Green Buildings and LEED Training Advice
Expert Advice on Green Buildings

Green Building Education: Is LEED Green Associate Enough or Just a First Step?

Prepare to Pass the LEED Green Associate Test!

Join thousands of others who have used our LEED Green Associate prep materials to pass their test on the first time! >>Learn More

Phil asks: Hi, I am a bit confused by the tiered qualification system.

I understand the tier 1 exam qualifies you as a 'Green Associate'.

I think that the tier 2 exam then allows you to specialise.

If I become a 'Green Associate' do I need to go on and complete a tier 2 exam or does the tier 1 qualification allow me to fully participate providing 'LEED Services' for projects?

Thanks.

Answer: Hi Phil, thanks for your question. You are correct about your understanding of Tier I and Tier II. Tier I is required for those who wish to become a LEED Green Associate and Tier II is for those who are going for LEED AP with Specialty.

The Tier I credential is intended to provide only the core fundamentals of green building and LEED. By design it does not provide the level of depth necessary to oversee a LEED certification process... and by having a LEED Green Associate working on a registered LEED project, the project does not earn the extra "point" that it would earn by having a LEED Accredited Professional on the project team.

This does not mean that LEED Green Associates cannot participate in the LEED certification process. Indeed, LEED Green Associate places emphasis on LEED (as opposed to other rating systems) and LEED Green Associate is intended to provide the knowledge necessary to represent the ultimate LEED "support" role in LEED certification projects.

Good luck!

Rob Freeman Jr., LEED AP

Share

  • Share this
Expert Advice and Comments

Phil, thanks for your

Sun, 10/09/2011 - 23:32 — Elisabeth (not verified)

Phil, thanks for your question. I have been questioning the same thing too.

Rob, thanks for clarifying, I always thought that LEED GA is enough. Obviously I wasn't aware of the extra "point" of having LEED AP members.
I have a question related to this too. I am currently an undergrad-senior year. I plan to take LEED GA next semester and LEED BD+C maybe after 3-4years later (or after I gain work experience/involvement in LEED project). My question is: do I have to retake the LEED GA test if I plan to take the BD+C (let's say) 5 years later?

Obviously after reading this thread, I realize LEED GA is not enough. And I am trying to figure out whether to take the LEED GA test next semester or later after grad school when I'm actually working and involved in a LEED project.

Thanks

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • You may use [view:name=display=args] tags to display views.

More information about formatting options