Step 1: Complete the appropriate recertification tool 

All projects pursuing recertification are required to complete and upload the applicable version of the Recertification Tool as part of their analysis and documentation submission.  

In this tool, project teams are asked to identify any changes made to interior design, food service, exterior design, cleaning protocols, mechanical systems, organizational policy, overall structure, and plumbing systems over the three years since initial certification. Projects are then asked to indicate which features were achieved during initial certification. Based on the features pursued during initial certification and any changes made, features are once again verified and noted in the ‘Documentation’ and ‘Performance Verification’ tabs of the recertification tool. If the recertification tool indicates that a feature requires “Normal” documentation, but the change made does not affect compliance, upload a narrative stating this in place of the “Normal” documentation. The ‘‘Upgrade - v2 Documentation’ tab can be used by project teams to help identify what is required for WELL v2 verification and documentation submission. 

For detailed instructions regarding how to use the Recertification Tool for WELL v1 projects, view the Use the recertification tool page. 

Step 2 (only applicable to projects upgrading to v2): Indicate achieved features in WELL Online

Identify which WELL Building Standard v1/v2 pilot features your project achieved during Certification and will be pursuing for recertification by referencing your WELL v1/v2 pilot final WELL Report. Mark the applicable features in your WELL account by following the steps below: 

1. Open your v2 recertification project in WELL Online
2. Navigate to the WELL Scorecard tab 
3. Based on the completed recertification tool, mark “Yes” for all of the v2 equivalent features you had achieved under v1/v2 pilot during initial certification and will be pursuing for recertification
4. NOTE: No documents need to be uploaded for already achieved features except indicating in the WELL v2 scorecard that the team is still pursuing the feature by marking ‘Yes’.

Step 3 (Optional): Pursue new features 

You may pursue new features at the time of recertification. You will need to provide full documentation for any new features that are being pursued and can reference feature requirements and verification methods for new features in the WELL v1, WELL v2 pilot or WELL v2 digital standard (depending on the version under which your project will be pursuing recertification).

WELL v1 

To indicate that you are pursuing a new feature at the time of recertification, navigate to your recertification project dashboard and click on the Scorecard tab. Click on the feature you will be pursuing and press "Yes" as indicated below. 

WELL v2/v2 pilot

To indicate that you are pursuing a new feature at the time of recertification, navigate to your recertification project dashboard and click on the Scorecard tab. Click on the feature you will be pursuing and press "Yes" as indicated below.

Step 4 (Optional) Upgrade features to WELL v2  

Features achieved during initial certification through an Alternative Adherence Path (AAP)

You can use the applicable version of the recertification tool to assess if additional documentation is needed for a feature that was achieved through an AAP during initial certification. 

If no documentation is listed for the feature for projects pursuing recertification under their initial certification version, or if the documentation in the “Upgrade - v2 Features” tab is listed as “expected”, for projects upgrading to WELL v2, no further documentation is needed at the time of recertification. The previously-approved AAP will be valid for recertification and you will not need to submit an additional AAP.

If documentation is required as indicated in the recertification tool, you will need to submit a new AAP to identify how the project will now meet feature requirements. 

Complimentary AAPs for projects pursuing recertification

You do receive additional complimentary AAPs when pursuing recertification. As with initial certification, the number of complementary AAPs available depends on the version under which you are pursuing recertification:

Step 5: Complete the project information form 

Performance testing is a key part of the recertification process. To help WELL Performance Testing Agents accurately scope and execute on-site testing, you must complete the "Step 1-Project Information" tab within the WELL Project Information and Performance template and upload the entire form for preliminary documentation review. 

Step 6: Upload documents

Documentation requirements 

Requirements for recertification documentation depend on:

• Version of WELL: The version of WELL under which you are pursuing recertification.
• Project boundary updates: If your project has undergone any changes within the WELL project boundary - these changes can include addition to the initial certification project area or changes to policies, building design, mechanical systems, etc. 

You do not need to resubmit your initial project's documentation during Recertification. The only documentation that is required for upload are annual reporting documents 15 months after initial certification and every 12 months thereafter, the recertification tools outlined in this article, and any documentation required for changes made to the project boundary and new features pursued. 

Step 7: Submit for review 

1. Upload all required documentation through the Documents tab of your recertification project.
2. Once all required documentation has been uploaded and is ready to be submitted, navigate to the Reviews tab. 
3. Click the "Submit Review" button and select "Preliminary Documentation Review" to begin the review process.