What is LEED?

Developed by the US Green Building Council, LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED rating system is the most distinguished and widely accepted green building certification. It has gained international recognition in many regions such as Dubai, Chile, Brazil, Italy, India and China and even is being adopted in some local building codes in the United States.

LEED Green Associate

The first step in becoming a LEED® Accredited Professional is passing the LEED Green Associate Exam. In order to qualify for this exam, one must have previous experience supporting a LEED-registered project, or be employed in a sustainable field of work, or attend an education program that addresses green building principles (a CleanEdison course fulfills this requirement!).

The LEED Green Associate designation covers the fundamentals of green building practices, from construction site selection, to water efficiency, to energy conservation and material resources. It is a pre-requisite for any LEED Advanced courses, and serves as the starting certification for those new to LEED.

LEED Accredited Professional

The LEED AP designation signifies advanced, specialized expertise on a variety of green building topics. These credentials are geared towards professionals who wish to maintain and grow their knowledge base through in-depth study of one of the key areas of LEED. Currently, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) offers five LEED AP Specialties: Building Design & Construction, Operations & Maintenance, Interior Design & Construction, Homes, and Neighborhood Development.

In order to obtain an AP Credential, one must have documented experience on a LEED project within the last 3 years, and have passed both the LEED GA Exam and a 100-question Specialty Exam.

LEED FAQ