LEED Green Associate Exam Study Guide

Step 1: Register for your Exam

Registering for your test is easy. Login to your USGBC account and click “Credentials”. You will see a list of LEED tests you are eligible to take. The exams are available at a test center or online from the comfort of your own testing environment. We recommend scheduling your exam 1-2 months from the day you start studying. This will ensure you spend adequate time preparing.

Full-Time Student Test Pricing
USGBC WEBSITE: Check the box on page one of registration that asks if you are a full-time student. You will then be asked to enter your school, student ID number, and expected graduation date. This information is confirmed, and your total should then read $100 on the payment page.

Step 2: Studying for your LEED Green Associate Exam

All LEED® Professional exams are scored between 125 and 200 scale system. Some questions during the exam may or may not be graded and counted based on GBCI and USGBC matrix and past test scores. The test contains 100 questions and is closed book.

30 Day LEED Green Associate Exam Study Plan

Make sure to set aside enough time to study for your test. Although it is an entry-level exam, it still requires hard work and determination. We recommend studying for a minimum of 30 days to pass your test the first time. It's in your best interest to complete the full thirty days. Do not try to condense the material because you may overwhelm yourself. This training program has a 95% passing rate.

Step 3: Test Overview

Understanding the different parts of the test is fundamental to passing. You will need to know how to focus your study time. This way, you are sure to pass your test the first time.

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The Application Process

You are responsible for understanding the application process for projects. This will require you to know the different rating systems and how the registration process works on what type of building or project. The various costs associated with the LEED process should be known. The process in which a building or project becomes LEED certified. You must understand each part of the project team, the registration process, how to submit credits, and how to ask for rulings and interpretations from the USGBC.

LEED Credits and Prerequisites

A candidate for the test needs to understand the prerequisites vs optional credits, as well as how to earn points per credit. It is your requirement to know the strategies behind the point system, codes, and standards used to satisfy them. You also have to learn the synergy between how credits interact.

Specific Strategies
As a candidate for the exam, you will have to know the LEED categories. The categories are divided into the following sections:
• Site Selection
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality; and
• Innovation in Design

Recommended Reference Guides

Candidate Handbook - USGBC Website New Tab

PDF Guide to the test: Topics Covered, Question Layout, Format

Reference Section - USGBC Website New Tab

Online Guide: 7 references including free BD+C Reference guide sections

At this point, you have a fairly good idea of what is involved in the exam. View our study section for further guides and free test simulators.

Free LEED Green Associate Practice Exam and Guides