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PPI, LEED FAQs, ppi2pass.com
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction (called the LEED Green Building Rating System). The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) administers project certification under the LEED Green Building Rating System. GBCI also administers the program under which individuals can become LEED-credentialed.
LEED 2009 refers to the LEED rating systems developed and implemented by USGBC in 2009. These rating systems include: LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Core & Shell, LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance.
LEED version 3 (LEED v3) is the current version of the LEED green building certification system developed by USGBC. Launched on April 27, 2009, LEED v3 encompasses the LEED rating systems updated in 2009 (LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Core & Shell, LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance), the online LEED certification tool, and the LEED credentialing program.
Many types of professionals have taken a LEED exam and become LEED-credentialed. The LEED credentials are applicable not only to design professionals--such as architects or engineers--but also to marketing professionals, attorneys, developers, real estate agents, owners, maintenance staff, specialty consultants, product or manufacturers' representatives, lenders, contractors, and any other professional involved in the design, construction, or operation of green buildings.
Before 2009, there was only one LEED credential: the LEED AP. The LEED credentialing program now provides three credentials that have different requirements. The primary differences among the credentials are level of knowledge, amount of experience, and level of proficiency in green building design. Each credential also has its own unique requirements and fees.
A LEED Green Associate is an individual who has passed the LEED Green Associate exam and possesses the knowledge and skill to understand and support green design, construction, and operations.
A LEED Accredited Professional (AP) is an individual who has passed a LEED AP exam and possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the design process, to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the application and certification process. There are several LEED AP specialty designations.
A LEED AP Fellow will be distinguished by years of experience and contributions to the standards of practice and body of knowledge for achieving continuous improvement in the green building field. No exam is expected to be required to become a LEED Fellow.
Becoming LEED-credentialed opens the door to a wealth of opportunities within the building, design, and construction world. LEED is the most distinguished and widely accepted environmental design and green building certification in the United States.
Within the U.S. government, LEED is used at the General Services Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of State, Energy, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Interior as well as construction for all new and major renovation projects. Most states require new state-funded building projects to achieve a minimum level of LEED certification, and increasing numbers of local governments, higher education institutions, and public schools are also requiring LEED building certification.
This is a personal and professional decision you must make for yourself. It's important to consider your career path and job goals when making this decision. To help you decide which exam level is right for you, ask yourself the following questions.
1. Am I new to the basic principles and practices of green building?
2. Do I lack professional experience working on a LEED project?
3. Do I need to demonstrate only a basic understanding of green building principles and practices in my professional career?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, we recommend starting with the Green Associate exam. Click here to read more about the Green Associate exam.
If you answered no to all of the above questions, we recommend taking a LEED AP with specialty exam. Click here to read more about the LEED AP with specialty exams.
| If you are... |
...then take |
| just starting out with LEED, |
the LEED Green Associate exam. |
| already a LEED Green Associate, |
a LEED AP with specialty exam. |
| needing the "LEED AP" credential after your name, |
a LEED AP with specialty exam. |
| a legacy LEED AP, |
a LEED AP with specialty exam. |
The LEED Green Associate exam is designed to test broad knowledge of sustainable design principles and basic understanding of the LEED rating systems. You don't need in-depth knowledge of credits, specific requirements, or technologies. Rather, the exam will test your knowledge of what LEED is, the process through which a building becomes LEED certified, standard terminology, potential strategies for meeting sustainability goals, and how to be involved with and support other members of a LEED project team.
The LEED Green Associate is the fundamental credential, and can be pursued by anyone who is employed in a field related to green building. There are no educational prerequisites for taking the LEED Green Associate exam, but you must either have professional experience related to green building or be a student enrolled in coursework related to sustainable design, in which case you may take the exam without professional work experience.
To apply for the LEED Green Associate exam, you must go to the GBCI website (www.gbci.org) and pay the registration fee plus the examination fee. The application form requires verification of your employment in an appropriate field of work, your enrollment in a related educational program, or your involvement in support of a LEED project. Enrollment in a LEED GA Exam Prep Class from PPI meets this requirement.You must also agree to abide by the GBCI's disciplinary policy, and agree to the requirements for maintaining your credential.
When you have successfully completed and passed the LEED Green Associate exam, you will have earned your LEED Green Associate credential. To maintain the credential, every two years you will need to pay a maintenance fee of $50 as well as complete 15 hours of continuing education, three hours of which must be LEED-specific. PPI offers online continuing education courses. For more information, click here.
Having a LEED Green Associate credential gives you a competitive edge by
- opening the door to more potential clients
- confirming your support of sustainability and the green building movement
- demonstrating your commitment to changing the global green economy
- validating your knowledge of green building design, construction, and operations
- enabling you to "talk the talk" with prospective clients
The LEED Green Associate exam is administered in the United States and its territories by GBCI. The computer-based exam is given in a multiple-choice format and is administered at computer testing centers. You will have two hours to complete the exam, which is made up of 100 multiple-choice questions. These will be randomly chosen from a large stock of questions. Each question has four or more options to choose from. In some cases, more than one of the options is correct, and you must choose all the correct answers to receive full credit.
PPI's LEED GA Practice Exams: Green Associate simulates the actual LEED Green Associate exam in every aspect, from topics covered and number of questions, to the format and level of difficulty.
There are appointments available to take the exam almost every day of the year. You will need to schedule an appointment at a testing center near you to take an exam. The appointments are given on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, visit the GBCI website.
As a candidate for the LEED Green Associate exam, you must have a strong understanding of the integrated approach to green building design and construction, as well as a general knowledge of the principles of sustainable design, especially as they relate to the LEED Green Building Rating System. It is not, however, necessary to memorize the specific details of each credit and prerequisite in the rating systems. Likewise, in-depth knowledge of reference standards and green technologies is not required. The LEED Green Associate exam assesses your understanding of the LEED certification process, familiarity with the terminology used in the rating systems, and ability to contribute to a LEED project team. With that in mind, we recommend you use the following material in your LEED Green Associate exam prep:
- LEED® Prep GA: What You Really Need to Know to Pass the LEED Green Associate Exam
PPI, Leppo, 2009, Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-59126-178-0
- LEED® GA Practice Exams: Green Associate
PPI, Hubka, 2009, Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-59126-179-7
- LEED® GA Flashcards: Green Associate
PPI, Saeger, 2009, Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-9801638-5-8
- LEED® GA Exam Prep Classes
PPI's LEED Green Associate Exam Prep Classes are one-day classes that provide complete preparation for the LEED Green Associate exam.
Click here for a complete schedule of upcoming classes.
- LEED® GA Passing Zone
The LEED GA Passing Zone is a 4-week, online study group designed to help you prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam. Through the Passing Zone, you'll have access to an experienced green building advisor who is not only a LEED AP, but who has taken the new LEED Green Associate exam. Click here to find out more about Passing Zone.
- LEED® Green Associate Candidate Handbook
GBCI, Updated Monthly, Electronic
Click to download.
LEED APs are described by GBCI as having an extraordinary depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a particular field.
There are two parts of each LEED AP exam. The first part assesses your general knowledge of the LEED rating systems, the LEED certification process, and the approaches that can be used in sustainable design. The specifications of this part of the exam are identical to those of the LEED Green Associate exam. If you have already passed the LEED Green Associate exam and have kept your credential active, you do not need to take this part of the exam.
The second part of each LEED AP exam is a specialty exam that requires you to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of one of the following specialties and its respective rating system(s).
- The LEED AP Building Design & Construction (BD&C) exam covers the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations rating system, the LEED for Core and Shell rating system, and the LEED for Schools rating system. It will also cover related commercial rating systems such as LEED for Healthcare and LEED for Retail: New Construction. PPI offers exam prep materials to prepare you for the LEED AP BD&C exam. Click here for the current LEED AP BD&C exam specifications, released and maintained by GBCI.
- The LEED AP Interior Design & Construction (ID&C) exam focuses on the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system. It will also cover the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors rating systems. PPI offers exam prep materials to prepare you for the LEED AP ID&C exam. Click here for the current LEED AP ID&C exam specifications, released and maintained by GBCI.
- The LEED AP Operations & Maintenance (O&M) exam deals with the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance rating system. PPI offers exam prep materials to prepare you for the LEED AP O&M exam. Click here for the current LEED AP O&M exam specifications, released and maintained by GBCI.
- The LEED AP Homes exam addresses the LEED for Homes rating system. PPI offers exam prep materials to prepare you for the LEED AP Homes exam. Click here for the current LEED AP Homes exam specifications, released and maintained by GBCI.
- The LEED AP Neighborhood Development (BD&C) exam will cover the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system.
Like the LEED Green Associate exam, the LEED AP exam is a multiple-choice exam and is administered on a computer. Each part contains 100 questions and the testing time is about two hours.
| If you are a(n)... |
...then take |
| architect, commercial landscape architect, general contractor, new construction manager, or structural engineer, |
the LEED AP BD&C exam. |
| building manager, construction manager, facilities manager, HVAC specialist, mechanical engineer, or property manager, |
a LEED AP O&M exam. |
| interior designer, interior decorator, or interior construction professional, |
the LEED AP ID&C exam. |
| home inspector, residential architect, residential contractor, or residential landscape architect, |
the LEED AP Homes exam. |
| civil engineer, policy maker, PUD, developer, or real estate director, |
the LEED AP Neighborhood exam. |
As a candidate for the LEED AP credential, you must have professional experience on a LEED project within the three years of application, and this experience must be verified through LEED Online or with a statement from your employer. (If you are involved with a project registered with LEED Online, but your name is not included in the LEED Online documentation, verification from your employer may be required.) As with the LEED Green Associate exam, you must also agree to abide by GBCI's disciplinary policy, agree to the requirements for maintaining your credential, and consent to an audit of your application.
During the registration process, you must choose which specialty exam you will be taking. There are currently five LEED AP specialties to choose from. It is a good idea to pick the specialty that most closely represents your current knowledge and career path.
When you have passed the LEED AP exam, you must take part in the Credentialing Maintenance Program (CMP) to maintain your LEED AP credential. Every two years you must pay a credentialing maintenance fee and complete 30 hours of coursework, six hours of which must be LEED-specific. Maintenance of the credential (collecting fees, verifying continuing education, and so on) will be administered by GBCI. PPI offers continuing education courses that meet the CMP requirement. Click here to find out more.
No. The last day to register for the LEED NC and CI exams was March 31, 2009.
If you have tested under the former system and have already earned your LEED AP credential, you will remain a LEED AP under the new system, and will not be required to retest.
GBCI encourages current LEED APs to opt into the new credentialing system during the transition period, defined as the period between June 30, 2009 and June 30, 2011. Opting in requires signing the GBCI disciplinary policy and agreeing to participate in the Credentialing Maintenance Program (CMP). Transitioning LEED APs do not have to pay the CMP fee for the first two years, but will be required to pay it after the transition period ends in June 2011. If you choose to not opt in, you will still be a LEED AP, but will not have a specialty designation.
If you choose to opt into the new credentialing systems, you may use the LEED AP title with a specialty designation. The specialty designations are as follows.
- If you passed the LEED exam for New Construction, you may use the specialty designation given to individuals who have taken the LEED AP BD&C exam.
- If you passed the LEED exam for Commercial Interiors, you may use the specialty designation given to individuals who have taken the LEED AP ID&C exam.
- If you passed the LEED exam for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, you may use the specialty designation given to individuals who have taken the LEED AP O&M exam.
Credentialing maintenance is essentially a combination of continuing education credits and a fee. Below are the credentialing maintenance requirements for the various credentialing levels.
| LEED Credential |
Fee |
Number of Project Hours Required |
| LEED AP who took a LEED exam prior to LEED v3 and opted into LEED v3 |
$50 every 2 years (starting June 2011) |
30 hours (6 specifically LEED) every 2 years |
| LEED Green Associate |
$50 every 2 years |
15 hours (3 specifically LEED) every 2 years |
| LEED AP with specialty |
$50 every 2 years |
30 hours (6 specifically LEED) every 2 years |
You can fulfill your continuing education credit requirement by enrolling in one of PPI's online continuing education courses.
Why choose an online continuing education course from PPI?
- We automatically report your continuing education credits to the AIA.
- We save a record of your completed course work for future reference and printing.
- You can complete courses from the convenience of your own home or office.
- You can print a certificate of completion for your records and self-reporting.
- You can stop and resume courses at any time.
Click here to learn more about PPI's online continuing education courses.
If you have registered to take a PPI LEED Exam Prep Class, you can download the student handouts for the class as follows.
1. Go to http://www.ppi2pass.com/perAdmin/customerLogin.jsf.
2. Enter your email address and password and click on the Log In link. (Use the password you selected when you created your PPI account while registering for your class. If you forgot your password, enter your email address in the appropriate location and click the Send Password link. Please Note: Passwords are case sensitive.))
3. Your course information will appear within a few seconds. (If it doesn't appear, click on the folder icon on the left hand side of the page.)
4. You will see a list of course handouts.
5. To view and download a handout, click on the Title of the Handout, and then Open or Save the handout.
PPI is proud to be an AIA/CES approved provider. Our LEED exam prep classes qualify for AIA continuing education credit. Each student who is an AIA member must submit his or her AIA member number on the class roster. Upon completion of the class, PPI automatically reports each eligible student’s learning units to the AIA.
The GBCI website has additional information about the exams.
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