What are the LEED Accredited Professional Programs
The LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) program certifies individuals as having a high degree of specialized knowledge in the construction of buildings and neighborhoods that have a minimal negative impact on the environment, that use energy efficiently, and that are healthy and pleasant for the employees who have to work in them or the people who have to live in them. To qualify as a LEED AP, candidates need to take an accreditation exam.
There are five of these exams:
- LEED AP Building Design and Construction
- LEED AP Interior Design and Construction
- LEED AP Operations and Maintenance
- LEED AP Homes
- LEED AP Neighborhood Development
A LEED accreditation exam consists of about eighty questions and takes two hours. It is administered by computer, and the results, including whether you have received an accreditation certificate, are available over the Internet within three days of taking the exam.
Why become a LEED AP?
Employers involved in constructing LEED-certified buildings get credit for hiring certified LEED APs to become part of the project team, so accreditation greatly increases the chance of employment in the building construction and design field.
Credential Maintenance
Passing one of the LEED AP credentialing tests results in the candidates receiving credentials in the LEED AP field or fields of their choice. However, these credentials do not last forever. They must be renewed every two years. The green building and construction field changes rapidly and holders of LEED AP certificates are expected to keep updated of the latest knowledge in their area of expertise. To that end, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) requires that LEED APs must continue to accumulate continuing education (or CE) hours on a two-year cycle.
Two years minus one day after a LEED AP credential is awarded, that credential will expire if no evidence of CD hours has been presented. Before that time, the credential holder must report their CE hours to the GBCI to prevent this expiration. LEED APs must earn thirty CE hours every two years, of which six must be LEED specific. LEED Green Associates must earn fifteen hours, of which three must be LEED specific, to maintain their credential. To maintain a LEED AP credential, a $50 renewal fee must be paid every two years. Five to seven percent of the CE hours reported to the GBCI via the My Credentials Web site will be audited to assure their validity.
LEED AP Building Design and Construction
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.
Please click here to download LEED Green Associate Exam Study Guide.
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
Download LEED AP BD+C Exam Preparation Guide
LEED AP Interior Design and Construction
The LEED AP (Accredited Professional) Interior Design and Construction certificate is given to individuals who achieve a passing score on the LEED AP Interior Design and Construction Exam. This certificate is intended for those involved professionally in the design and construction of commercial and tenant spaces within buildings. It demonstrates that the possessor of the certificate can create a workplace that is not only conducive to a high level of productivity, but that is healthy and comfortable for those who work there. LEED Interior Design and Construction professionals have a deep knowledge of what makes a workplace pleasant for its occupants and know how to make the workspace less costly to maintain and operate. LEED AP Interior Design and Construction professionals hired to work on a construction project will be able to help in bringing the building up to the standards that can win it LEED certification from the Green Buildings Certification Institute (GBCI).
Exam Questions
Questions on the LEED AP Interior Design and Construction Exam are divided into seven areas:
- Project Site Factors
Subjects include connectivity to community services and lighting development. - Water Management
Subjects include water treatment, storm water, and special equipment needs. - Project Systems and Energy Impacts
Subjects include energy performance policies, building components, on-site renewable energy, energy performance measurement, energy usage and tradeoffs, and specialized equipment power needs. - Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials
Subjects include building material re-use, rapidly renewable materials, material acquisition, chemical management policy, and environmental management plan. - Improvements to the Indoor Environment
Subjects include minimum ventilation requirements, tobacco smoke control, air quality, ventilation effectiveness, indoor air quality, low-emitting materials, chemical and pollutant control, lighting controls, thermal controls, views, ergonomics, acoustics, and types of building spaces. - Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation
Subjects include design workshop, ways to earn credits, education of the homeowner or tenant, and education of the building manager. - Project Surroundings and Public Outreach
Subjects include available community resources, reduced parking methods, transit-oriented development, and ADA/universal access.
Fees
The fee for the LEED AP Interior Design and Construction Exam differs depending on whether it is taken in combination with the LEED Green Associate Exam (required for the certificate) or separately. The fees are:
- Application fee: $100
- Combined exam fee: $450*
- LEED AP Building Design and Construction Exam only: $250**
- Renewal fee: $50 every two years
LEED AP Operations and Maintenance
The LEED AP (Accredited Professional) Operations and Maintenance certificate is given to individuals who achieve a passing score on the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance Exam. This certificate is intended for those who work in the operation and maintenance phases of existing buildings and signifies a high degree of expertise in lowering the environmental impact of the building’s operations and using sustainable energy sources in those operations. LEED AP Operations and Maintenance professionals hired to work on a construction project will be able to help in bringing the building up to the standards that can win it LEED certification from the Green Buildings Certification Institute (GBCI).
Exam Questions
Questions on the LEED AP Operation and Maintenance Exam are divided into seven areas:
- Project Site Factors
Subjects include lighting, green management, and climate conditions. - Water Management
Subjects include water treatment, storm water, irrigation demand, and chemical management. - Project Systems and Energy Impacts
Subjects include energy performance policies, building components, on-site renewable energy, energy performance measurement, energy tradeoffs and sources, energy usage, and specialized equipment power needs. - Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials
Subjects include materials reuse, rapidly renewable materials, food materials, material acquisition, chemical management policy, and environmental management plan. - Improvements to the Indoor Environment
Subjects include minimum ventilation requirements, tobacco smoke control, air quality, ventilation effectiveness, indoor air quality, low-emitting materials, chemical and pollutant controls, lighting controls, thermal controls, and views and types of building spaces. - Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation
Subjects include design workshop, ways to earn credits, and education of building manager and operating staff. - Project Surroundings and Public Outreach
Subjects include infrastructure, zoning requirements, government planning agencies, traffic studies, reduced parking methods, and ADA/universal access.
Fees
The fee for the LEED AP Operations and Maintenance Construction Exam differs depending on whether it is taken in combination with the LEED Green Associate Exam (required for the certificate) or separately. The fees are:
Application fee: $100
Combined exam fee: $450*
LEED AP Building Design and Construction Exam only: $250**
Renewal fee: $50 every two years
LEED AP Homes
The LEED AP (Accredited Professional) Homes certificate is given to individuals who achieve a passing score on the LEED AP Homes Exam. This certificate is intended for those involved in the design and construction of healthy, comfortable, livable homes and signifies a high degree of expertise in using fewer natural resources, generating less waste, and using energy efficiently in such homes. LEED AP Homes professionals hired to work on a home-building project will be able to offer advice in assistance in bringing the building up to the standards that can win it LEED certification from the Green Buildings Certification Institute (GBCI).
Exam Questions
Questions on the LEED AP Homes Exam are divided into seven areas:
- Project Site Factors
Subjects include site selection, connectivity with community services, development, green management, and climate conditions. - Water Management
Subjects include water treatment, storm water, and irrigation demand. - Project Systems and Energy Impacts
Subjects include energy performance policies, building components, on-site renewable energy, energy performance management, energy tradeoffs, energy usage, and specialized equipment power needs. - Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials
Subjects include building materials reuse, rapidly renewable materials, material acquisition, and neutral homes. - Improvements to the Indoor Environment
Subjects include minimum ventilation requirements, tobacco smoke control, air quality, ventilation effectiveness, indoor air quality, low-emitting materials, chemical and pollutant control, light controls, thermal controls, views, acoustics, and residential requirements. - Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation
Subjects include design workshop, ways to earn credit, education of homeowner or tenant, and education of building manager. - Project Surroundings and Public Outreach
Subjects include preferred location, infrastructure, available community resources, site selection in collaboration with developer, zoning requirements, government planning agencies, planning terminology, land-development phases, public-private partnership, development footprint reduction methods, reduced parking methods, transit-oriented development, pedestrian-oriented streetscape design, ADA/universal access, and streetscape planning.
Fees
The fee for the LEED AP Homes Exam differs depending on whether it is taken in combination with the LEED Green Associate Exam (required for the certificate) or separately. The fees are:
- Application fee: $100
- Combined exam fee: $450*
- LEED AP Building Design and Construction Exam only: $250**
- Renewal fee: $50 every two years
LEED AP Neighborhood Development
The LEED AP (Accredited Professional) Neighborhood Development certificate is given to individuals who achieve a passing score on the LEED AP Neighborhood Development Exam. This certificate is intended for those involved professionally in developing neighborhoods that do minimal damage to the environment and that use energy in a responsible, sustainable way. LEED AP Neighborhood Development professionals hired to work on a construction project will be able to offer advice in assistance in bringing the building up to the standards that can win it LEED certification from the Green Buildings Certification Institute (GBCI).
Exam Questions
Questions on the LEED AP Neighborhood Development Exam are divided into seven areas:
- Site
Subjects include site selection, connectivity with community services, development, green management, and climate conditions. - Water Management
Subjects include water treatment, storm water, and irrigation. - Neighborhood Systems and Impacts
Subjects include energy performance policies, on-site renewable energy, energy tradeoffs, and sources. - Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials
Subjects include building reuse. - Stakeholder Involvement and Public Outreach
Subjects include design workshop. - Stakeholder Involvement and Public Outreach
Subjects include preferred location, infrastructure, available community resources, site selection in collaboration with developer, zoning requirements, government planning agencies, planning terminology, land development phases, demographics, public meetings, public-private partnerships, development footprint reduction methods, high-priority development areas, traffic studies, reduced parking methods, transit-oriented development, pedestrian-oriented streetscape design, ADA/universal access, streetscape planning, and historical considerations.
Fees
The fee for the LEED AP Neighborhood Exam differs depending on whether it is taken in combination with the LEED Green Associate Exam (required for the certificate) or separately.
The fees are:
Application fee: $100
Combined exam fee: $450*
LEED AP Building Design and Construction Exam only: $250**
Renewal fee: $50 every two years
The criteria for these ratings were developed by a consensus of experts in the building and development field. They reflect current knowledge of best practices in green construction and are evolving over time as practices change, new technologies evolve, and environmental needs are better understood.
Reapplying After Initial Application Expires
Once you apply for a LEED exam at the My Credentials Web site, you have one year to take and pass the LEED exam. If you take an exam and do not pass on your first attempt, you are allowed two more attempts within the year following your initial application to achieve a passing score. If you still have not passed the test, your application ceases to be valid.
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