Q: What is LEED?
A: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary, national consensus-based certification system used for guidance in the development of energy-efficient, high-performance, and sustainable buildings. LEED also seeks to establish increased energy efficiencies in existing buildings as well as promoting sustainable land development techniques. The LEED Rating Systems were launched in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Q: What is the USGBC?
A: Founded in 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit organization whose members are committed to the promotion of healthy, profitable, and environmentally responsible places to live and work. In 1998, the USGBC members realized the need for a system to promote their ideas. The LEED Rating System was developed to provide a framework to guide building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and individuals working in the construction trades in the techniques of sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly building techniques.

Q: What is the GBCI?
A: In January of 2008, the USGBC realized a need for an independent third-party organization to establish certification for building projects, as well as the credentialing of the professionals who help guide the projects through the LEED Rating System. From this realization, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was formed. GBCI handles the administration of the LEED Rating Systems and certification of buildings, as well as the three-tiered professional accreditation programs for individuals, and is responsible for their administration. Utilizing this third-party verification system for buildings using the LEED Rating System, as well as handling the associate credentialing process, promotes a fair and well-balanced program. For more information, visit the GBCI website at www.gbci.org.

Q: What are the LEED Rating Systems?
A: The LEED Rating Systems provide a guide to building owners, building operators, architects, engineers, and contractors for a measurable means to implement green and sustainable building techniques. The current list of LEED Rating Systems includes the following:

• LEED for New Construction
• LEED for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance
• LEED for Commercial Interiors
• LEED for Core and Shell
• LEED for Schools
• LEED for Healthcare
• LEED for Homes
• LEED for Neighborhood Development

Q: What are the three-tiered professional accreditations?
A: LEED Accredited Professionals are individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of green, sustainable, and environmentally friendly building techniques. These Accredited Professionals are divided into three classifications, the Green Associate, the Accredited Professional Designate, and the LEED Fellow.

Q: What does LEED Green Associate mean?
A: LEED Green Associate (GA) is the first tier of the LEED Professional Credentials. This designation is for those individuals demonstrating expertise in a non-technical area of green building practices and design.

Q: What does LEED Accredited Professional mean?
A: The second tier of accreditation is the LEED Accredited Professional (AP). This is someone who has demonstrated an advanced technical understanding of green building techniques and systems within a specific designation. These designations include the following:

• LEED Green Building & Design + Construction (BD+C)
  Includes New Construction, Core and Shell, and Schools
• LEED Operations + Maintenance (O+M)
• LEED Interior Design + Construction (ID+C)
• LEED Neighborhood Development (ND)
• LEED Homes

Q: What is the LEED Fellow?
A: The third tier of professional accreditation is the LEED Fellow. The LEED Fellow is someone who has advanced the knowledge of sustainable building techniques. This credential is still under development by GBCI.

Q: How are LEED exams scored?
A: All LEED exams consist of multiple-choice questions and are scored on a 200-point scale ranging from 125-200. A minimum score of 170 is required to pass.

Q: Are there pre-requisites needed to complete before taking the LEED GA exam?
A: LEED GA candidates need to prove experience in the green building industry in one of three ways: 1) through working on a LEED project, 2) employment in a sustainable design trade, or 3) currently taking (or finished) an education program that addresses green building principles. About 7% of applicants are required to submit to an application audit to prove eligibility.

Q: How is the LEED Green Associate exam administered?
A: The LEED GA exam is a computer-based test consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions, and it must be completed within two hours. The software program allows candidates to mark questions they would like to return to at a later time. In this way, candidates can view all the questions on the test to make sure they first give answers they are confident in, then return to work on more challenging questions.

Q: Are there pre-requisites that need to be completed before taking a LEED AP exam?
A: LEED AP candidates need to document proof of working on a LEED project within the last three years. Applicants will need to verify this through LEED Online or by confirmation from their employer. About 7% of applicants are required to submit to an application audit to prove eligibility.

Q: Do LEED AP candidates need to take the LEED Green Associate exam before applying?
A: Candidates may take only the Green Associate exam and earn the Green Associate (GA) designation, or take the LEED GA exam as part of the LEED AP Designate exam. If the exam candidate chooses to take both exams at the same time, the first section of the LEED AP exam is the LEED GA exam. In order to be eligible for the LEED AP exam, you must meet the requirements above.

Q: What is the format of the LEED AP exams?
A: The LEED AP Designate exam consists of the Green Associate exam and a LEED Accredited Professional Designate exam. Both portions of the LEED AP exam consist of 100 multiple-choice questions, for a total of 200 questions, and must be completed within four hours. This is a computer-based test, and the software program allows candidates to mark questions they would like to return to at a later time. In this way, candidates can view all the questions on the test to make sure they first give answers they are confident in, then return to work on more challenging questions.

Q: What if candidates don’t pass both parts of the LEED AP exam?
A: Candidates that only pass one part of a LEED AP exam are required to retake the failed portion of the test to earn their LEED AP credential. It is important to note that even if a candidate passes the Green Associate portion of the LEED AP exam and fails the LEED AP Designate portion, they will not automatically earn the designation of Green Associate. Candidates are allowed three attempts during their one-year registration period to pass each section of their LEED AP exam.

Q: Are continuing education (CE) hours required to maintain LEED credentials?
A: The GBCI has instituted the Credentialing Maintenance Program (CMP) to expand the knowledge and experience of LEED professionals. CE hours must be completed in a two-year cycle, with LEED APs required to earn 30 hours and LEED GAs required to earn 15 hours. There are specific rules about what qualifies as CE hours and how many must be LEED-specific. For more information, visit the GBCI’s CMP webpage.