.org for more information. 

Do I need to submit a new application for recertification?

To recertify, complete the online recertification form, report 24 hours of approved Continuing Education Hours (CEHs), and submit the recertification fee.

When can I submit my recertification?

You may submit your recertification application any time during your recertification year. However, depending on volume, we may not begin reviewing applications until July of that year.

I have forgotten my username/password.

Go to my DBIA account and click on “Forgot Password.” Your password will be emailed to the email address listed in your record.

How often must I recertify?

Certifications must be recertified every two years, by December 31 of your recertification year.

I’ve already renewed my membership—does that mean my certification is renewed too?

No, renewing your membership does not affect your certification. DBIA recertification is separate from the annual DBIA membership renewal. Recertification is the personal responsibility of each individual credential holder. To keep your DBIA certification valid, you must complete the recertification process which includes submitting a minimum of 24 CEHs and paying the recertification fee (Login required).

Is there a grace period after December 31st?

A 31-day grace period extends through January 31. All recertification requirements must be submitted by this date to avoid losing your certification status. Alternatively, you may apply for extension before the recertification deadline to receive a one-year extension.

If I need more time is there an extension option?

You can apply for an extension. DBIA credential holders can apply for a one-year extension from their original cycle expiration date to fulfill recertification requirements. Credential holders MAY CONTINUE TO USE their DBIA® or Assoc. DBIA® designation.

When can I complete my recertification during my approved extension?

Holders of the DBIA and Assoc. DBIA credentials can apply for a one-year extension from their original cycle expiration date to fulfill recertification requirements. If your extension request is approved and your cycle expired 12/31/2025, then the deadline to earn extension CEHs would be 12/31/2026. It is recommended to complete your extension CEHs as soon as possible because your next cycle starts on your approval date and remains tied to your original expiration timeline.

I am retiring soon. Do I still need to RECERTIFY?

If you are retiring from active professional work in design-build and/or seek to discontinue use of your DBIA credential, you may request a retirement of your certification. Your certification records will be retained but managed as retired status. Retired credential holders are not required to collect or submit continuing education hours. The one-time request fee for certification retirement is $50 ($20 for DBIA members).

What if I need to make changes to my RECERTIFICATION application after I’ve submitted it?

Once your recertification application is submitted, it cannot be edited. If you discover an error or need to make changes, please contact us at renewcertification@dbia.org and they can release your application back to you to update.

How do I reCERTIFY?

At the time of recertification, you will need to have accrued 24 CEHs and pay the recertification fee. The online process is easy to use and will guide you through each step. If you’d like a preview of the step-by-step process, please see the Quick Start Guide.

What are “pre-approved” Continuing Education Hours?

Pre-approved CEHs are courses or events vetted by DBIA and already included in the system. This includes all DBIA National conferences, courses, webinars, and most Region and Chapter events. Credits from DBIA’s Certification Workshop cannot be used towards DBIA recertification. 

What options do I have for Recertification?

There are three options:

1. Recertify by reporting 24 CEHs and paying the recertification fee.
2. Apply for a one-year extension.
3. Apply for Retired status (if no longer actively working in the field).

How do I enter CEHs?

Log in to your DBIA account and navigate to the “Certifications” section under the top navigation bar.
Select “Recertification Options,” then click “RECERTIFY NOW.” From there, you can see which CEHs are automatically added from your DBIA Transcript, as well as enter additional CEHs manually.

How far back can I claim CEHs?

Continuing Education Hours must be accrued during the 2-year period since your previous recertification date. So, if your recertification date is December 31, 2025, you will have needed to accrue your hours between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025.

If I attended a DBIA event, will I need proof of attendance?

Your attendance at a DBIA event (conferences, courses, etc.) should auto-populate when recertifying under “DBIA Activity from Online Transcript”.

What should I do if I don’t see my DBIA pre-approved events via my Transcript?

If a pre-approved event isn’t listed in your transcript, you can manually enter the hours under “Design-Build Activities.” DBIA staff will confirm your attendance during the review.

If I earn more than 24 CEHs in a two-year period, may I apply the excess to the next recertification cycle?

No. CEHs must be earned and applied within your current two-year cycle to ensure your knowledge stays current with evolving industry practices.

Do I need to provide CEH documentation?

No documentation is required at the time of recertification; however, if your submission is selected for audit, you will be asked to provide a certificate or other proof of attendance for the CEHs in question.

When will I receive confirmation that my recertification has been approved?

Yes. Once your recertification application is submitted, it will be reviewed as soon as possible. While we strive to provide timely updates, review times may vary depending on current volume. We appreciate your patience and are committed to ensuring a thorough and accurate review process.