What is the Fitwel Star Certification process?

All phases of the Fitwel Star Certification process from start to finish

Updated: Timelines for updated Fitwel Loyalty tiers (Champion, Champion+, and Premium).

Note: If you were looking for the Fitwel FSP Scale Certification process, please refer to the article here.

The Fitwel Star Certification process is composed of the following phases:

All phases are conducted through the Fitwel digital platform, which keeps a record of all information and documentation included by both the project team and the reviewing team throughout the certification process. 

1. Registration & Fee Payment

The project team pays the project Registration fee* and inputs basic project information in the Fitwel platform. Registration provides access to the interactive scorecard on the Fitwel digital platform, benchmarking capability, and performance data that summarizes a project's areas of strength and opportunity. The project team will be required to select the project Scorecard based on the project’s scope and typology, as well as the Certification Type (Design or Built), based on the stage of development and occupation of the project.

*Registration fee is in addition to Star Certification fees, paid upon project submission (see step 3).

2. Documentation

All phases of the documentation and reviewing processes are conducted through the Fitwel platform, which keeps a record of all information and documentation included by both the project team and the reviewing team throughout the certification process. 

The project team checks the digital Fitwel Scorecard on the Fitwel platform, selects all strategies to be pursued, and attaches documentation that demonstrates compliance with all corresponding strategy requirements.

3. Submission & Certification Fee Payment

When all strategies are fully documented, project teams may submit for review by Fitwel. At this stage, the project team is required to complete payment of a Star Certification fee, which is calculated based on the project’s size.

Note: The Submission Date is based on the date the Scorecard is submitted on the Fitwel platform and the Star Certification Fee payment is received, whichever is the latest.

For the Fitwel pricing table, please refer to our website here.

4. Fitwel Reviewing Process

Fitwel maintains a rigorous third-party reviewing process, with project submissions evaluated by qualified consultants. After Submission, the reviewing process officially starts and is composed of three main phases: Initial Review, Client Response, and Final Review. 

Initial Review

The Fitwel reviewing team conducts an initial assessment of the documentation submitted for review, confirming if it properly demonstrates compliance with the Fitwel requirements. Upon completion of the assessment, the reviewing team provides an Initial Review report with guidance to project teams on how to further clarify the documentation in order to achieve any outstanding strategy.

Client Response

The project team has an opportunity to respond to the Initial Review comments, provide clarifying information, as well as submit supplementary compliance documentation to pursue additional strategies, if desired.

Note: Reviewing timelines are based on a typical Client Response phase of 4 weeks, which may be extended as needed upon request to the Fitwel Certification Team. Any extensions to the Client Response phase will push the subsequent Final Review phase, which may impact the expected date of completion of the reviewing process.

Final Review & Certification

The Final Review is the last phase of the certification process. The Fitwel Certification Team conducts the final assessment of the documentation provided, validating the project's performance against the Fitwel Standard, identifying all strategies that meet the requirements criteria, and granting a final numerical score that corresponds to the sum of all strategies achieved. If any strategy(ies) is not achieved, the Certification Team provides final comments with guidance to support project teams to achieve the strategy(ies) in the future (whether through the Remediation process or upon Recertification). Upon completion of the final assessment, the reviewing team provides a Final Review report that consolidates both the Initial and Final Review comments, as well as the project’s final score. 

Star Certification Materials

Projects that achieve 90 points or more receive a Fitwel Star rating. In addition to the Final Review report, those projects receive a Fitwel Certificate and a Letter of Recognition highlighting their outstanding commitment in Building Health for All®. 

Fitwel Star Rating

Fitwel Star Review Timelines

The entire reviewing process takes up to 16 weeks, and expedited reviews are provided to some Fitwel user types:

For General Users: 16-week typical review timeline

Initial Review (6 weeks), Client Response (4 weeks), Final Review (2 weeks)

For Ambassadors, Champion+ Companies, Champion+ Providers: 12-week expedited review timeline

Initial Review (6 weeks), Client Response (4 weeks), Final Review (2 weeks)

Important Note: For Champion Companies and Champion Providers, the review timeline follows the Submitter type (General User or Ambassador).

For Premium Providers: 10-week expedited review timeline

Initial Review (4 weeks), Client Response (4 weeks), Final Review (2 weeks)

For projects that wish to be certified within a specific calendar year, please keep in mind our Annual Submission Deadlines, which are also available for reference in our Help Center. Please refer to the article Fitwel Star Certification annual submission deadlines here.

To learn more about the Fitwel Loyalty Program, please visit our website here.

Fitwel Star Certification Validation Period

Fitwel Star Certification is valid for up to 3 years. To maintain its Fitwel Certified status without lapse, the project is required to initiate Recertification at any point within three years from the initial Star Certification award, before the expiration date. 

For more information about the Recertification process, please refer to our Help Center article here.

Optional Remediation Process to Improve Project’s Score

For project teams who intend to improve their final score, Fitwel offers the Remediation Process, which is available for up to one year from the project’s original Star Certification date. 

For more information about the Remediation process, please refer to our Help Center article here.

To get started, please download for free the Fitwel Star Certification Starter Kit Bundle on our website here.