LEED and USGBC are registered trademarks of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). GBCI is a registered trademark of the Green Building Certification Institute. Intheleed.com is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the USGBC or the GBCI. For more information, please read the disclaimer .
As of July 1st, the LEED NC v2.2 exam and the LEED CI v2.0 exams have expired. Congratulations to all of you who have passed, and a big THANK YOU goes out to those of you who took the time to email me and/or comment on the blog to thank me for my work with intheleed.com. It’s really fulfilling to hear that I am making a difference, and it motivates me to do even more for you.
In addition, I’d like to thank each and every one of you who have visited intheleed.com for your support. In June alone, intheleed.com had about 90,000 visits and half a million pageviews from 96 countries around the world! Seriously, thank you so much for trusting me to provide you with the latest and greatest information for the LEED exam.
That is why I stayed up all night making sure I finished this FAQ that you see below, which I think will be helpful for everyone who is trying to figure out what to do next in regards to LEED v3.
Please note that within a week or two, intheleed.com will be redesigned to be less cluttered and much easier to navigate. The site is under construction, so please don’t mind any bugs or weird looking things you may come across within the next week or so. Please check back soon!
Oh, and one last thing. I’ll be away for the next couple of days on a much needed vacation. I’ve been putting in lots of hours the last week – answering people’s questions and making sure people had help on the last few days before the exam. So if you try and get a hold of me before Saturday and I don’t respond. That’s why. Thanks for understanding!
If you’d like to leave a comment for me while I’m gone, or have any questions I can answer for you when I get back, please contact me here.
p.s. if you want to go back to the old homepage, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions for LEED v3
If you are new to LEED:
-What is LEED?
-How does LEED certification work?
-Why should I care about LEED?
-What are the benefits of earning a LEED Professional Credential?
-How do I earn my LEED professional credential?
If you are currently a LEED AP by passing a previous LEED exam:
-What happens to my LEED AP credential now that LEEDv3 has launched?
-Can a Legacy LEED AP still work on LEED v3 projects?
-Do I have to take any more tests to maintain my LEED credential?
-If I choose to take another exam, which exam should I take?
-If I pass one exam track, can I work on projects being certified under a different rating system?
-Do I have to take the LEED Green Associate exam?
-How do I prepare for a LEED AP Specialty exam?
-What EXACTLY is the Credential Maintenance Program for LEED?
If you are NOT a LEED AP, but would like to earn your LEED credential soon:
-What do I have to do in order to earn my LEED credential?
-What EXACTLY is the Credential Maintenance Program for LEED?
-Should I take the LEED Green Associate exam, or a LEED AP specialty exam?
Green Associate Exam
-What is the LEED Green Associate exam about?
-What are the eligibility requirements to take the LEED Green Associate exam?
-How do I prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam?
-Can I take the Green Associate exam now, and take a specialty exam later?
LEED AP Specialty Exam
-What are the LEED AP specialty exams all about?
-What are the eligibility requirements to take a LEED AP specialty exams?
-What can I do if I’m not eligible to take a LEED specialty exam?
-How do I prepare for a LEED AP specialty exam?
-If I pass one exam track, can I work on projects being certified under a different rating system?
If you are new to LEED
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Back in 1993, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) was established to promote sustainable building practices. To market their concept of “building green”, they had to create a system to introduce their ideas to the industry – one that has measurable performance standards and strategies to create sustainable buildings. Thus, LEED was born. LEED is essentially a rating system to measure the sustainable performance standards of different kinds of buildings.
How does LEED certification work?
In a nutshell, LEED certification works like this:
Projects apply for LEED certification under a particular rating system (LEED for Building Design & Construction, LEED for Interior Design & Construction, LEED for Building Operations & Maintenance, Homes, etc.). Projects achieve points by satisfying various requirements, which are geared toward different methods of green building practice. If a project earns enough points, it gets a ranking (certified, silver, gold or platinum) and is then dubbed a “LEED certified” project. Yay!
Well, there are many reasons.
Personally, I respect the LEED rating system and everything he USGBC stands for because it’s ultimately in place to help our environment. With my wife and I expecting early next year (yes, I’m going to be a daddy!), my concern for the health of the environment that my future son or daughter will grow up in is really important to me.
In addition to helping the environment, LEED is quickly becoming a standard in the design and construction industry. With new laws being passed and worldwide awareness of pollution and climate change, LEED is more popular than ever. To give you an idea, the green building market it estimated to be worth $30-$40 BILLION annually by next year. By this time, approximately 10% of commercial construction starts are projected to be green.
So, as you can see, this “green” movement is definitely a LEED movement too. Don’t miss it.
What are the benefits of earning a LEED Professional Credential?
There are an infinite amount of reasons why you should become a part of LEED. Here are just a few:
- You’ll increase your value at your current job.
- You’ll be more valuable in the job market.
- Your firm will be recognized as having a LEED AP on staff.
- You’ll learn about sustainable building design strategies.
- You’ll join the ranks of over 100,000 LEED APs around the world.
- You’ll stand out amongst your peers.
- You get to add a fancy “LEED AP” at the end of your name.
- You’ll know that you’re doing good things for the environment.
How do I earn my LEED Professional Credential?
In order to earn your credential, you have to pass an exam that demonstrates your knowledge of green building practices and the LEED rating systems. Your first order of business is to figure out which exam to take. Click here for more information.
If you are currently a LEED AP by passing a previous LEED exam
What happens to my LEED AP credential now that LEEDv3 has launched?
Your existing LEED AP credential depends on exactly what you do (or don’t do) between now and June 2011.
As of July 1st, 2009, your LEED AP credential is now considered a Legacy LEED AP. This shows that you have a credential from one of the previous exams. You now have three options:
Option 1: LEED AP with Specialty – No Exam
You can become a LEED AP with Specialty by enrolling in the new LEED v3 system before June 2011. This involves:
1. Agreeing to the Credentialing Maintenance Program (CMP)
2. Signing the Disciplinary Policy
3. Completing the CMP requirements for the initial 2-year reporting period.
Once enrolled, you can then use the BD&C, ID&C, or O&M, Homes or ND (neighborhood development) designations after your name. In addition, you will have to participate in the CMP after 2 years to maintain your specialty.
Option 2: LEED AP with Specialty – With Exam
Instead of completing the Credentialing Maintenance Program requirements, you can take a specialty exam to earn your LEEDv3 credential. You must pass your exam by June 2011. This involves:
1. Agreeing to the Credentialing Maintenance Program (CMO)
2. Signing the Disciplinary Policy
3. Passing one of the Specialty Exams (BD&C, ID&C, O&M, Homes, ND)
After you pass you can then use the BD&C, ID&C, or O&M, Homes or ND designations after your name. In addition, you will have to participate in the CMP after 2 years to maintain your specialty.
Option 3: Do Nothing
If you choose to do nothing, or you did not enroll in LEEDv3 or pass an exam by June 2011, you will remain a Legacy LEED AP. If you choose to opt into LEEDv3 after June 2011, you will have to meet all eligibility requirements and retake the exam.
Can a Legacy LEED AP still work on LEED v3 projects?
I don’t believe a Legacy LEED AP can be designated as the LEED AP on LEED version 3 projects.
I have a list of questions I want to ask the USGBC via phone, and this is one of them. I’ll update the answer as soon as I get clarification. Thanks for your patience!
Do I have to take any more tests to maintain my LEED credential?
As stated in the previous question, your LEED AP credential has automatically been changed to Legacy LEED AP. You’re still a LEED AP, but you’re not enrolled in the LEEDv3 system yet.
To answer the question, you don’t have to take any more exams, but you could if you wanted to. To see your options, please read the answer to the previous question above.
If I choose to take another exam, which exam should I take?
People ask me this question all of the time, and I always give each person the same answer: it depends on you and your career goals. Here’s my opinion on who should take which exam (again, it’s really up to you):
- Building Design & Construction (BD&C): This exam actually covers three different rating systems: New Construction (which includes major renovation), Schools, and Core & Shell. So, if you plan on mainly working on commercial projects with these descriptions, BD&C is for you.
- Interior Design & Construction (ID&C): This rating system is mainly for tenant spaces that don’t occupy an entire building, i.e. tenant improvement projects. If you mainly do commercial interior work, this one is definitely for you.
- Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance (O&M): This rating system is applicable for buildings with commercial occupancies that involve building operations, process & system upgrades, minor space-use changes, facility alterations and additions.
- Homes: Need I say more? Actually – to be more specific, these are single-family, low-rise multi family (under 4 stories), affordable housing, production, manufactured & modular homes.
- Neighborhood Development (ND): If you work mainly on developmental projects, such as neighborhoods, infill projects and larger mixed use developments, LEED for ND is for you.
If I pass one exam track, can I work on projects being certified under a different rating system?
My initial understanding is, no. The LEED AP credential in LEED v3 is supposed to demonstrate one’s ability to specialize in a particular LEED Rating System.
For previous versions of LEED, it was a “pass one exam and you’re a LEED AP for all tracks” deal, but I believe the rule has changed.
I have a list of questions I want to ask the USGBC via phone, and this is one of them. I’ll update the answer as soon as I get clarification. Thanks for your patience!
Do I have to take the LEED Green Associate exam?
If you’ve already earned your LEED AP credential from a previous version of the LEED exam, then no, you do not need to take the Green Associate exam. This portion of the LEED AP specialty exam is waived for you.
Someone who has not yet earned their LEED AP credential and wants to become a LEED AP with specialty will have to take a two-part exam, the first part being the Green Associate exam, and the second specific to the rating system of choice.
How do I prepare for the LEED AP specialty exam?
The first thing you should do is download the candidate handbook from the GBCI webpage for the exam that you want to take. The handbook will tell you important information about what is covered on the exam, as well as test taking policies.
The link above will also tell you which exams are already live, and which ones are coming soon.
You should also purchase a LEED Reference Guide for the exam you’re taking as well. It’s where most of the questions on the exam come from, and is the guide that you will be using when certifying a LEED project in the future.
In addition, you are always free to use the information on intheleed.com to help you along the way. On the homepage (new homepage coming soon…) you’ll find information about your specific exam, including summaries, tips and charts to help you organize all of the information for you. (coming soon…)
What EXACTLY is the Credential Maintenance Program for LEED?
The CMP is a way to keep you updated on the latest changes to LEED every 2 years. It consists of continuing education credits, and a fee.
If you’re a current LEED AP who is opting into LEED v3, you will be required to pay a $50.00 maintenance fee every two years. However, you don’t have to start paying until June 2011. So essentially, your first round of CMP is free.
Along with the fee, you’ll be required to do 30 hours of continuing education every two years, with 6 hours obtained from an approved program specific to the LEED Rating System, credit categories and LEED updates.
Now, this is where it gets a little fuzzy.
- What kind of things count as continuing education? Where can we find out, and how much does it cost? Is it in addition to the $50.00 maintenance fee?
- What kind of documentation do we need, if any, to prove we’ve done these hours?
- Where do we submit this information to fulfill our CMP requirements?
- Are we designated LEED APs with specialties only after the entire 30 hours are submitted?
These are all questions that have yet to be answered. I have a list of questions I want to ask the USGBC via phone, and these are just some of them. I’ll update you as soon as I get clarification. Thanks for your patience!
If you are NOT a LEED AP, but would like to earn your LEED credential soon
What do I have to do in order to earn my LEED credential?
To enter LEED version3, you have two options:
1. Pass the LEED Green Associate exam, or
2. Pass a LEED AP Specialty exam
In addition to passing one of those exams, you will have to:
1. Agree to the LEED Disciplinary Policy
2. Agree to the Credential Maintenance Program
(more info about each of these things in the next few questions…)
What EXACTLY is the Credential Maintenance Program for LEED?
The CMP is a way to keep you updated on the latest changes to LEED every 2 years. It consists of continuing education credits, and a fee.
If you go for the LEED Green Associate exam, you’ll be required to pay a maintenance fee of $50 every two years. You will also be required to do 15 hours of continuing education every two years, with 3 hours obtained from an approved program specific to LEED updates.
If you’re attempting the LEED AP Specialty Exam, you’ll be required to pay a maintenance fee of $50 every two years. You will also be required to do 30 hours of continuing education every two years, with 6 hours obtained from an approved program specific to LEED updates.
Now, this is where it gets a little fuzzy.
- What kind of things count as continuing education? Where can we find out, and how much does it cost? Is it in addition to the $50.00 maintenance fee?
- What kind of documentation do we need, if any, to prove we’ve done these hours?
- Where do we submit this information to fulfill our CMP requirements?
These are all questions that have yet to be answered. I have a list of questions I want to ask the USGBC via phone, and these are just some of them. I’ll update you as soon as I get clarification. Thanks for your patience!
Should I take the LEED Green Associate exam, or a LEED AP specialty exam?
Before you can answer this question, you should determine first if you are eligible to take either one, and secondly, what is best for you and your career path. Please read about each exam in the questions below.
What is the LEED Green Associate exam about?
The Green Associate Exam is the 1st tier exam for LEED v3.
The GBCI website states that the Green Associate exam is “for professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice…[it] denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction and operations.”
This exam is for the product manufacturers, the marketers, the finance people, students, people in customer service for a large construction firm, etc. It’s also for people who are not yet eligible to take a LEED AP specialty exam.
The Green Associate exam will test your knowledge of:
- The LEED Application Process
- Project Site Factors
- Water Management
- Project Systems and Energy Impacts
- Acquisition, Installation and Management of Project Materials
- Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation
- Project Surroundings and Public Outreach
- Synergistic Opportunities between various LEED strategies
The information is less detailed than the specialty exams, but it covers information that can span across all of the various LEED Rating Systems.
Here is some more quick info about the exam:
- 2 hour exam
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- computer-based test
- USGBC national members/full-time students: $150, All others: $200.
For more information, please take a look at the Green Associate exam candidate handbook, which can be found on the GBCI website.
What are the eligibility requirements to take the LEED Green Associate exam?
In order to take the LEED Green Associate exam, you will have to meet an eligibility requirement.
You have to fulfill at least one of the following:
- You must have previous experience supporting a LEED-registered project
- You must have experience working in a sustainable field of work
- You must have attended an education program that addresses green building principles.
Your experience must be documented in the form of a letter from a supervisor, client, project manager, or teacher, and describe your involvement. A completion certification from an educational program, or an official transcript will suffice.
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what exactly qualifies as an education program. Is there a list of acceptable classes or programs one could take in order to be eligible for the LEED Green Associate Exam?
These are all questions that have yet to be answered. I have a list of questions I want to ask the USGBC via phone, and these are just some of them. I’ll update you as soon as I get clarification. Thanks for your patience!
For more information about eligibility requirements, please take a look at the Green Associate exam candidate handbook, which can be found on the GBCI website.
How do I prepare for the LEED Green Associate Exam?
You should definitely take a look at the Green Associate handbook found on the GBCI website. The handbook will tell you important information about what is covered on the exam, as well as test taking policies.
In addition, you are always free to use the information on intheleed.com to help you along the way. On the homepage (new homepage coming soon…) you’ll find information about you’re the exam, including summaries, tips and charts to help you organize all of the information for you. (coming soon…)
I also have a helpful study guide called The Green Associate Exam Walkthrough, which you may find very useful.
Can I take the Green Associate exam now, and take a specialty exam later?
Yes. Since the Green Associate exam is the first part of the specialty exam, passing it ahead of time and then passing a specialty exam later is doable. I’ll find out more information about the logistics behind this method and how sign up works, etc.
What are the LEED AP specialty exams all about?
Unlike the Green Associate exam, the LEED AP specialty exams are much more detailed, and directly correspond to a specific reference guide. The following are the different specialty exams you can take, and what they are about:
- Building Design & Construction (BD&C): This exam actually covers three different rating systems: New Construction (which includes major renovation), Schools, and Core & Shell.
- Interior Design & Construction (ID&C): This rating system is mainly for tenant spaces that don’t occupy an entire building, i.e. tenant improvement projects.
- Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance (O&M): This rating system is applicable for buildings with commercial occupancies that involve building operations, process & system upgrades, minor space-use changes, facility alterations and additions.
- Homes: This track covers single-family, low-rise multi family (under 4 stories), affordable housing, production, manufactured & modular homes.
- Neighborhood Development (ND): Mainly developmental projects, such as neighborhoods, infill projects and larger mixed use developments.
Not all of them are live yet. In fact, only LEED for Homes and LEED for O&M are available at the moment. BD&C and ID+C are scheduled for this summer (2009), and ND in 2010.
As you can tell, these exams are more for the people who are out on the field and working on the LEED certified projects. These are for the LEED APs who will be a part of a project team, assisting the team by streamlining and supporting the LEED Application Process. Architects, contractors, engineers, etc. are all likely test-takers for a LEED specialty exam.
The specialty exam will test your knowledge of the details in the corresponding Reference guide.
Here is some more info about the exam:
- 2 part exam, 2 hours each (4 hours total)
- The 1st part is actually the Green Associate Exam
- 100 multiple-choice questions for each part (200 total)
- Computer-based test
- For two-part exam: USGBC national members: $300, All others: $400
- For specialty exam only: $150/$250
For more information, please check out the handbooks which can be found on the GBCI website.
What are the eligibility requirements to take a LEED AP specialty exam?
In order to take a LEED specialty exam, you will have to meet an important eligibility requirement:
You MUST have previous experience with a LEED registered project within three years of your application submittal date.
This must be documented in the form of a letter from a supervisor, client, or project manager, etc. and must describe your involvement on the LEED project.
For more information about eligibility requirements, please take a look at the O+M exam candidate handbook, which can be found on the GBCI website.
What can I do if I’m not eligible to take a LEED specialty exam?
If you are not eligible for a LEED specialty exam, your best bet is to take the LEED Green Associate exam first, since you will have to take that portion of the exam anyways (it’s the 1st part of the 2 part specialty exam). From there, I would try and get onto a LEED registered project.
I’m going to ask the USGBC if there are other ways to become eligible for the exam, but as far as I know – you need that experience on a registered project in order to take the exam.
How do I prepare for the LEED AP specialty exam?
The first thing you should do is download the candidate handbook from the GBCI webpage for the exam that you want to take. The handbook will tell you important information about what is covered on the exam, as well as test taking policies.
The link above will also tell you which exams are already live, and which ones are coming soon.
You should also purchase a LEED Reference Guide for the exam you’re taking as well. It’s where most of the questions on the exam come from, and is the guide that you will be using when certifying a LEED project in the future.
In addition, you are always free to use the information on intheleed.com to help you along the way. On the homepage (new homepage coming soon…) you’ll find information about your specific exam, including summaries, tips and charts to help you organize all of the information for you. (coming soon…)
If I pass one exam track, can I work on projects being certified under a different rating system?
My initial understanding is, no. The LEED AP credential in LEED v3 is supposed to demonstrate one’s ability to specialize in a particular LEED Rating System.
For previous versions of LEED, it was a “pass one exam and you’re a LEED AP for all tracks” deal, but I believe the rule has changed.
I have a list of questions I want to ask the USGBC via phone, and this is one of them. I’ll update the answer as soon as I get clarification. Thanks for your patience!
