There have been a lot of recent changes to how a person can become a LEED accredited professional (LEED AP) with the USGBC"s recent update to LEED Version 3. There are now multiple exams that people may take in order to become a part of LEED, including the LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) exam, and a number of LEED Specialty exams. The LEED GA exam is the 1st tier exam within LEED v3, which is for professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice. Passing the LEED GA exam demonstrates a basic knowledge of green design, construction and operations. To be more specific, the LEED GA exam is for the product manufacturers, the marketers, the finance people, students, people in customer service within a large construction firm, etc. It"s also for people who are not yet eligible to take a LEED AP Specialty exam. The information tested on the LEED Green Associate exam is less detailed than what is required to know for a specialty exam, but it covers information that can span across all of the various LEED rating systems and specialties. The LEED AP Specialty exams are the 2nd tier of exams a person can take to become a LEED accredited professional within LEED v3. Unlike the Green Associate exam, however, the LEED AP specialty exam is much more detailed and directly corresponds to a specific LEED rating system. There are specific specialties, or LEED rating systems that a person can focus their studies on. The Building Design and Construction (BD&C) reference guide actually covers three different LEED rating systems: LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, and Core & Shell. In addition, there is the option to take the Interior Design and Construction (ID&C) exam, the Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) LEED exam, LEED for Homes, and LEED for Neighborhood development. As you can see, the specialty exams are more for people who will be out in the field working on certifying LEED buildings. Architects, engineers, contractors, etc. are all likely candidates for a LEED AP Specialty exam. There are, however, eligibility requirements in order to take either the LEED Green Associate exam or a LEED AP exam. Please review the exact eligibility requirements on intheleed.com, or the GBCI website.
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