LEED AP BD+C Exam Syllabus
The LEED® AP BD+C exam contains two main parts. The first core part is the LEED Green Associate exam (LEED GA). The second part is the LEED AP BD+C exam, which contains 100 randomly delivered multiple-choice questions that should be completed in two hours. If you have already passed LEED Green Associate exam, you will only need to take the second core part of the exam in order to earn the LEED AP BD+C credential. If you have n’t taken LEED GA exam, here is the study guide to pass the exam in the first attempt.
The LEED AP and LEED GA exam can be taken in one sitting. In this case, the exam will take four hours. However, if the test taker passes the first part of the exam, which is the LEED Green Associate exam, and subsequently fails the second part, the test taker cannot earn the LEED Green Associate credential and must then retake the whole exam and pass both parts.
In order to pass all the LEED Professional exams, candidates must score 170 points out of 200 possible points. 125 is the minimum score in all the LEED Professional exams. If you are taking the LEED AP exam combined, you should score 170 or higher points on both core parts of the exam. At the end of the exam, you will be able to see your score on screen.
In the exam there will be both scored and unscored questions. Unscored questions are used to collect performance data for USGBC. Test takers will not know if a question will be scored or unscored. As there are both scored and unscored questions on the exam, and the questions are also scaled, there’s no way to know how many correct answers you need in order to pass the exam.
The LEED AP BD+C exam is intended to test knowledge and skills necessary to support the LEED certification process. The exam evaluates test takers’ ability at three cognitive levels: recall items, application items, and analysis items.
Recall items assess a test taker’s ability to recall factual information. Application items assess a test taker’s ability to find a solution to a scenario according to the LEED principles and procedures. And analysis items assess a test taker’s ability to break down the problem into its components to find a solution by evaluating the relationships of the components.
The exam questions reflect task domains and knowledge domains. Task domains include the tasks necessary to perform LEED effectively, such as team coordination, certification process, analyses required for LEED credits, and more. Knowledge domains include the LEED process, integrative strategies, credit categories, and more.
Please click here to download a free Candidate Handbook for LEED AP BD+C.
Below is the breakdown of the exam questions about knowledge domains:
- LEED process
- Integrative strategies
- Location and transportation
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Project surroundings and public outreach
The segment about project surroundings and public outreach contains questions about values of sustainable design, regional design, environmental impacts, the necessity of green buildings, and more.
LEED AP BD+C EXAM FORMAT
All the LEED credentialing exams are computer based. Exam questions and answer options will be displayed on screen.
Most of the exam questions are multiple choice questions that ask to choose the correct answer out of the displayed choices. However, some questions will have more than one answer, and those questions ask to choose 2 out of 4 choices, or 3 out of 5. And there will be no partial credit for choosing only one correct answer.
Test-takers can leave a question unanswered, flag questions for later review, and change the answer of any test question before the completion of the exam. If you have extra time at the end of your exam, it’s highly recommended that you review all the questions.
On the exam answer every single question since leaving it blank will not result in any points. And if you’re unsure about the answer, mark the question and come back to review it later.
During the exam, if you forget something, some questions or answer choices can make you remember the answer of another question.
Download LEED AP BD+C Exam Preparation Guide
How to register for LEED Exam?
- If you have an existing USGBC site user account, log in to your credentials account to register for the exam at usgbc.org/credentials or create a new account if you don’t have one.
- Make sure that the name you enter exactly matches the name on the ID you will present at the test center. If it does not match, update your name on the website’s user account “settings.”
- Review the address in the profile. (The certificate will be mailed to that address.)
- Select the credential exam you wish to apply for and follow the instructions to complete the application.
- You will be redirected to prometric.com/gbci to schedule your exam date and location.
- When the exam is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation number onscreen and an email through Prometric.
- Print and keep your confirmation number. You will need this confirmation number to confirm, cancel, or reschedule your appointment through Prometric’s website, which is prometric.com/gbci.
Where to take the LEED AP exams?
The LEED AP BD+C exam is administered by Prometric testing centers throughout the world.
What to expect at the LEED test centers?
It is recommended that the test-takers arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled exam appointment. Test-takers who arrive later than their scheduled exam time will lose their seat.
Test center staff will escort the test-taker to a workstation, and the test-taker should remain seated during the exam unless authorized to leave by test center staff. In case there is a problem with the computer, or you need to take a break, raise your hand to notify the test center staff. However, the exam will not pause if you take a break.
All the test-takers should also obey Prometric’s security rules while at the test center.
After the LEED AP BD+C exam
After the exam, your exam score will be displayed on screen, and the test center staff will provide a printed report of your results.
As soon as you have passed the exam, you can use the title “LEED® AP BD+C” and/or the logo. As the LEED AP BD+C accreditation will supersede the LEED Green Associate accreditation, the LEED Green Associate title can no longer be used.
Your exam results will be processed within three days, and once the results are processed, a certificate can be requested.
A certificate will be available as a pdf soft copy that can be downloaded at any time for free and as a hard copy that can be requested from the USGBC website for a fee.
HOW TO MAINTAIN LEED CREDENTIALS
All the LEED Green Associates must earn 15 continuing education (CE) hours within 2 years of earning their credential while all the LEEDAPs will need to earn 30 continuing education (CE) hours within 2 years of earning their credential.
