LEED APs without specialty and Enrollment FAQs

Find answers to these questions below:
  1. How should I designate my credential?
  2. When will I receive my certificate?
  3. How can I change my listing in the LEED Professional Directory?
  4. Can I receive continuing education credit for my professional organization, license, or credential for passing a LEED professional exam?
  5. How do I fit into the new tiered system as a LEED AP without specialty credentialed under New Construction, Commercial Interiors, or Existing Buildings?
  6. When can I enroll in the new tiered system?
  7. What is the cost for a LEED AP without specialty credentialed under NC, CI, or EB to enroll in CMP?
  8. How do the LEED AP specialties correspond to the LEED AP exam tracks?
  9. Where can I view the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy?
  10. What if I choose not to enroll in the new tiered system?
  11. What if I still have unanswered questions or want to learn more?
Q: How should I designate my credential?
A: For LEED APs without specialty who passed the LEED AP New Construction v2.0, v2.1, or v2.2, Commercial Interiors v2.0, or Existing Buildings v2.0, the appropriate way to designate your credential is LEED AP.  You should use the only LEED AP and no specialty. 

While LEED is a registered trademark, USGBC and GBCI do not require LEED APs to use the '®' or 'TM' symbols in email signatures or on business cards.  The LEED Professional Logo Guidelines provide the logo and guidelines for its use.

Q: When will I receive my certificate?
A: Certificates are printed and mailed 2-3 months after your exam date to the primary address in your My Credentials profile.

Q: How can I change my listing in the LEED Professional Directory?
A: To update your listing go to www.gbci.org > My Credentials > Update Profile > LEED Professional Directory. All changes you make to your organization, city, state, country, primary and secondary area of practice in your My Credentials profile will appear instantly in the LEED Professional Directory.

Q: Can I receive continuing education credit for my professional organization, license, or credential for passing a LEED professional exam?

A: GBCI is not an approved education provider for any professional organization, licensing or credentialing body.  You may be able to receive credit for the time spent preparing for the exam; please check with your professional organization, licensing or credentialing body for more information.

Candidates who passed the LEED AP NC v2.0-v2.2, CI v2.0, or EB v2.0 (between January 2001 and June 2009) are eligible to receive 3 HSW learning units from the AIA. If you passed one of these exams and would like to request LUs, please contact GBCI credentialing staff with your name, test date, and valid 8-digit AIA member number. Please allow at least 4-6 weeks for the credit to appear on your AIA transcript.

Q: How do I fit into the new tiered system as a LEED AP without specialty credentialed under New Construction, Commercial Interiors, or Existing Buildings?
A: LEED APs without specialty credentialed under NC, CI, or EB have three options:

  1. Become a LEED AP with specialty by passing one of the new specialty examinations; only the specialty part of the exam will be required if testing during your enrollment window. When applying for the exam you will need to sign the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy and agree to Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).  Once you have passed the exam, you mayl use one of the new specialty designations (O+M, BD+C, ID+C) after your name.
  2. Become a LEED AP with specialty by enrolling in the new tiered system—i.e. agreeing to the CMP and signing the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy—and completing prescriptive CMP for the initial 2-year reporting period. Once you have enrolled, you will use one of the new specialty designations (O+M, BD+C, ID+C) after your name.  Enrollment must occur before during your enrollment window.
  3. Do nothing; you will be designated a LEED AP without specialty in the LEED Professional Directory.

Q: When can I enroll in the new tiered system?
A: LEED APs without specialty credentialed under NC, CI, or EB can enroll in the new tiered system between summer 2009 and summer 2011 at www.gbci.org > My Credentials.

Q: What is the cost for a LEED AP without specialty credentialed under NC, CI, or EB to enroll in CMP?
A: The $50 credential maintenance renewal fee for the first 2-year CMP reporting period will be waived for LEED APs credentialed under NC, CI, or EB who enroll in the new tiered system between summer 2009 and summer 2011. After summer 2011, the credential maintenance renewal fee will be $50 every 2 years.

Q: How do the LEED AP specialties correspond to the LEED AP exam tracks?
A:

  1. Building Design & Construction (BD+C), formerly New Construction and Major Renovations
  2. Interior Design & Construction (ID+C), formerly Commercial Interiors 
  3. Operations & Maintenance (O+M), formerly Existing Buildings

LEED APs credentialed under NC, CI, or EB who chose to enroll will automatically enroll in the specialty that corresponds to the exam track under which they were originally credentialed. However, LEED APs may request to enroll in a different specialty among BD&C, ID&C, and O&M, if it is more applicable to their field of work.

Q: Where can I view the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy?
A: You can view the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy at www.gbci.org > Resources >  Credentialing Resources > Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy.

Q: What if I choose not to enroll in the new tiered system?
A: You will be designated a LEED AP without specialty in the LEED Professional Directory.

Q: What if I still have unanswered questions or want to learn more?
A: If you have additional questions about LEED Professional credentials, please view the Enrollment Guide, a handbook through the enrollment process, and the Glossary, a dictionary of useful GBCI terms and definitions. If you have any questions not answered on the GBCI website, contact GBCI credentialing staff.