LEED Green Associate FAQs

Find answers to these questions below:
  1. What are the requirements to take a LEED Green Associate exam?
  2. What are the costs involved with the LEED Green Associate credential?
  3. What is the format of the LEED Green Associate exams?
  4. How is the LEED Green Associate exam scored?
  5. What happens if I fail the LEED Green Associate exam three times during my application period?
  6. I'm a LEED Green Associate and I want to become a LEED AP. What exam(s) am I required to take?
  7. Can I be both a LEED Green Associate and a LEED AP?
  8. What if I still have unanswered questions or want to learn more?

Q: What are the requirements to take a LEED Green Associate exam?
A: Candidates are required to:
  1. Agree to the Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy and Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) as outlined at www.gbci.org.
  2. Have experience in the form of EITHER documented  involvement in support of a LEED-registered project OR employment (or previous employment) in a sustainable field of work OR engagement in (or completion of) an education program that addresses green building principles
  3. Submit to an application audit. Five to seven percent of all applications will be audited; you will be notified immediately if you are chosen for an audit and will be notified of your eligibility within 14 days.

Q: What are the costs involved with the LEED Green Associate credential?
A: The costs are:
  • Application fee: $50
  • Exam fee (per exam appointment):
    • $150 for USGBC National Members and full-time students
    • $200 for all others
  • Credential Maintenance renewal fee: $50 every 2 years

Q: What is the format of the LEED Green Associate exam?
A: The LEED Green Associate exam is a multiple-choice, computer-based exam comprised of 100 randomly delivered multiple choice questions which must be completed in 2 hours. View pages 9-10 of the LEED Green Associate candidate handbook for sample exam questions.

Q: How is the LEED Green Associate exam scored?
A: The LEED Green Associate exam is scored using a scaled process. Scores range from 125 to 200 but candidates must achieve a minimum score of 170 to pass the exam and earn the LEED Green Associate credential.

Q: What happens if I fail the LEED Green Associate exam three times during my application period?
A: If you fail the LEED Green Associate exam three times during your application period, you will have used all of your allotted exam attempts.  That means that you will have to wait until three months from the end of your application period (one year from your application approval date) to apply for any LEED Professional Exam.

Q: I'm a LEED Green Associate and I want to become a LEED AP. What exam(s) am I required to take?
A: If you are an active LEED Green Associate (meaning that you are maintaining your credential), you are only required to take the second part of the LEED AP exam (the LEED AP specialty exam) to become a LEED AP.  If you successfully complete any of the LEED AP specialty exams during an active LEED Green Associate reporting period, the LEED Green Associate credential will expire and be replaced by the LEED AP with specialty credential.

Q: Can I be both a LEED Green Associate and a LEED AP?
A: If you successfully complete any of the LEED AP specialty exams during an active LEED Green Associate reporting period, the LEED Green Associate credential will expire and be replaced by the LEED AP specialty credential.  Please see your exam’s candidate handbook or contact GBCI Credentialing Staff at www.gbci.org/contact for more information.

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 your exam's candidate handbook, a resource for GBCI and Prometric policies and procedures throughout the credentialing process, and the Glossary, a dictionary of useful GBCI terms and definitions.  If you have any questions not answered on the GBCI website or in the handbooks, contact GBCI credentialing staff.