After March 31st, 2009, candidates for the LEED AP credentials must fulfill eligibility requirements.

Along with the change over to LEED Version 3, the USGBC has introduced some fairly strict requirements in order to be eligible to take the LEED AP exam. We hope to be able to clear up some of the confusion surrounding these requirements so you can determine your eligibility, and if ineligible, show you the programs we offer in order to make you eligible for the test.

To take any of the Tier 2 LEED AP Exams (i.e. Building Operations & Maintenance, LEED AP Homes, Building Design + Construction, Interior Design + Construction) you must meet both of the following requirements:

1: You must have taken and passed the LEED Green Associate Exam

This is not made explicitly clear in the candidate handbook, but the first requirement for eligibility for the AP test is to have passed the Green Associate test. Some paperwork often refers to the Green Associate test as "Exam 1" and the AP tests as "Exam 2". There is no minimum time necessary between taking the Green Associate exam and when you take the AP exam.

For more information on the eligibilty requirements of the LEED Green Associate Exam, head here.

2: You must be (or have been) involved in a LEED Certified Project within three years.

To prove eligibility by way of LEED project involvement, you must have been involved in the certification process of a LEED project within three years of the application's submittal date. This means that your name must be on the registry of a specific LEED project that has already taken place, or which is currently in progress. This can sometimes be difficult to achieve, as many organizations prefer to have existing LEED APs take care of the certification process, but as there is no requirement for a person working on a LEED project to be a LEED AP, it is possible to be added to your businesses project.

If taking part in a LEED project led by your place of business isn't an option, we are able to help. Green-Buildings.com offers our Green Professional Training Program, in which you can take part in an actual LEED certification process over the course of a few months, and when all is said and done, your name will be listed on the LEED project, making you eligible for the LEED AP+ exams. Call Us for details.

If you meet both of those requirements, you are eligible to register for and take any of the v3 LEED AP exams.

To register to take the LEED AP+ exam, visit the GBCI and get started today!