The Best LEED Exam Prep Materials
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Best LEED Exam Prep Materials
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LEED accreditation is one of the most recognized and established qualifications available. However, the tests are challenging and require the right study material to pass on the first time.
I created this list of the best LEED exam prep materials available now to help you pass the tests quickly and efficiently.
UPDATED: January 10, 2022.
MY TOP PICK:
If you are looking for the best overall, I recommend the GBES LEED Green Associate Platinum Pack because it is a comprehensive package that includes all of the materials needed to pass the exam and it offers a 95% pass rate on the first attempt.
GBES also has an unlimited plan that includes a year of access to all of their study tools and continuing education to both earn and maintain eight different credentials.
You can check that out here: GBES UNLIMITED – Access Everything
If you are not familiar with how the LEED process works, here is a quick overview of the organizations involved.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) establishes and updates the LEED standards. The Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI) runs the LEED Accreditation programs for people and LEED Certification for buildings.
There are two levels of accreditation, each with a separate test. The two tests can either be taken separately or in one sitting. Each test is approximately two hours long and you get your results at the end. The first is the “LEED Green Associate” which is a general qualification. The second is “LEED AP” which has several different specialties to choose from based on your desired career path.
Prometric administers the exams at their testing centers or remotely. The remotely proctored exams allow you to take the test from anywhere. An app is installed on your computer and connects with a remote proctor via the camera and microphone.
For a more detailed overview check out How To Become LEED Certified.
1. LEED Green Associate
LEED Green Associates have a documented, up-to-date understanding of the most current green building principles and practices, and are committed to their professional future.
This is the entry-level certification and requires passing one test.
2. LEED AP
This qualification requires LEED project experience. However, resources are available in which you can get the required experience through courses such as Green Building's LEED Professional Project Experience Program.
The LEED AP credential arms you with advanced knowledge in green building as well as expertise in a particular LEED rating system
Within the LEED AP distinction, you can choose to specialize in five categories. The most common is LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C):
The LEED AP BD+C suits professionals with expertise in the design and construction phases of green buildings, serving the commercial, residential, education, and healthcare sectors.
This is the qualification I have and recommend for most professionals.
Obviously, you do not want to waste your time and money on a useless resource. There are free resources out there but in my experience, the quality is very low. You get what you pay for.
Having passed the test myself I spent a lot of time wading through a bunch of different LEED study materials. To help you out I put together this list of the best LEED exam prep materials currently available.
There are online bundles, study guides, practice tests, and on-demand webinars. Depending on your schedule and learning preferences you can choose the best option for your situation.
Here are the best LEED exam prep materials currently available.
Enjoy!
LEED Exam Prep Bundles
I recommend the bundles for anyone who is looking for an all-in-one solution. You don't need to search around and piece together study guides, practice tests, audio, and video lessons - it is all provided for you in one convenient package. So if you are looking to pass the LEED Green Associate or BD+C Exam on your first try, this is the solution for you.
LEED Green Associate Platinum Pack
The LEED Green Associate Platinum Pack includes practice tests that have been updated for the latest LEED v4 Green Associate content. Both audio and visual study materials are provided to reinforce the concepts and terms you need to understand. In addition, each question includes an explanation about why the answer is correct. The webinars will walk you through the core material covered by the exam. The featured study guide is searchable with definitions and examples to expand on the videos and practice tests.
Whether you are a seasoned professional, a student, or new to sustainability, the LEED exam prep materials will guide you through the most current green building principles and practices. They are designed to help you study once and pass the exam on the first attempt.
Learn more about the LEED Green Associate Platinum Pack
This LEED AP BD+C Platinum study package combines all of the best online tools into one easy-to-use bundle that can be accessed for 120 days. It includes practice tests that have been updated for the latest LEED Building Design and Construction content. In addition, the online webinars will take you step-by-step through the essential material covered by the exam.
The online tools cover all of the knowledge domains that reflect the BD+C Rating System credit categories and what you will need to know on exam day. These topics follow the exam outline from the candidate handbook and mirror the content of the actual LEED exam.
Learn more about the LEED AP BD+C Platinum Pack
LEED Exam Prep Study Guides
Drawing on years of experience with LEED and providing educational materials to those within the green building industry, the GBES LEED Green Associate Study Guide and other exam prep materials allow candidates with a wide variety of backgrounds to pass their LEED GA exams.
These materials are constantly updated to reflect both feedback from students and changes to the exam and LEED certifications. This way, the information is always kept up-to-date and relevant to the current exams.
Learn more about the LEED Green Associate Study Guide.
LEED Green Associate Study Guide: Complete Study Materials including Mock Exams and Additional Study Materials
GBRI is a USGBC Education Partner and has carefully developed this guide to ensure all topics found on the real exam are thoroughly covered. The LEED Green Associate exam study guide is designed by expert instructors who have devised an easy-to-navigate system.
It also comes with complimentary access to supplemental materials online. You will gain access to the online on-demand study modules exploring the topics covered in the guide. This includes mock exams structured like the real test, additional practice questions by section, flashcards, and memory charts.
LEED Green Associate Exam Complete Study Guide (Second Edition)
The LEED Green Associate Exam Complete Study Guide aims to provide deep insight into the principles of green building. This helps the reader to learn, rather than to memorize the essential information for the exam. This method of teaching helps candidates to successfully pass the exam in order to actively apply green building and LEED principles in real life.
The LEED AP BD+C Study Guide provides a structured overview of the LEED BD+C Exam and the certification process. The study guide is a resource to pre-test your skills and guides you to your ultimate goal of becoming a LEED accredited.
In addition, it helps you confirm if you are fully prepared for the exam, or if you need to identify areas that you may need more study time prior to taking the test.
Learn more about the LEED AP BD+C Study Guide.
LEED Accredited Professional BD+C Exam Study Guide: Complete Study Materials including Mock Exams and Additional Study Materials
This LEED Accredited Professional BD+C exam study guide is a helpful resource to attain your desired credential. GBRI has carefully developed this guide to ensure all topics found on the real exam are thoroughly covered.
The expert instructors have devised an easy-to-navigate guide that comes with complimentary access to supplemental materials online. You get access to online on-demand study modules exploring the topics covered in the guide. These also include mock exams structured like the real test, additional practice questions by section, flashcards, memory charts, and more.
LEED AP BD+C Exam Complete Study Guide
The LEED AP BD+C V4 Exam Complete Study Guide helps the reader to learn, rather than to memorize the essential information for the exam. This makes the data easier to retain and recall when it is time to take the test. The content is designed in such a way as to be the only resource a candidate needs in order to successfully pass the exam.
Practice Exams
LEED Green Associate V4 Exam Practice Tests & Summary Sheets (LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation Guide Series)
The LEED Green Associate V4 Exam Practice Tests and Summary Sheets are designed to provide you with a real exam simulation presented through two full-length practice exams and summary sheets. This is done to test and reinforce knowledge while simultaneously identifying weak points.
The exams have been prepared in the same scope and format as the actual LEED Green Associate exam. The questions are based on the critical concepts to cover all of the information that will be needed during the actual exam.
LEED Green Associate Exam Practice Questions: LEED Practice Tests & Review for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Exam
Practice is an essential part of preparing for a test and improving a test taker's chance of success. The LEED Green Associate Exam Practice Questions offer a simple way to prepare.
Included are accompanying detailed explanations for each answer. To avoid making the same mistakes again when taking the real test, the explanations help to reinforce the principles behind the correct answer.
I hope this list of the best LEED exam prep resources has been helpful. If I left something out that you have found particularly useful please let me know in the comments below.
Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
