PHI Certification Renewal Guide

Simple Guide to Renewing Your Passivhaus Designer or Passivhaus Consultant Qualification

Passing the Certified Passivhaus Designer/Consultant exam is a significant achievement, but now that you are certified, it's essential to start planning straightaway how you will accumulate your professional development credits to retain your status, as the qualification is only valid for five years.

Follow our tips below to make the process as smooth as possible and avoid last-minute stress.

Quick Renewal Facts

The certificate expires five years from the date of the examination.
You can renew as many times as desired.
All renewal applications go through the PASSIVE HOUSE INSTITUTE.
Renewing your qualification by retaking the exam is not allowed (this encourages further self-development and learning).
The PHI renewal fee is 450 EUR. iPHA members currently receive a 20% discount

There are two routes to accumulate points:

Renewal Route 1 - Submit project documentation evidence where you are responsible for the building design and PHPP of a certified Passivhaus project.
Renewal Route 2 - Collect 100 PHI credit points (CP) through webinars, online courses, conferences, or teaching within five years immediately preceding your renewal. Each 45 minutes of learning time equals 1 PHI credit point (CP).

Top Tips

Here are a few top tips to quickly boost your points:

1. Record Everything!

You will need to submit the following details for your renewal application. We strongly suggest creating a simple spreadsheet and folder of evidence to keep track of them:

Event Details: Provider, Event name, Start date, Duration, Location (if applicable)

Documentation: Saved screenshot of the event website or certificate of attendance

Course Details: Start and end dates, Short explanation, Additional information on course content (e.g., PHI ID number)

2. Conferences = Credit Points!

You can accumulate up to 36 points in one go just by attending an approved conference. Not only is this big on credit points, but it's great for networking, accessing the latest research, and ensuring you are bang up to date with best practice. You are also guaranteed to bump into a familiar face or two from our cohort of trainers and course participants.

Notable European Passivhaus Events:

INTERNATIONAL PASSIVHAUS CONFERENCE: Held most years, this event earns you 36 CP. It’s an excellent networking opportunity to meet the PHI team and other Passivhaus experts from around the world.
UK PASSIVHAUS ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Typically awards 12-16 CP and is a hotspot for UK Passivhaus experts. Check the Passivhaus Trust website for upcoming details.
AECB CONFRERENCE: Held every autumn, this event covers a wide range of sustainable building topics and features renowned experts from across the UK low-energy building sector, awarding 10 CP.

For a full list of accredited events, visit THIS PAGE.

3. Specialise!

Online courses are an accessible way to enhance your knowledge and earn credit points. We recommend the following courses as a natural progression for Designers.

Follow-On Courses for Certified Passivhaus Designers:

4. Webinars

Webinars are often budget-friendly and come with easy-to-access recordings, allowing you to view the content at your convenience.

Many leading Passivhaus organisations offer free events:

International Passive House Association (iPHA) Webinars - 2 CP: If you are a PHT member, your iPHA membership is included, granting you free access to these webinars. You can also earn credit points from recordings if you can’t attend live, so it's worth registering your email anyway. (Note: All iPHA webinars are available on Passipedia, but you can't claim any points from there.)
PHT Masterclasses
Check our website for Coaction webinars.

5. Found a Relevant Event but It Doesn’t Earn Points?

Event organisers can fill out THIS FORM to request event accreditation.

Feel free to contact our training team at (hello@coaction.org.uk) if you have any further questions.

6. Further Resources:

Find out more