What is a LEED Green Associate?

As of the summer of 2009, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) has made sweeping changes to the LEED credentialing program.  These changes, combined with the changes to LEED green building requirements are referred to as Version 3 of LEED (LEED v3) of the credentialing and building certification program. In the past, only one LEED Credential was possible-the LEED Accredited Professional (AP). This credential was meant primarily for professionals who would be directly involved in designing, constructing, or maintaining a green building.  In addition to LEED AP, there is now an introductory credential called LEED Green Associate. Not only is obtaining this credential a required prerequisite to becoming a LEED AP+ (The v3 version of a LEED AP), but candidates also have the option of remaining a Green Associate and never moving on to the AP level.

Who would want to become a LEED Green Associate?

Firstly, anyone who wants to eventually become a LEED AP+ needs to start by taking the Green Associate exam.  Ideal backgrounds for LEED AP+ candidates would include:

• Architects
• Engineers
• Contractors
• Interior Designers
• Landscape Architects
• Facility Managers
• Energy Raters

In addition to the above named professions, Green Associate is ideal for professionals who do not want to move on to the AP+ level, because their involvement in LEED projects will be more tangential and possibly less technical. These candidates include:

• Marketing and Sales Professionals
• Public Policy Specialists
• Financiers
• Realtors
• Employment Specialists
• Lawyers
• Support Staff
• Educators

Green Associate is also a great credential for the unemployed or those looking to transition their career into the green sector.

How can a candidate become a LEED Green Associate?

According the GBCI’s Green Associate Candidate Handbook, there are currently three different ways to become eligible to sit for the Green Associate exam.

• Experience in the form of involvement on a LEED-registered project
• Employment (or previous employment) in a sustainable field of work
• Engagement in (or completion of) an education program that addresses green building principles.

Many candidates have obtained eligibility by satisfying the third compliance path, education that addresses green building principles. Participation in Green Education Services’ one-day seminar provides a certificate of completion that can be used when applying to take the Green Associate exam.

To sign up for the exam, candidates will need to go to GBCI.org, upload documentation proving that they are eligible to sit for the exam (such as a seminar certificate), and pay a $50 application fee.  Application processing can range from 24 to 48 hours if the candidate’s documentation is not audited, or from one to two weeks if the candidate’s documentation is audited. 

Once GBCI approves the application, candidates will receive an email with a link to sign up for the exam at a local prometric testing center and an eligibility ID number to use when selecting an appointment.  When selecting an appointment, candidates will pay an exam fee of $150 if the candidate is part of an organization that maintains USGBC membership or $200 for non-member candidates, making the total examination fee between $200 or $250.

Once a candidate passes the 100-question, multiple-choice exam, he or she becomes a LEED Green Associate. They can later take a specialized LEED AP+ exam (assuming they have the required project experience), or they can remain a Green Associate. Both Green Associates and LEED APs will need to maintain their credential by satisfying some minor continuing education and annual due requirements, but they will not have to retest  throughout the time period that their credential is maintained.

What to expect on the Green Associate Exam

Taking a prep course, or at the very least, buying preparatory materials is essential.  In fact, the certificate of completion from your seminar will be the easiest way to meet the eligibility requirements when applying to take the LEED Green Associate Exam. Though some candidates may have more background knowledge than others, candidates from all backgrounds can do well once they’ve been introduced to the material. The exam will test candidates on concepts that are addressed in every LEED rating system.  These rating systems include: Building Design and Construction, Interior Design and Construction, Homes, Operations and Maintenance, and Neighborhood Development. Candidates will not be expected to specialize in one particular rating system for the Green Associate exam; but this will be required at the AP+ level. However, they will need to understand the general concepts that are consistent across the rating systems. These include:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality

Candidates will also be expected to understand administrative processes like how to navigate the documentation process when getting a green project certified. They will also need to grasp some special LEED concepts such as Innovation in Design and Regional Priority.

Even if a candidate has a background in sustainability or LEED, prep courses are useful, as the exam tests on certain obscure concepts such as the USGBC logo guidelines and Minimum Project Requirements.

If you are ready to begin the process of becoming a Green Associate, click here to locate an exam prep seminar near you.  If you still have questions, call us toll free at 1-800-355-1751 and we'll be glad to help!  :)

Regards,
Zach Rose, LEED AP, LEED GA
CEO
Green Education Services
www.GreenEdu.com