If you are not eligible for a LEED specialty exam, your best bet is to take the LEED Green Associate exam first, since you will have to take that portion of the exam anyways (it’s the 1st part of the 2 part specialty exam). From there, I would try and get onto a LEED registered project.
I’m going to ask the USGBC if there are other ways to become eligible for the exam, but as far as I know – you need that experience on a registered project in order to take the exam.
FAQs about your LEED credential:
- What EXACTLY is the Credential Maintenance Program for LEED?
- Should I take the LEED Green Associate exam, or a LEED AP specialty exam?
Green Associate Exam
- What is the LEED Green Associate exam about?
- What are the eligibility requirements to take the LEED Green Associate exam?
- How do I prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam?
- Can I take the Green Associate exam now, and take a specialty exam later?
LEED AP Specialty Exam
- What are the LEED AP specialty exams all about?
- What are the eligibility requirements to take a LEED AP specialty exams?
- What can I do if I’m not eligible to take a LEED specialty exam?
- How do I prepare for a LEED AP specialty exam?
- If I pass one exam track, can I work on projects being certified under a different rating system?
5 Comments On This Post
I am a recent graduate w/ a 5 year degree in Architecture. I am looking to become LEED AP but am not eligible as I have not worked on a LEED project yet. Is there anyway around this? If not and I take the LEED GA exam, once I become eligible to take the LEEP AP BD+C exam will I have to retake the LEED GA portion of the exam?
Hello Pat,
I intend to sit for the Green Associate exam by taking required class since I do not have LEED project experience.
Now my question is will the class and the study aid books etc. sufficient enough to pass the exam ?
I think about this because I have absolutely no idea about the exam or the green industry.
What are your thoughts on this ?
Hi SJK, the class and the study aids that are available with them should be enough to pass the GA exam. The GA exam isn’t as extensive as the AP exams, so what you learn in the classes should be sufficient, along with the supplemental study guides to go along with them. That being said, I don’t think you could ever study too much material in case you are worried. Best of luck!
Thanks Pat for the reply.
I already have a LEED AP, and see two different rules on the GCBI website. Either A) I’m not qualified to take an exam because I can’t document project experience, B) I can become a LEED AP+ through continuing education instead of testing, without project experience. Somewhere else I saw that I don’t have to show project experience. What’s the deal?