Quick Guide | Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate (FBDC)
In this article:
- What is the Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate (FBDC)?
- How much does the FBDC cost?
- Can I earn LFA General Credit from the FBDC?
- How do I report LFA General Credit earned from the FBDC toward my LFA?
- Can I earn AIA credit through the FBDC?
- Can I earn GBCI credit toward my LEED credential through the FBDC?
What is the Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate (FBDC)?
The International Living Future Institute and Biophilic Design Advisory Committee have seen a demonstrated need among the sustainable design community for biophilic design resources that can take the practice from theory to reality.
Our 12-hour Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate will provide you with the foundational knowledge, skills, and tools to bring a biophilic approach to your next project, and hopefully every project that follows.
The curriculum is delivered fully online and on-demand with content and guidance from the field’s leading experts. In addition to online courses, an e-book, and a practice design activity, it includes access to the Biophilic Design Toolkit, a digital resource that's full of additional information you may explore within and beyond the certificate curriculum.
How much does the FBDC cost?
For non-members, the Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate is $295 USD. For Living Future Members, the cost is $265.50 (due to the 10% member discount on ILFI education).
Looking to Save? Living Future Members receive a 10% discount on all Living Future online courses, including the Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate. If you're already a Member, learn how to redeem your discount here.
Can I earn LFA General Credit from the FBDC?
You sure can! Completing the Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate will earn you 9 General Credits toward your LFA achievement.
How do I report LFA General Credit earned from the FBDC toward my LFA?
LFA General Credit from the Foundations of Biophilic Certificate will be automatically added to your transcript upon completion — no further action needed!
Reach Out: If you believe you've completed a course but are not seeing the credit appear in your transcript, please reach out to education@living-future.org for assistance. But first, double check that you have completed the course evaluation.
Can I earn AIA credit through the FBDC?
Yes! The Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate offers 8.5 AIA LU|HSW.
As long as we have your AIA member number on file, ILFI will report your course completions to AIA on a biweekly basis. To check whether your AIA member number is on file (and accurate), just visit your Education profile:
- Log into your Education Dashboard (if you're not able to log in, try our troubleshooting instructions).
- Click the Menu button (three stacked lines) in the top right corner.
- Click the Profile button.
Reach Out: If you find that your AIA member number is missing from your Education profile (or inaccurate), reach out to education@living-future.org — we'll add/correct it and report any recent courses you've completed to AIA.
Can I earn GBCI credit toward my LEED credential through the FBDC?
Yes! The Foundations of Biophilic Design Certificate offers 12 GBCI CE hours.
Please Note: Unlike for AIA credit, ILFI cannot report GBCI CE hours on behalf of our learners. You will need to self-report GBCI CE hours toward your LEED credential in accordance with GBCI's credit reporting guidance.