Passive House Designer/Consultant Exam
Sit the Passive House designer exam to gain certification
and lead your industry.
About the exam
One of the ways to gain certification as a Passive House designer or consultant is to pass an internationally recognised exam provided by the Passive House Institute, Passive House’s international governing body. Students at Smart Plus Academy can take the Passive House Institute exam with us in one of two forms: either in person at a testing location in Sydney or remotely at a location with a suitable internet connection (such as a home or office).
The exam takes three hours if sat on site or three and a half hours if sat remotely. It includes design and mathematical components as well as multiple-choice questions.
To ease your mind when you take the exam, we offer a unique certification guarantee. Should you not pass within three attempts, we will refund your exam fee. (Applies only to students who have completed the full certification package, not individual components.)
But relax. You will be in the best possible position to gain certification with the world governing body, the Passive House Institute. Over 95 percent of our students pass the exam on the first attempt.

Gaining your certification
The exam is not the only way to gain certification as a Passive House designer or consultant. You have two options:
Pass the international written exam provided by Smart Plus Academy (SPA).
Germany’s Passive House Institute provides us with all the examination documents and files. Once you have sat the exam, SPA will conduct an initial assessment and then send your paper to the Passive House Institute. The Institute then carries out the final marking ahead of issuing certification to those who have passed.
or
Design a certified Passive House (NOT offered by SPA)
(See details under renewing certification)
Renewing your certification
To remain certified as a Passive House designer or consultant your certification must be renewed after the first five years and then again every two years. You can do this in two ways:
Earn further education credit points
Not every graduate is actively involved in Passive House projects and able to present evidence of this work. It is possible to renewing your certification by instead teaching Passive House courses and attending related events and advanced training.
or
Design a certified Passive House (NOT offered by SPA)
You can renew your certification by documenting a certified Passive House, EnerPHit retrofit or PHI Low Energy Building where you exercised full responsibility for the building design and the project planning with the PHPP. Project documentation can be used to earn or renew the certificate for one person per building.

The difference between ‘designer’ and ‘consultant’
Certified Passive House ‘designers’ and ‘consultants’ both receive identical educations and their qualifications have equal weight within the Passive House Institute. The different titles reflect the type of education a graduate has previously undertaken. In short, a graduate with a university degree related to the building industry is referred to as a designer and those without such a degree are referred to as consultants.
Establishing which group an applicant belongs to is not always easy, given the diverse educational qualifications, professions and the legal provisions relating to buildings worldwide. For this reason, the Passive House Institute has specified two possible methods for obtaining certification as a Certified Passive House Designer. These are:
- Providing proof of an educational qualification which enables you to plan buildings or technical building systems independently. This educational qualification should have reached a certain level (e.g. diploma or bachelor degree) and have been attained in a specialised subject which primarily involves the planning of buildings or building services systems.
- Providing proof of membership in an institution, whose members are entitled to provide planning services which are subject to approval by a building authority (e.g. Chamber of Architects).
You qualify for the Designer title if you have the following educational qualification:
- Architect, building designer or interior designer
- Civil, timber, structure mechanical or construction engineer
- Building physicist
- Building and energy technology engineer
- Master carpenter or builders licence
- Certified technician for structural engineering, building construction, heating plumbing and ventilation technology or supply technology
Please provide evidence of having achieved any of the above qualifications when you register for the exam.
Exam dates & fees
Please note that Passive House Designer Exam can only be booked in combination with The Complete Passive House Designer Certification Package.
Passive House Designer/Consultant Exam
- ONLINE EXAM
3.5 hours - FACE-TO-FACE EXAM
3.0 hours
(Sydney) TBC
Save on your tuition fees and receive a certification guarantee by booking The Complete Passive House Designer Certification Package now.
Dates
COURSE | ONLINE EXAM | FACE TO FACE EXAM | |
---|---|---|---|
01.03.2021 – 16.03.2021 (every Mon to Wed) Time: 09:00 – 17:00 AEDT (GMT+10:00)+ 1-3 hours of homework daily | Fri, 22.03.2021 Fri, 23.03.2021 | Sat, 20.03.2021 (Sydney )* | FULLY BOOKED |
17.05.2021 – 10.06.2021 (every Mon and Thu) Time: 09:00 – 17:00 AEDT (GMT+10:00)+ 1-3 hours of homework daily | Mon, 21.06.2021 Tue, 22.06.2021 | Sat, 19.06.2021 (Sydney )* | |
02.08.2021 – 25.08.2021 (every Mon and Wed) Time: 09:00 – 17:00 AEDT (GMT+10:00)+ 1-3 hours of homework daily | Mon, 06.09.2021 Tue, 07.09.2021 | Sat, 16.10.2021 (Sydney )* | |
22.11.2021 – 02.12.2021 (every Mon to Fri) Time: 09:00 – 17:00 AEDT (GMT+10:00)+ 1-3 hours of homework daily | Mon, 13.12.2021 Tue, 14.12.2021 | Sat, 11.12.2021 (Sydney )* |
* Due to COVID-19, the final exam may not be provided on a face-to-face.
Course details
Prerequisites
Completion of the certified Passive House Designer Course
Materials Required for exam
Materials required include: a scientific calculator and coloured pens. Note that course notes, manuals and any printed material can be used.
Online exam specific:
Students need to supply their own PC or Mac computer for the exam. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they have an adequate data connection. Speeds of 16 MBPS are required for the final online exam. A mobile phone or tablet with web camera and microphone capabilities is required additional to the computer with speed of Speeds of 4 MBPS.
Face-to-face specific:
If fewer than seven people attend the course in your location additional changes apply.
1 – 3 people at the location + $500,
4 – 6 at the location + $250,
7 + at the location no extra charge.
Teachers
What our students say
How it works
Save on your tuition fees and receive a certification guarantee by booking The Complete Passive House Designer Certification Package now.