Hi William, thanks for your question regarding your eligibility for the LEED AP exam.

How Do I Qualify for the LEED AP Exam?

In order to take the LEED AP exam, GBCI requires the following:

1) You must have taken and passed the LEED Green Associate Exam
2) You must be or have been involved in a LEED certified project within the last three years

How to Qualify for the LEED Green Associate

If you are not a LEED Green Associate, you will have to pass the exam before you can become a LEED AP.

In order to qualify for the LEED Green Associate exam, you must meet one of the following requirements:

1) You must be or have been employed in a sustainable field of work
2) You must be or have been involved in a LEED Certification project
3) You must show involvement in an education program that addresses green building principles

Your work experience and educational background should qualify you for the LEED Green Associate exam. See this article for a list of what we believe qualifies as a "sustainable field of work".

However, GBCI makes all final decisions regarding eligibility, so if want to be sure that your experience would qualify, contact GBCI at gbci.org or by calling 1-800-795-1746.

It is important to note that if you qualify for both the LEED Green Associate Exam and the LEED AP, by having LEED project experience, then you can take both tests back to back in a four-hour marathon exam session (two hours per test). We don't recommend this, because it might be difficult to prepare for both exams simultaneously. However, it is an option if you’re anxious to earn your LEED AP credential as quickly as possible. Most people do not do this.

Experience on a LEED Certified Project

As mentioned above, you must demonstrate involvement in a LEED certified project to become a LEED AP. To prove your involvement, your name must be on the registry of a specific LEED project. The project can be completed or in progress, but your involvement must have been within the three years of the application submittal date.

If you would like to get involved in a LEED project and meet this requirement, green-buildings.com offers a LEED Professional Project Experience Program LEED Professional Project Experience Program. This program allows you to work on a live LEED project. Since many project teams want someone who is already a LEED AP to work on their LEED project, this is a good option for aspiring LEED APs.

Also, if for some reason your work experience and education do not qualify you for the LEED Green Associate Exam, working on a LEED project could “kill two birds with one stone”, so to speak, because it will qualify you for both exams.

I hope this helps, William. Good luck!
Claire Moloney

Related Advice:

• LEED Green Associate Training: Five Options to Qualify for the LEED Exam



• Free LEED AP Study Guide: Four Tips and Tricks for Passing the LEED AP Exam



• Becoming a LEED AP