LEED® Accredited Professional

LEED Professional Accreditation provides verification of individual knowledge in the principles of green building design, construction, and operation. The credential helps building professionals establish credibility in the marketplace. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) also help building owners achieve performance goals and facilitate the LEED Certification process. LEED APs are a critical link between LEED standards and professional practice.

Candidate Handbooks

Candidate Handbooks are the complete resource for navigating the credentialing process.

• Three levels of excellence for a professional to pursue. This improves upon the current LEED accreditation system by providing a mechanism to recognize knowledge and expertise beyond a basic understanding of green building practices. A tiered credentialing system allows the marketplace to distinguish between practitioners with basic, advanced, and extraordinary levels of knowledge.

Tier I  LEED Green Associate: Evoking good environmental practice and being the first step in the LEED professionals career pathway the LEED Green Associate credential attests to demonstrated knowledge and skill in understanding and supporting green design, construction, and operations.

Tier II LEED AP+ : The LEED AP+ credential signifies an extraordinary depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a particular field: commercial building design & construction, commercial operations & maintenance, commercial interiors, residential design & construction, and neighborhood development.

TIER III LEED AP Fellow: LEED Fellows enter an elite class of leading professionals who are distinguished by their years of experience and a peer review of their project portfolio. Fellows contribute to the standards of practice and body of knowledge for achieving continuous improvement in the green building field.

• GBCI has eligibility requirements for all levels of the exam system
• GBCI has credentialing maintenance required for all levels of the exam. As sustainable technologies advance and the LEED rating system evolves, the LEED accreditation system needs a mechanism to ensure that LEED Professions have the latest knowledge and understanding of green building practices.

LEED AP+ Specialty Tracks Include: 

• Operations and Maintenance (old EB) 2009 O&M
• Residential Design and Construction (HOMES) 2009 HOMES
• Building Design and Construction (old NC) 2009 BD&C
• Interior Design and Construction (old CI) 2009 ID&C
• Neighborhood Development (ND) 2010 ND

Credentialing Process:

• Tier 1, the LEED Green Associate exam is a computer based, multiple-choice examination; you will have 2.5 hours to complete it. This core exam is also part one of the LEED AP+ examination. If you become eligible to take the LEED AP+ exam and you have maintained your LEED Green Associate Credential, you will not have to take the Core exam again.

• Tier 2, the LEED AP+ exams will be two parts. The exams are multiple choice and computer based. The first part will be the “core” knowledge exam (taken by Tier 1, LEED Green Associates) about green building and general knowledge about the LEED rating system process. The second part will be a specialty exam depending on the track you choose. You will have 4 hours to complete the examinations.

If you only pass one part of the exam you will have to retake the part you failed.
Your eligibility is valid for one year and you will have three chances to take the failed portion.
If you fail three times your eligibility will be suspended for three months and you will be required to reapply.

How do I fit into the new system as a current LEED AP?
“Legacy” LEED AP: Thousands of LEED APs who pioneered the green building field may continue to bear the credential as a legacy with inactive status. To gain active status, they must choose to opt into the new system. LEED APs who elect to opt in to the new credentialing system should note the following:

• Beginning in August 2009, current LEED APs have two years to opt in. For example, if you choose to opt in December of 2009, you will have until December 31, 2011 to complete you required hours of credential maintenance.
• Opt-in requires signing the disciplinary policy and agreeing to credential maintenance. You will get to use the new LEED AP+ designation and be listed in the active registry.

If as a current LEED AP you don’t opt in you will remain a LEED AP with inactive status in the registry.
If you choose to opt into the system after JUNE 2011 you must meet eligibility requirements and retest.

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