Green Buildings and LEED Training Advice
Expert Advice on Green Buildings

Passing the LEED Exam: Limited to Work on Only One Type of LEED Project?

     
Question:

Jackie asks: Am I limited to only one type of LEED project if I pass the current LEED AP exam?

Jackie asks: I am planning to take the current AP exam. If I take and pass both NC AND CI exams before deadline, will I be able to migrate to BOTH AP+ BD+C AND AP+ ID+C upon June 2009? Or I can only "covert" to one AP+ designation only?

Thanks!

Jackie

Answer:
Hi Jackie:
You do not have to take more than one LEED AP Exam (unless you are doing it purely to impress... consider us impressed!) Once you're a LEED AP with any specialty designation, you are able to work on ANY LEED project across all specialties. So you can migrate from BD+C, ID+C by passing only one exam, you don't have to take both exams.

Depending on which LEED AP Exam you take, that will be your specialty, but it doesn't limit you to one practice area.

Good luck!
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Expert Advice and Comments

LEED AP exam

Wed, 12/22/2010 - 13:46 — Luciana (not verified)

Which books do you recommend for studying for the LEED AP exam?

Re: LEED AP exam books

Wed, 12/22/2010 - 13:56 — RobFFree (not verified)

Hi Luciana,

The best approach (the one that worked for me) and that I know has worked for thousands o other people preparing for the AP exam, is to get the reference guide for the specialty track you're preparing for, read through that, and use it as a guide as you memorize the various credits and prereqs for your specialty rating system.

Then, get ahold of some practice tests and flash cards, etc. and start preparing for the real thing by doing the practice tests over and over until you are in the 80% range on a consistent basis. The best assortment of practice tests we've seen are here: http://www.green-buildings.com/leed-exam-prep

Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions,

Rob

mberg's picture

RE: LEED AP exam

Wed, 12/22/2010 - 14:25 — mberg

Luciana,

I would highly recommend starting by ordering the USGBC official study guide for the specialty exam you plan on taking. Visit the link below, and look under “Green Associate & AP Study Guides.”

http://www.usgbc.org/Store/PublicationsList_New.aspx?CMSPageID=1518

Overall these study guides will get you started. However, I do warn you that the USGBC study guides provide you with a fundamental base, and does not necessarily fill in all of the details on the exam. For example these books provide website links for additional reading, and I would highly recommend taking the time and looking into these.

Don’t forget to download the candidate handbook on the specialty exam you plan on taking (website below). In the “Preparing for your Exam” section there is a list of articles to read, which is all fair game on the exam.

http://www.gbci.org/main-nav/professional-credentials/resources/candidat...

Also, memorize all of the credits, point values, pre-reqs, etc. for the specially exam you plan on taking. Another tip is just to simply browse the USGBC and GBCI websites, as there are questions based on the content.

Flash cards and practice exams are also very helpful. To be honest, http://www.green-buildings.com has the most helpful practice exam I have seen. One feature that is great is you have the ability to take as many practice exams as you would like, and it is also proctored on the computer, just like the real exam.

Best of luck!

Michael Berg, EIT, LEED Green Assoc.
Titus Energy Management Services
http://www.titus-us.com/energy/

jschafer's picture

Studying for the LEED exams

Wed, 12/22/2010 - 21:35 — jschafer

Michael and Rob give you great advice. You need to know the credits, points, pre-reqs, etc. cold. All the questions assume an indepth knowledge of all the credits.

Practice exams are also critical. I took practice exams until I scored 90% or higher for each test. The weekend before I took my exam I took 17 practice exams.

You have to study. You have to know the material. And you have to take practice tests to pass this test.

Good luck.

John Schafer, LEED AP BD+C,ISSA Green Cleaning Professional
Area Sales Manager - Enterprise Accounts
Staples Facility Solutions

www.staplesadvantage.com/facility
john.schafer@staples.com

LEED AP

Sun, 11/20/2011 - 00:45 — dhanvinder (not verified)

Sir,

I am working in Electromechanical Engineering field since 1982.My place of work is in UAE(over 30 years).I have good knowledge of green building (LEEDS) through ASHRAE and other codes as i am memeber of few engineering institutions such as ASHRAE,CIBSE,IEE and NFPA.I woul appreciate if you can advise as to if i can have some benfit of my experience to obtain LEED AP certification.I have full leed books with me already.

Kind Regards,
Dhanvinder

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