New to LEED? Start Here

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to set a benchmark for design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

LEED Certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home, or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

LEED Certification is the most recognized global standard for high performance buildings that are efficient, cost-effective, and better for occupants and the environment.

Though LEED Certification is a goal for buildings, this process would be hard to accomplish without the passionate work of accredited LEED professionals. The first step toward learning about LEED is to become a LEED Green Associate.

LEED Accreditation is a personal endeavor for green building professionals who want to validate their understanding of the LEED Certification process and increase their marketability. LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) come from all different disciplines, such as architecture, construction, engineering, facility maintenance, urban planning, and interior design.

One of the most common mistakes made by newcomers to LEED is when they say, "I want to become LEED Certified." They really should say, "I want to become LEED Accredited."

Everblue is the largest USGBC Educational Provider in the world. We are proud to have trained thousands of professionals from individuals to the largest corporations and government agencies. Our LEED training courses prepare individuals at all levels for the LEED exam of their choice.

If you were already a LEED AP before the LEED v3 changes – please click here.

Qualifying to Sit for the LEED Exam

Let's dive deeper and look at what it takes to become an accredited LEED Professional. Click on the video to the right, or continue reading, to learn more.

There are no eligibility requirements for the LEED Green Associate exam. However, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) recommends that candidates have exposure to LEED and green building concepts through educational courses, volunteering, or work experience prior to testing.

Everblue's LEED training courses are an approved educational program.

Registering for the LEED Exam

Next, you will have to apply for the exam through the GBCI website, which is www.gbci.org. You will need to create an account. Log in and go to "My Credentials," where you will then see a link for "Apply for Exam." At that point, you will do the following:

Pay a $50 application fee to the GBCI
Within seven days, you will receive an email confirmation

Now you may register for your exam at www.prometric.com/gbci. There are Prometric Testing Centers located in all major cities. You will be able to schedule a specific time and location for your test. The cost of the exam is $200, unless you are a full-time student or a USGBC member. In which case, the exam fee lowers to $150.

Upon completion of your Everblue LEED training course, we suggest that students go ahead and schedule their exams. It is much easier to focus and study for an exam when the date is looming over your head. We recommend 2-3 weeks of self-study time following our training course. We hope you will consult the numerous resources located in your online student account. Everblue's practice questions are well known for being especially helpful at this stage. Because the LEED exam is administered through the computer, you will see your results as soon as you complete the exam.