LEED Green Building Rating System
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. USGBC developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas:
1) Sustainable site development,
2) Water savings,
3) Energy efficiency,
4) Materials and resources selection, and
5) Indoor environmental quality.
A LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) is an individual who has passed the exam and possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the design process, to support and encourage integrated design, and to streamline the application and certification process. LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED Certification process. The exam was launched in 2001 to recognize, through accreditation, individuals’ understanding of green building practices and principles, and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes. More than 46,000 building professionals from across all areas of practice have become LEED APs since the Professional Accreditation program was launched.
The LEED Professional Accreditation program is now managed by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
There are no prerequisites to taking the LEED Professional Accreditation exam. You are permitted up to 2 hours to complete the computer-based, multiple choice exam. Nothing may be brought into the exam room with you. Your exam will be scored once you complete it; you will know your results before you leave the test site.
As of January 1, 2008 the LEED AP exam fees are $300 for USGBC Members and $400 for non-members.
Note that some are critical of this accreditation process since no prerequisites are required; a person only needs to pay the fee and pass the test. Some have suggested adding a minimum education requirement and related work experience requirement similar to those needed to become a licensed professional engineer.
The Candidate Handbook is the complete resource for those navigating the accreditation process. Download the Candidate Handbook (PDF). Note it was recently revised in February 2008.
