LFA & Online Education FAQs

In This Article (click 'question' text to jump to 'answer' text)

About Living Future Accreditation
About Living Future Education Online Learning
Living Future Education Online Course Enrollment
Living Future Education Online Learning Account Access
Living Future Education Online Learning & Your LFA
Living Future Membership
Reporting your LFA CE Credits
Earning your LFA CE Credits

About Living Future Accreditation

How do I earn Living Future Accreditation? An overview

The LFA credentialing process is based on modularized learning achievements that build foundational knowledge of ILFI programs and core topics as well as the flexibility to either specialize in or explore a wide range of advanced sustainability topics.

STEP 1: ENROLL
Sign up and celebrate your commitment to leadership in the regenerative design community! Upon enrollment, you will gain immediate access to your first courses.
STEP 2: COMPLETE EDUCATION
Within one year of enrollment, complete 20 Foundational and 16 General credits of continuing education. Foundational education gives you a working knowledge of ILFI programs, while General education allows you to specialize in or explore the topic areas of your choice.
STEP 3: ACHIEVE
After you have completed the education, you’ll conduct a self-audit to automatically add your LFA to the queue for ILFI verification. Upon successful review, ILFI will provide resources for celebrating your achievement and connecting with our community. 

Can we pursue LFA as an entire office, a classroom of students, etc.?

For groups of learners, we offer Corporate Member packages that include a discount on LFA enrollments and memberships along with other perks. The packages are customizable to suit your needs, so for example a Tier 2 package could be tailored for three people to pursue LFA and provide company recognition on our website.

About Living Future Education Online Learning

What kinds of courses are available in the Living Future Education online learning system?

There are many courses available for education on the Living Building Challenge, Living Product Challenge, Living Community Challenge and all other ILFI programs, transparency labels, initiatives, and more.

From within the Living Future Education dashboard, whether you're logged in or not, you can filter courses according to category (such as by ILFI program, Petal, or topic). 

Simply scroll down to the bottom section of the dashboard for quick links to each category of courses. Alternatively, from within the course catalog, you may toggle on the 'Show Categories' button in the lefthand sidebar. 

Where can I find online courses about LBC 4.0?

Browse our Living Future Education catalog, and consider enrolling in the Living Building Challenge 4.0 course bundle which contains both of the following essential courses at a discounted bundle price:

The one-hour Living Building Challenge 4.0 Introduction online course discusses the purpose behind the LBC and how it makes it possible for building projects around the world to respond to climate change issues with innovative solutions that positively impact the communities in which they are built. The objective of each performance category for place, water, energy, health and happiness, materials, equity, and beauty will be introduced along with real project examples that illustrate successful and sophisticated design approaches. You’ll learn about the advantages of the LBC certification program for green or sustainable building projects of any type or scale, and the certification pathway options to consider for your project.

The two-hour Living Building Challenge 4.0 Imperatives In-Depth online course builds on the knowledge from the intro course and dives into the specific requirements for each LBC 4.0 imperative. You'll develop an understanding of the advanced sustainability performance criteria required of Living Buildings that support a project's net positive water, carbon and waste efforts. Place-based design solutions that support local ecologies and economies will be introduced along with examples for connecting occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community. Through case studies, you'll learn about successful strategies that enable projects to be self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of the site and take away key frameworks for re-imagining how building projects can holistically create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.

Are the courses all lectures/videos, or is there an interactive component with assignments?

The online courses include at least one quiz that must be passed with over 80% correct in order to receive credit. Some courses also include reading assignments and other activities spliced into the recordings. All courses also require completion of a brief  course evaluation.

Do Living Future Members receive discounts on online courses?

Yes! Living Future Members receive a 10% discount on Living Future Education online courses. Check out the other great membership benefits and become a member today.

Do aspiring LFA professionals receive discounts on online courses?

Yes! Aspiring LFA professionals receive a 25% discount on the LFA Foundational Curriculum (the course bundle price automatically reflects this discount vs. if the courses were purchased individually).

Do students receive discounts on online courses?

At this time, there are no student-specific discounts on online courses. Students are welcome to use any of the discounts above for which they are eligible.  

Of note, Living Future Membership is available at a student discount. Please visit the Membership page for details.

Living Future Education Online Course Enrollment

How do I enroll in an online course?

  1. Add course(s) to shopping cart
  2. Proceed to checkout
  3. Login* or Sign Up*
  4. Complete enrollment, see email for access instructions

*Hint: your membership and education dashboards are on separate platforms with distinct login details.

From within the Living Future Education system, simply select the course of your choosing and click the orange shopping cart icon next to the price. Doing so will add the course to your shopping cart.

When you've added all desired courses to your shopping cart, navigate there and review your selections. If you have a coupon code to apply, enter it in the 'coupon code' field visible below the course image(s).

Once you 'Proceed to Checkout', you'll be prompted to either sign in or sign up in order to continue checkout. For help accessing your existing account, see below for more relevant questions.

After you complete the checkout process, you'll be sent a receipt as well as an enrollment confirmation email with course access instructions.

How do I enroll in the LFA Foundational Curriculum?

  1. Add the LFA Foundational Curriculum to your shopping cart
  2. Proceed to checkout
  3. Login* or Sign up
  4. Complete enrollment, see email for access instructions

*Hint: your membership and education dashboards are on separate platforms with distinct login details.

For more detailed instructions, see above question on how to enroll in an online course.

How do I redeem a coupon code?

  1. Add the course(s) to your shopping cart.
  2. Open up the shopping cart. Below the course image(s), you'll see a field labeled "coupon code" where you can enter the discount.
  3. Press "apply" to update the price.

Living Future Education Online Course Account Access

How do I access my course once I have created an account and enrolled in a course? 

Log into your Living Future Education account. Remember, this system is separate from your Living Future Member Dashboard – see above for details! 

Once you're logged in, click on 'Resume' on the left side below the header image to jump into the course you most recently paused.

Or, click on 'My Courses' in the middle below the header image to see all of your course enrollments. Select the orange 'Start' or 'Resume' button below the course image to enter the course.

I'm in the dashboard and can't seem to access online courses—help!

You may be trying to access your Living Future Education account from your Living Future Member Dashboard. These are actually two separate platforms with distinct login credentials. For simplicity, we recommend using the same email address for both.

The Living Future Member Dashboard contains member-only resources related to LFA registration, as well as tools for project and product registration.  The Membership Team can help you gain access to your Member Dashboard and answer questions regarding your membership.

The Living Future Education dashboard is where you'll find your online courses. Living Future Education is available for members and non-members, and no account is required to browse the course catalog. The Education Team can help you gain access to your courses and answer questions regarding online learning — please check the rest of these FAQs first though!

Have you previously enrolled in a Living Future Education on-demand course? If not, you'll have the opportunity to 'Sign Up' and create an online learning account when you enroll in your first course. From then on, you can use those account details to log in to view your enrolled courses or enroll in more. 

To log into your existing online learning account, click the orange 'Login' button on the top right of the Living Future Education dashboard homepage.

If you are indeed in the Living Future Member Dashboard, you can click the 'ONLINE LEARNING' image tile to be redirected to Living Future Education. Note: anyone can access Living Future Education; the button on the Member Dashboard is simply a shortcut for members' convenience.

Alternatively, even if you don't have a Living Future account of any kind, you can still visit the Education dashboard directly at http://education.living-future.org.

Help — I forgot my Living Future Education password, and I'm not receiving the password re-set email!

If you've forgotten your password:

  1. Click the orange 'Login' button on the top right of the Living Future Education dashboard homepage.
  2. At the bottom of the popup, click 'Forgot Password?' and enter your username or email address associated with your account.
  3. Look for an email from <noreply.education@living-future.org>, subject "Living Future Education Password Reset" in the inbox (and spam folder) of your account address.*
    4. *Note that your membership and online learning accounts are hosted on two separate platforms (each with their own login credentials). We recommend you use the same email address for both sites, just for simplicity.

If you do not receive the password re-set message, it's likely that there is no account associated with your username/email address. Remember, this system is separate from your Living Future Membership account (see above for details!), so make sure you're not using your Member Dashboard credentials. 

If you believe that you do have a Living Future Education account, first check your spam folder for the automated message. 

If you still haven't received the password re-set message, please reach out to education@living-future.org for support.

How do I change my Living Future Education account profile details (email, username, password, etc.)?

Please reach out to education@living-future.org for support.

Where do I find a certificate of completion for my online course?

Log into the Living Future Education dashboard. Remember, this system is separate from your Living Future Member Dashboard – see above for details! 

Once you're logged in, click on 'Transcript' on the right side below the header image to see your certificates of completion and your course enrollments.

To download your certificate, click the orange 'Download' button and a PDF will load in a separate tab. Please be patient — downloads take a couple of minutes!

Living Future Education Online Learning & Your LFA

Are there any substitutions for LFA Foundational Curriculum on-demand courses?

Short answer: yes! The LFA Foundational Curriculum includes a set list of courses offering deep dives into the Living Future Challenges (Products, Buildings, and Communities) and introductions to all of our transparency labels and initiatives. All courses are available on-demand in our online learning system and, periodically, at in-person workshops and events.

For example, check out our  in-person LBC 4.0 workshops offered around the country (and beyond!) to earn 4 Foundational LFA CE credits (as a substitute for the on-demand version of this course, the 4-hour Understanding the LBC).

See here for details about credits from LF20 Online (May 7 + 8 and the Summit + Session Series).

For a complete list of all currently approved substitutions (live deliveries in lieu of on-demand courses), please see below. Exemptions listed directly beneath a topic heading indicate that all courses within that topic category may be skipped:

Understanding the Living Building Challenge and Affordable Housing, 6 LFA CE credits total

Living Community Challenge,  3 LFA CE credits total
Living Future unConference 2019 (LF190430ULCC) or Living Future unConference 2018 (LF18ULCC) or Kern NP19 conference pass or Kern NP18 conference pass or ULCC Workshop San Francisco 03/29/2019
Living Product Challenge & Declare,  4 LFA CE credits total
Living Future unConference 2019 (LF190501CTL) or Living Future unConference 2018 (LF18HHM) or Living Product Expo 2019 conference pass or Living Product Expo 2018 conference pass
Zero Energy & Reveal,  4 LFA CE credits total
Living Future unConference 2019 (LF190501TZAB) or Living Future unConference 2018 (LF18NPE) or NZ19 conference pass or NZ191004ZEAW
Biophilic Design,  2 LFA CE credits total
Living Future unConference 2019 (LF190501BDS) or Living Future unConference 2018 (LF18BDS) or Oceana Biophilia Summit 2019
Just,  1 LFA CE credit total
Living Future 2020 Online (LF200507BOV) or Living Future unConference 2019 (LF190501JOS or LF190503IJ2P) or Living Future unConference 2018 (LF18JUSTB)

Living Future Membership

I just purchased/upgraded/renewed my membership but the changes are not reflected on my dashboard.

Thanks for supporting the Institute! Your membership renewal/upgrade/purchase might still be processing. If you don't see that change reflected on your Member Dashboard within the next 72 hours, feel free to reach out directly to our Membership team at membership@living-future.org.

Reporting your LFA CE Credits

How do I report the credits that I am earning / have earned towards the LFA?

LFA CE credits earned via Living Future Education online courses will be automatically recorded through the online learning system. There is no need to report these credits individually.

Credits earned from other sources (whether ILFI or not) must be self-reported through Living Future Education to appear on your transcript. 

Are you ready to self-report General LFA CE credits or access the Fast Track? Log in to education.living-future.org and record the details on your transcript here.

How do I report the credits that I am earning / have earned to external providers? (AIA, GBCI, etc.)

AIA: LFA-approved education that is also approved for AIA LU|HSW or AIA LU credit is reported to AIA by ILFI on your behalf. You'll need to add your AIA member number to your Living Future Member and Living Future Education accounts. If you have done this and do not see the education listed on your AIA transcript, please reach out to education@living-future.org.

GBCI: ILFI is not an official education provider for USGBC, but much of our education is still eligible for GBCI CEs if self-reported by the learner. USGBC members can, and are encouraged to, self-report ILFI education for GBCI CEs by logging into their USGBC.org account and submitting details for review.

Others: If you would like to self-report any ILFI education for other providers' accreditations and you require a certificate of attendance/completion for your submission, please request one from education@living-future.org. Certificates for your online course completions may be accessed via your Living Future Education account (see above).

How can I track my credits earned / progress?

Once logged in, view your Living Future Education transcript to see the total credits recorded and reported towards your LFA. At any time, you may also choose to opt in for automatic, regularly-scheduled progress update emails. 

Note that LFA CE credits earned via Living Future Education online courses will be automatically recorded through the online learning system. There is no need to report these credits individually. Credits earned from other sources (whether ILFI or not) must be self-reported through Living Future Education to appear on your transcript. 

How far back may I reach to report LFA credits?

All credits must be achieved within one year of enrolling in LFA. Credits acquired up to two years prior to your achievement deadline may be considered. If you are unable to complete the requirements within one year, you must re-apply by submitting a new LFA enrollment.

Is there a final exam for achieving LFA?

No, but there are periodic knowledge checks throughout the process. Each on-demand course includes at least one quiz that must be passed with over 80% correct in order to receive credit. Some courses also include reading assignments and other essay-based activities spliced into the recordings.

Earning your LFA CE Credits

How can I earn General LFA CE credits?

For starters, check out our online offerings! With an internet connection, you have access to a plethora of education that you may complete from the comfort of your own workplace or home, on your own schedule.

General education allows you to specialize in the topic areas of your choosing. This education may be earned from a variety of sources, including but not limited to:

Those who already hold an active green building credential, such as LEED AP, may be eligible to Fast Track their completion of the 16 General CE credits requirement. In order to achieve LFA on the Fast Track, report completion of your General credits by submitting proof (of the other green building credential you currently hold) in your Living Future Education account.

See below for a list of common green building credentials that would qualify, and feel free to inquire about eligibility of another credential if it does not appear on this list. Eligibility is determined by whether the credential requires a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education within two years.

  • BREEAM
  • CPHC (PHI / PHIUS)
  • EcoDistricts
  • Green Star (Int’l GBC)
  • LA CES
  • LEED
  • WELL

Are you ready to Fast Track your LFA? Any time after enrollment, log in to education.living-future.org and upload evidence of your active credential to your transcript here.

Is there a list of pre-approved readings?

We no longer have a dedicated reading list available, as we only offer credit for reading Ecotone books published by ILFI. Details on how to successfully complete the LFA credit requirements after reading a book, and how to self-report these credits on your transcript, can be found here in the Living Future Education online education platform.

How many LFA CE credits did I earn from the non-ILFI event I attended?

Credits earned per event are generally equal to hours that the event lasts, with the omission of lunch breaks or happy hour/social components. If you have a registration confirmation from your event, that'd be a great place to look. If not, you can provide a bit more detail (full event title, date, + location) and we will verify the information from your report. If you would like to inquire about eligibility before the event takes place, please reach out to education@living-future.org.

Note: General LFA CE credits for live education may be earned through educational content delivered by other established education providers, such as the following professional accrediting bodies: AIA (American + Australian), GBCI, IDCEC, BREEAM, etc. We accept only live-delivery education credits from other providers.

Please let us know about your local events and inquire about the eligibility of specific continuing education content toward the requirement by providing details about the content and provider to LFA@living-future.org. 

Providers interested in offering LFA CE credits for an educational opportunity can fill up this form with details and the Education Team will be in touch.

How many LFA CE credits did I earn from the Living Future Conference, and how do I report them towards my LFA?

Credits are earned based on education sessions completed, with each session specifying details in the online description. 

Attending the LF22 conference provided the opportunity to complete at least 16 General LFA CE credits— that’s half of your LFA education completed! Achieving LFA for the first time also requires the LFA Foundational Curriculum course package, which is always available online and on-demand. Log into your Living Future Education account to review your transcript for what requirements you may be missing.

To self-report your LFA CE credits completed at the 2022 Living Future Conference:

  1. (prerequisite): enroll in the LFA Foundational Curriculum
  2. (prerequisite): obtain your LF22 certificate of attendance
  1. Log into your Living Future Education account (separate from membership)
  2. Navigate to the "Self Reporting" section and click into the 2022 Living Future Conference
  3. Locate the tile that corresponds to the TOTAL number of completed credits displayed on your certificate (live + replay)
  4. Enroll and upload your certificate of attendance

How many LFA CE credits did I earn from the Living Product Expo?

We hope you found the Expo to be an educationally enriching experience. Credits are earned based on education sessions attended, with each session specifying details in the program and online description. Additional shoulder events, such as tours and workshops leading up to the opening night, may be reported in addition to these main expo credits. 

Note: Attendance was not recorded for the keynotes, and thus is not reported to AIA. However, you are welcome to self-report 1.5 LFA CE credits per session (to include the keynote + 15 MOB speakers) towards your Living Future Accreditation. To self-report your credits, log into your Living Future Education account here.

How many LFA CE credits did I earn from the Net Positive Symposium?

We hope you found the Symposium to be an educationally enriching experience. Credits earned for attendance and participation in the  2019 Net Positive Symposium at the R.W. Kern Center: A Higher Education Event are based on education sessions attended, with each session specifying details in the program. Attendance at the 2018 Kern Net Positive Symposium for Higher Education / 2018 Net Positive Atlanta: Subtropical Solutions Symposium was 7 credits. Additional shoulder events, such as tours and workshops leading up to the opening night, may be reported in addition to these 7 credits. To self-report your credits, log into your Living Future Education account here.

How many LFA CE credits did I earn from Building Resilience?

We hope you enjoyed the 2019 Building Resilience conference! Building Resilience, the first national gathering of building professionals focused exclusively on resilient communities, was November 7-8, 2019 at the Downtown Cleveland Hilton in Cleveland, OH.

Credits earned for attendance and participation are based on education sessions attended, with each session specifying details in the program. Additional shoulder events, such as tours and workshops leading up to the opening night, may be reported in addition to the main session credits. To self-report your credits, log into your Living Future Education account here.

Do I need to earn LFA CE credits from Project Team Work?

It's not a requirement by any means—we simply want to offer credit to those who do have access to this opportunity for a real world, hands-on, Institute-approved educational experience. Registered Project Team Work (hands-on experience working on or auditing registered or certified projects of Living Product Challenge, Living Building Challenge / Core, Living Community Challenge, Zero Carbon, or Zero Energy, or on a Just, Declare, or Reveal Label, where you are or have been a contributing team member to the design or construction/manufacturing/certification of the project) is eligible for 8 LFA credits/project, up to 16 LFA credits/year. To self-report your credits, log into your Living Future Education account here.

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