I recently graduated in December 2008 and I am seriously looking at taking a LEED AP during the first within the first 2 quarters of the year. But I'm getting a little confused on which exam to take. Should I take the LEED 2009 exam or the current version??? My original plan was to have my LEED AP accredidation by the time I start graduate school in August. Will somebody please give me a little advice on what I should do?? And also, If anyone knows the date when the new exam will be administered please feel free to let me know! Thanks!

Thanks a lot! I am actually interested in the New Construction exam. I'm located in Texas right now so I plan on taking the exam here.

Not sure whether 2 months is an adequate amount of time to prepare for the exam. But I guess that would depend on my preparation and if I think I could do it. One more question: After the March 31st deadline for the current LEED NC exam, when will the new LEED NC exam actually start being administered?

I really appreciate your help!

Regards

I am confuse, the Elegibility requirements for LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE said that you need to:
-Demonstrate or document involvement in support of LEED projects.
-Be employed in a sustainable field of work or engaged in an education program in green building principals and LEED.
I am a drafter in an Architectural Company, I don't have any document that demonstrate involvement in any LEED Projects does that means that I have no change on taking the LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE test.

Hi Anonymous:

The work experience or "eligibility" requirement for the LEED Green Associate exam requires only one (not all) of the following:

- Document involvement in support of LEED OR
- Be employed in a sustainable field of work OR
- Be engaged in an education program in green building principles and LEED.

Architecture is definitely a sustainable field of work. So you should be just fine.

Good luck!
Green-Buildings.com

I'm confused.. the website says you must "register" by 3/31... does this mean, I can register now to take the exam in September? Or I need to actually schedule and PASS the exam by 3/31?

Hi Green Buildings,

I work for a large commercial Architecture firm in the Resource Library. In our particular office, many Interior designers and several architects are racing to take either the LEED CI or NC exam before it switches over and they would in effect have to take 2 exams for the comparable accreditation.

As I am not a direct Design Professional and hope to grasp overarching sustainability principles, my thought was to wait and take the Associate Exam. It seems like the most appropriate designation. However, colleagues have voiced the last administration for LEED NC/CI as an opportunity to have the "higher" level of accreditation.

My understanding was that the Associate Exam is targeted to those who specifically seek basic knowledge and does not overlap with those looking for full credentials. Unfortunately, the 'Tier 1' designation that USBGC uses is confusing.. it gives the impression that Associate Exam is more of a "stepping stone".. thoughts?

Thank you in advance!

Thank you for clarifying, that's an excellent explaination.

If the point was to shoot for prestige, I'd probably not be working in a Library!

Cheers, much appreciated.

I have read a number of requirements on this and other posts that do not match what is on GBCI's website. Let me know if I'm wrong...

1. LEED 2.0's will not be grandfathered, just 2.1's and 2.2's. (Read on Archinect, not sure where this idea came from.)

2. LEED APs will have to retake the test every two years. (No, but the GBCI site is confusing on this one. If you are already a LEED AP, and you OPT IN to the new system, you will be assigned a credential (such as BD&C) based on the exam you took. If you want an ADDITIONAL credential, you will have to take the test for that credential. But not every two years.)

3. LEED APs will have to show evidence of having worked on a LEED registered project every two years. (No, the site doesn't say this. What it says is that you must show this evidence in order to qualify to take the new LEED AP test.)

Hello,

I recently founded myself in a situation where my employer wants me to prepare and take the LEED AP exam.We are a woodworking firm ,we do exclusively interior woodwork ,both buildings that are being renovated and new construction(if it makes any difference for credentialing specialty) .I am so lost within this whole LEED thing!From woodworking point of view there are just materials and finishes that can comply(so it's a very narrow area)...
Which LEED specialty should I be looking into?
Also does it make more sense to take the Green Associate exam only?Why the main source for reference for the Green Associate is the "LEED for operations and Maintenance Reference Guide" not the Interior Design or Building Design and Construction?I don't get it.

I'm an architect working in Dubai since 2006, I'm planing to have the LEED Green Associate but i dont know what to do ??? I want to know if your online course is enough to register for the LEED Green Associate exam
and also you will give mw some thing like certificate i will submit to GBCI or what ???

Hello; could anyone provide additional information on what else should I study for to take the LEED GA exam besides the study materials listed in the handbook? I took a LEED Prep course in college, but that was geared towards the EB exam. I am aware I can sign-up for a workshop, but the fees add up quickly for a non-member. Is anyone affiliated with an individual who took the LEED GA beta exam who might be willing to provide advice? I appreciate any feedback, thank you.

AB

From what we have heard, approximately 80% of the LEED Green Associate exam is single answer multiple choice with exactly four choices. The remaining 20% was multiple answer, multiple choice with choose 2 or 3 out of 4 or 5 answers.

The Green Associate exam tests all of the LEED concepts on a very broad level. Some people have suggested that the LEED Green Associate may be more difficult to study for than the LEED AP exam since there is no formal credit/prerequisite framework around which to structure your studying.

One test taker reported that approximately 10% of the questions seemed deliberately tricky due to the use of double negatives or vague wording, requiring students to really read the questions multiple times to even figure out what the exam was asking for. The key is to become well versed in all of the LEED green building topics in order to answer the questions on this exam.

Apparently there was ample reference to the LEED credit categories (Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Environmental Quality, etc) and to credits themselves.

The GBCI provides a LEED GA Candidate Handbook which provides an overview of all the source materials for the contents of the exam... the challenge is looking through it all, sorting it out and making sense of what's important and what's not. That's where pre-packaged study guides help out immensely.

What companies can hire a leed green associate...And what can one expect from your daily job duties job ??? How much does a leed associate expect to make before obtaining the second exam.?? thank you

Last week I just took the LEEP AP exam. I missed it by 4 points. I am a manufacturers representative and really had to study because Material Resources was my only area before the exam. My question.

Will the content in the Green Associates exam be similar to the LEEP AP exam? I am comfortable saying that I understand all the credits etc. My area of weekness was the coordination of teams. Please let me know your thoughts. I do not want to spend too much more time but I understand the credentials will be important for the future..Thanks

Hi,
I a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry for 4 years and recently I've had an epiphany. I would like to change my career from the auto industry and move into the sustainable green building, construction, and architecture industry. I've always been an advocate of health and sustainability but only now have I realized that I'm in the wrong business.

As of now, I'm still employed in the auto industry but I'm diligently looking for jobs in the sustainable and green building industry. It appears that most mid level mechanical engineering openings require LEED AP certification, sometimes certification is not required, but is desired. In the interest of increasing my marketability I decided I need to take the exam, which brings me to this website.

Now it appears that I am not eligible to take the LEED Green Associate exam because I do not have any prior experience or current involvement with green and sustainable buildings. Without have to resort to going to school again for architecture or energy engineering, what possibilities do I have in taking this exam?

Thanks,
Krishna

Hello,
Just getting into the LEEDs requirements. I have taken a 201 and 202 course and plan on studying the winter for the Green Associate certification. Is this the correct order, I would want to begin with getting the Green Associate cert and then move onto LEEDS Bldg Design and Construction and or New Construction, correct? Not sure the order of which certifications to take first. I understand the Green Associate is the first but the do we tackle the LEEDS AP or is that the same as LEEDS Design adn Construction. Thanks.

I am Health professional, and I would like to be LEED certified in Health Care Systems. What do I need to do?

I have a couple questions in hopes someone can reply too...
How does the LEED or USGBC adapt to people with learning disabilities taking the test...
Also How long after you graduate from a CIDA certified college along with LEED educational courses, can you take the test. I graduate techniqually at the end of Janruary 2011 from college and I am looking to take this test asap. How can I do that?

Thank you! :)

When is the exam for LEED Green Associate 2011? For how long do candidates usually prepare for the exam?