LEED Certification FAQ

LEED Frequently Asked Questions

Navigate the brief menu below to find the answers to your questions.

If you have any specific questions, please call us at (800) 460-2575.

What is your LEED question about?

General

What is LEED?

How Buildings Get LEED Certified

LEED Certification vs. Accreditation

Accreditation

Best Place to Start

LEED Credential Benefits

How Long It Takes

LEED Training

Course Formats & Pricing

Study Materials

Corporate Training

Exam Process

Exam Format

Pricing & Discounts

Test Locations & Dates

LEED CMP

LEED Continuing Education

How Long It Takes

Approved LEED CE Training

Miscellaneous

LEED Certification for Companies

LEED Certification for Products

LEED Job Placement

General

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED enables building professionals to identify and implement green building best practices during the design, construction, and operations phases of a building project.

For more information, view our full article on What is LEED Certification?

How does LEED Certification work?

The LEED Rating System offers a menu of green building best practices that professionals can choose to incorporate into their building project, based on their project goals, budget, and scope. Each strategy is corresponds with a point value. The more points earned, the more sustainable the building.

For more information, view our full article on What is LEED Certification?

What is the difference between LEED Certification and LEED Accreditation?

LEED Certification refers to buildings that have been designed, built, and maintained with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind.

LEED Accreditation refers to people who have passed a professional exam on LEED Certification concepts.

For more information, view our full article on What is LEED Certification?

Accreditation

How can LEED help my career?

There are several career paths to which LEED knowledge can be applied. Typically, someone already in the construction industry (such as an architect, contractor, or interior designer) will use LEED to enhance their knowledge and offer their customers more services. Many LEED courses count as continuing education credits for other professions, so the courses do "double duty" in terms of maintaining current credentials while earning a new one. For those new to the industry, LEED Accreditation will allow you to work on LEED certified projects.

For more information, view our full article on LEED Accreditation Benefits.

How long does it take to get LEED Accredited?

We typically recommend 30 days to prepare for a LEED credential. This timeframe can vary by candidate, depending on your learning style, work/life balance, comfort with test-taking, and time commitment.

For more information, view our full article on How Long Does It Take to Get LEED Certified?

Who should get LEED Accredited?

Since LEED is a comprehensive rating system that analyzes the lifespan of the building, from planning and design to construction and operations, it essentially impacts all professionals involved with these phases.

For more information, view our full article on Who Should Get LEED?

What is the best way to begin my LEED studies?

All candidates - regardless of education, occupation, and experience - are required to start at the LEED Green Associate level. This is where you'll learn the basic framework of the LEED Rating System.

Specifically, the best place to start is with our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training.

What’s the difference between LEED Green Associate & LEED AP?

LEED Green Associate is the entry-level credential that denotes a basic understanding of LEED Certification at a non-technical level.

LEED AP with Specialty is an advanced credential that represents a person's deeper commitment to LEED at a technical level. LEED APs frequently work on LEED building projects in leadership roles.

For more information, view our full article on the Difference Between LEED Green Associate and LEED AP.

Which LEED AP is right for me?

Each LEED AP Specialty is aligned with a building type and/or building phase. After you take the LEED Green Associate training, you'll have a better understanding of how the various LEED credentials work together.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Credentials.

LEED Training

Is there a course being offered near me?

Because LEED is an internationally recognized standard for green building, we offer LEED exam prep training at various locations around the world.

To find a live class near you, visit our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep page.

If a live class is not scheduled at a location convenient for you, we also offer online webinars, in a live or on-demand format. If you have a group in need of training, we can also host a private in-house session for your team.

When will I receive study materials?

For our live and on-demand webinars, electronic materials are available in your online Everblue course portal and are instantly available after you register.

Get started today with LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training!

Are there discounts available for the LEED Exam Prep training?

Yes, we offer an "early bird" discount to everyone who registers for a live classroom training at least 2 weeks before the session is scheduled to start. The reduced rate will automatically show in your shopping cart.

We do also offer a 10% military discount. Please email a copy of your DD214 to [email protected] so we can validate your service.

Get started today with LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training!

Exam Process

What are the qualifications to sit for the LEED exam?

There are no prerequisites to sitting for the LEED Green Associate exam. However, completion of a LEED Exam Prep course will greatly increase your chances of passing!

Start today with the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training!

What’s covered on the LEED exam?

The LEED Green Associate Exam pulls content from all of the LEED rating systems, whereas the LEED AP Specialty Exams focus on their respective LEED rating system.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

How is the LEED exam structured?

The LEED exams are administered by computer but must be proctored in person. The exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

How long is the LEED exam?

Candidates are given 2 hours to complete each LEED exam.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

Do I have to pass the LEED GA exam before I can take the LEED AP exam?

Yes. You have two options here:

  • 1. Take & pass the GA exam, then take & pass the AP exam, or...
  • 2. Choose the "Full Exam" option and pass the Green Associate and AP sections

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

What is the Full Exam?

The Full, or combined, exam is the LEED Green Associate exam immediately followed by the LEED AP Specialty exam (no breaks). It's a fast-track to LEED AP, but you have to pass both parts to earn the LEED AP credential.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

Does Everblue's LEED training (fee and session) include the exam?

No, the LEED Exam is a separate process managed by the U.S. Green Building Council and administered by Prometric.

Candidates will buy the exam on the USGBC website and schedule their testing appointment on the Prometric website.

We provide detailed instructions on this process during our LEED Green Associate Exam Prep training.

How much is the LEED exam?

The LEED Green Associate exam is $250. The LEED AP Specialty exam is $350. Discounts are available for full-time students, military veterans, and full-time employees of USGBC National Member Companies.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

When should I buy my LEED exam?

You should buy your LEED Exam from the U.S. Green Building Council after you've completed your LEED Exam Prep course and feel that you're about 3-4 weeks away from being ready. After you buy the exam, you'll have 1 year to actually schedule the test appointment.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

What score do I need to pass the LEED exam?

Candidates have to score 170 out of 200 to pass the LEED exam.

The questions are all weighted differently, so there is no target number for many questions to get correct.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

When are the LEED exam dates?

The LEED exams are offered Monday through Saturday from 8 AM - 8 PM.

You'll be able to choose the exact date and time of your LEED exam appointment.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

Where can I take the LEED exam?

The LEED exams are offered internationally by Prometric, a third-party test-proctoring company.

Prometric has testing centers in nearly every major city in the world. You can locate a test center on the Prometric website.

For more information, view our full article on the LEED Exam.

LEED CMP

How long is LEED Accreditation valid?

The LEED credentials must be renewed every 2 years.

Are there continuing education requirements?

Yes, all LEED accredited professionals must agree to participate in the LEED Credential Maintenance Program (or LEED CMP). LEED CMP requires the completion of continuing education hours and paying a biennial renewal fee to the USGBC.

  • LEED Green Associates need 15 hours of continuing education (including 3 LEED-specific hours)
  • LEED APs with a Specialty need 30 hours of continuing education (including 6 LEED-specific hours)

How long does it take to complete the LEED CMP training?

If you're a LEED Green Associate, allow for 15 hours to cover the continuing education material and an additional 2-3 hours to complete the corresponding quizzes that gauge your understanding of the topics presented.

If you're a LEED AP with a Specialty, allow for 30 hours to cover the continuing education material and an additional 3-5 hours to complete the corresponding quizzes that gauge your understanding of the topics presented.

If I'm a LEED AP Specialty, do I have to complete LEED CMP for Green Associate and AP?

No, once you pass the LEED AP exam, the LEED AP Specialty credential supersedes your LEED Green Associate credential. Therefore, you'll only have to follow the procedures to maintain your LEED AP Specialty credential.

What counts as LEED continuing education?

Our online LEED CMP packages are the easiest and most convenient way to earn your LEED continuing education hours.

Our LEED CMP packages are perfectly aligned to the requirements for Green Associates and APs. The content is pre-approved by the USGBC and includes the LEED-specific training hours. We'll even submit the hours to USGBC on your behalf!

How do I know when my LEED credential expires?

Log into your USGBC account and click on the Credentials tab. You will see your "reporting period" there.

Miscellaneous

Can a company get LEED certified?

No, companies become USGBC Members.

For more information, view our full article on LEED Certification for Companies.

Can a product get LEED certified?

No, however, products and services can play a role in the LEED Certification process, by helping project teams earn points.

For more information, view our full article on LEED Certification for Products.

Does Everblue provide job placement?

Because most of our students are already employed and seeking professional development, we do not offer job placement. However, many companies contact us to hire our course participants.

How does my company hire your course participants?

Due to privacy laws, we are unable to share our participant contact information. Please send your job posting to [email protected] and we will blast it out to those who have opted to receive those types of notifications.

How can I verify that someone is LEED accredited?

The USGBC offers a professional directory on its website.