CANDIDATE GUIDE STP Professional Accreditation 10.26.2017 www.greenroads.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to the Greenroads STP Credentials... 1 Summary of STP Credentials... 1 How Does This Credential Fit Into the Education Program?... 1 Who Should Be a STP?... 2 Candidate Qualifications... 2 English as a Second Language... 2 Documented Disabilities and Special Accommodations... 2 Alternatives to Testing... 2 STP Benefits... 3 Formal Use of Greenroads STP Title... 3 STP Wall Certificate and Digital STP Badge... 3 Digital STP Badge... 3 STP Directory Listing... 3 Earn Project Points... 3 How Greenroads Online Exams Work... 4 Format... 4 Greenroads Academy: Platform... 4 Cut Score Determination... 4 How to Register as a Candidate... 5 Registration Steps... 5 Group Registration... 5 Website Help... 5 Exam Expiration... 5 Pricing... 5 No Refunds... 5 How to Access the Exam... 6 From Your Greenroads Profile Page... 6 From the Learning Management System (Greenroads Academy)... 6 Your Exam Results... 7 Notification Schedule... 7 How Will I Know My Score?... 7 What if I Don t Pass?... 7 Grading Disputes... 7 Maintaining Your STP Credential... 8 Limitations of this Guide... 9 i
INTRODUCTION TO THE GREENROADS STP CREDENTIALS Welcome to the Greenroads Candidate Guide for the Sustainable Transportation Professional (STP) Exams and Certificate Courses. Congratulations on considering the Greenroads STP Credential Program as a way to demonstrate your knowledge about sustainable transportation. Greenroads has created this Guide to aid you while you prepare for your next professional credential. This Guide provides a short summary of how the Greenroads STP Credentialing Program fits into the Greenroads Education Program and details the program benefits, policies and procedures, including how you can use and maintain your credential once you earn it. Exam descriptions and study materials are available separately. SUMMARY OF STP CREDENTIALS In the truest sense of the term, the STP Credentials are designed to give successfully accredited individuals sustainable street cred. This means that you, the Candidate, desire to demonstrate to others in your profession or field that you are one of a distinct class of individuals with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable transportation. One of the ways to demonstrate this knowledge is by completing a standardized exam. The STP Credentialing Program for Greenroads involves different tiers of such knowledge, increasing in applicationbased knowledge and specialization areas with each higher level of exam. STP exams cover best practice competencies in five topic areas, which are roughly based on the categories in the Greenroads Rating System. Environment & Water (EW) Access & Livability (AL) Materials & Design (MD) Construction Activities (CA) Utilities & Controls (UC) HOW DOES THIS CREDENTIAL FIT INTO THE EDUCATION PROGRAM? The Greenroads Sustainable Transportation Education Program is one of three charitable programs for transportation infrastructure administered by the 501(c)(3) non profit organization, Greenroads Foundation. The Program includes three major components that align directly with the program s goals: Cultivate a community of experts knowledgeable in sustainable transportation Provide Greenroads Members with ongoing educational opportunities Promote the most current and credible research and connect it to industry The first component is addressed by the STP Credential Program. You can read more about the Education Program at www.greenroads.org/learn. 1
WHO SHOULD BE A STP? The Greenroads STP Exams are designed for anyone working in, or wishing to work in, the sustainable transportation field. This includes designers, planners, government agencies, contractors, and students who may someday participate on a sustainable transportation project, including Greenroads projects. CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS Level 1 Minimum Requirements You must be 18 years of age. In the future, additional eligibility requirements may be imposed, such as nature of current or past employment, educational experience, or Greenroads Project experience. Level 2 Minimum Requirements Meet the Level 1 Requirements and have successfully passed the Level 1 Exam. Level 3 Minimum Requirements Meet the Level 1 and Level 2 Requirements and have successfully passed the Level 2 Exam and participated on at least one registered Greenroads Project. ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE The Greenroads STP Exams are based on the Greenroads Rating System, which is written in English with an American dialect and includes technical vocabulary which may vary in dialect across English speaking countries. Non native English speakers may require additional study time and preparation to take the English version of the exam. Feedback from the Alpha class surveys indicates that the non native speakers tend to take closer to the full time allocated for the exam than native speakers. Please note that the exam times are the same for everyone. Greenroads is developing multiple language versions of the exams and releases these versions after vetting the translations through our rockstar bilingual STPs that have passed the English versions of the exam. If you are interested in volunteering to help Greenroads translate the exam into other languages, please contact us at learn@greenroads.org so that we can better serve our globally located Candidates. The following translations are in progress as of the date of this guide: Mandarin, Spanish, French, Arabic, Icelandic, Norwegian and Hebrew. DOCUMENTED DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS If you have a documented disability, Greenroads will provide you reasonable test taking accommodations. You must notify Greenroads of your need for accommodation during the registration process. Greenroads will contact you upon receipt of your information to discuss your individual needs. ALTERNATIVES TO TESTING We recognize testing is not for everyone. Starting in 2016, volunteering 40 hours in one year for Greenroads Foundation for approved volunteer activities, while tracking your time on Greenroads time tracking system for volunteers (Track It Forward), is an alternate way to earn the STP Brown Badge as well as other special recognition for your time and support. This approach is not an officially accredited examination program. 2
STP BENEFITS STP credentials provide the following benefits for as long as your STP credential is maintained in good standing. STP credentials are vaild for two years following successful completion of each exam. FORMAL USE OF GREENROADS STP TITLE Upon successful completion of the exam, you may use the official designation Greenroads Sustainable Transportation Professional. The abbreviated form of this title is STP or Greenroads STP after your name, and it may be displayed and used on documents such as business cards, your résumé, social media pages, or other routine business correspondence like email or letters. Subscript characters or numbers may be used to identify the credential level achieved if desired: for example, STP and STP 2. Finally, while Greenroads is a registered trademark, the is not required to be used by STPs when describing the credential. For Level 1 STPs, you may use the title Greenroads Community Advocate, or a combination of the brand and acronym Greenroads STP CA, or the standalone acronym STP CA. STP WALL CERTIFICATE AND DIGITAL STP BADGE A printable, electronic wall certificate will be provided to Candidates that successfully pass the exam upon request. A printed certificate can be mailed to the STP for a small print fee of $10.00 ($20.00 for international STPs), upon direct request to Greenroads Foundation. DIGITAL STP BADGE A digital STP badge graphic is provided for personal use upon completing each level of exam. Level 1 Brown Level 2 Orange Level 3 Blue STP DIRECTORY LISTING The STP Directory is located online at (www.greenroads.org/stpdirectory). Individuals that successfully pass STP Exams are listed publicly on the Greenroads Website and announced in public newsletters regarding the Credential Program. The privacy of displaying your credential information can also be modified at any time by contacting Greenroads. Greenroads Foundation respects all privacy requests and treats personal information very carefully. The Directory is updated with names of recent graduates on a routine (approximately monthly) basis. EARN PROJECT POINTS The STP is not required to participate or manage a Greenroads Project that is Registered for the Project Rating Program. Both the Level 1 (Community Advocate) and Level 2 (Project Associate) accreditation exams must be completed in order to earn points on a Greenroads Project as a member of a Project Team. 3
HOW GREENROADS ONLINE EXAMS WORK This section describes the general structure and format of the exam so Candidates know what to expect. Study materials for each exam are available on the learning management system platform and are accessible to Candidates once registered. FORMAT The STP Exams are open book, online exams that have time limits. There are three potential question formats: multiple choice, multiple answer, and true/false. Examples of each question type are provided below, with correct answers underlined. Example of a Multiple Choice Question What is the operative definition of sustainability used by Greenroads? a. A system characteristic that supports natural laws and human values b. The triple bottom line c. The capacity to endure d. Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Example of a Multiple Answer Question Which of the following are components of sustainability as identified by Greenroads? (Select one or more.) a. Ecology b. Equity c. Economy d. Energy Example of a True/False Question The mission of the Greenroads Foundation is to support natural laws and human values. a. True b. False GREENROADS ACADEMY: PLATFORM Greenroads uses an open source Learning Management System (LMS) called Moodle (www.moodle.org). CUT SCORE DETERMINATION Greenroads wants its STP Credentials to be representative of an above average level of knowledge in sustainable transportation. Greenroads establishes preliminary cut score for the STP exam of 80%., typically a grade that is considered Above Average in most educational institutions. A majority of Candidates meet or exceed the cut score on their first attempt. For all exams, question and response data will be reviewed and analyzed using standard psychometric methods 1 before final scores are assigned and Candidates are notified of their results. Greenroads will summarize how the exams were graded as well as aggregate results of each version in order to maintain transparency in the process. 1 American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association and National Council on Measurement in Education. (1999). Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. 2 nd Edition. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association. 4
HOW TO REGISTER AS A CANDIDATE An active user account on the Greenroads Website is required to register for the STP Exams. Account requirements include a valid email address and your personal contact information as well as your current affiliation information (such as a company or other organization). REGISTRATION STEPS Navigate to the Greenroads Website at www.greenroads.org/exams and log into your user account to sign up. You will be prompted to select the exam or exams you would like to take and asked for a credit card to make your purchase. You may also request an invoice to pay by check. You may immediately access the exam upon successful registration and get started reviewing the study materials that are available in the online course where the exam is located. Greenroads reviews all registrations. Greenroads may contact you and request that you provide supporting information if you are eligible for special pricing (see Pricing below). Group Registration Non member groups can register for the Exam by contacting learn@greenroads.org. An administrative fee of $50 for each group may be added to the group registration invoice. The invoice will be sent electronically to the requester. Discounts are available for groups of 25 or more. Member of Greenroads can register with assistance from your organization s Group Manager using a referral link to set up a user account that is connected to the membership benefits for the organization. WEBSITE HELP If you are having trouble with your login, registration, or payment, please contact support@greenroads.org. EXAM EXPIRATION Your Exam Registration will expire in 1 year or if you do not pass any of the attempts available. PRICING The current prices for the exams are posted on the Website. Greenroads Foundation reserves the right to modify or change pricing from time to time. Generally, special pricing arrangements exist for Greenroads Members. Also, students currently enrolled at least part time at a higher education institution may be eligible for student pricing. Additional information, such as proof of academic status, professional references, or other identifying information, may be requested by Greenroads Foundation to verify student or employment status. NO REFUNDS Any fees paid for the STP exams are non refundable. 5
HOW TO ACCESS THE EXAM There are two ways to access the exam when you are ready. The exam is also mobile friendly. FROM YOUR GREENROADS PROFILE PAGE Navigate to your My Profile Page on the Greenroads website on the navigation menu, and select the option labeled Courses. FROM THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (GREENROADS ACADEMY) You are also able to access the exam from the Greenroads Academy, our online learning management system at http://learn.greenroads.org and login to the site in the upper right corner with your Greenroads Website username and password. This is a separate site, please note there is no www in the link. Figure 1. Home screen of Greenroads Academy. 6
YOUR EXAM RESULTS Exams are automatically graded. The exam score displays upon successful submittal of the exam online. NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE Greenroads staff checks and verifies passing scores routinely. and announces successful STPs via our electronic newsletter approximately once per month HOW WILL I KNOW MY SCORE? Once you complete the exam, your exam score will show immediately. WHAT IF I DON T PASS? It is not expected that every Candidate taking the exam will be able to pass the exam. There are three attempts for each Candidate per registration. You will not be able to review any incorrect answers. Wait Period 2 nd Attempt. All Candidates that do not pass the exam on the first attempt will be eligible to retest in 30 days. Wait Period 3 rd Attempt. All Candidates that do not pass the exam on the second attempt will be eligible to retest in 60 days. Repeat Exams. There is currently no limit to the number of times that the exam may be retaken, however you may only have one registration per year per exam. GRADING DISPUTES If you do not feel you were fairly examined, you may contact Greenroads at learn@greenroads.org to discuss your situation. If we find we have made an error, we will reassess your score accordingly. 7
MAINTAINING YOUR STP CREDENTIAL Continuing education is a core conceptof the Education Program. Greenroads Sustainable Transportation Professionals are expected to maintain their credential over time by participating in continuing education through educational programs provided by Greenroads or our educational partner organizations. More details on credential maintenance can be found on the Greenroads Website. We believe in simplicity, especially for credential maintenance. All Greenroads STP credentials require ongoing maintenance which can be satisfied through: Paying an annual or biannual renewal fee for each badge level earned. Repeating most recent exam level every two years (may not retake same version). Attending STP only refresher webinars, other educational courses, or recorded webinars (especially in conjunction with Rating System updates) Project participation. Keep your STP active by working on a registered project or register one yourself, and earn points for your team. Volunteering a minimum of 8 hours per year for Greenroads (participate in committees, research, local advocacy, help out at events or the office, and many other ways). Higher badges earned require additional volunteer hours to maintain the credential. You are responsible for maintaining your own professional credential in good standing. If none of the above items are satisfied upon your renewal date, your name will be deactivated and removed from the STP Directory and you will no longer be able to use the STP acronym in your professional practice. 8
LIMITATIONS OF THIS GUIDE Greenroads has designed its STP Credential Program for Level 1 and Level 2 to comply with the current American National Standards Institute/International Organization for Standardization (ANSI/ISO) 17024 standard for accreditation of people. However, it is important to note that the Greenroads STP Credential Program has not been specifically recognized or audited by ANSI/ISO at the time this Guide is published, so an STP Credential should be understood to be specifically related to skills examined within the scope of this document only and as related to, or to be used within the scope of, the Greenroads Foundation s charitable and educational programs. Greenroads will likely seek ANSI/ISO 17024 certification for the STP Credential Program at a later date, after a sufficient amount of exam data is available for audit and review by ANSI/ISO. It is possible that this certification may not apply retroactively to individuals who successfully complete the STP exam, or any other early exam versions under the STP Credential Program. 9