LEED AP BD+C Course & Exam Prep V5
PASS THE LEED AP BD+C V5 EXAM IN 2 WEEKS, NOT MONTHS
TRUSTED BY 7,000+ STUDENTS
TRUSTED BY 7,000+ STUDENTS
WHAT IS LEED AP BD+C
A LEED AP is someone who has demonstrated advanced knowledge of the LEED rating systems and can streamline the certification process by guiding the project team through certification. (You’ll often see it called “LEED AP certification,” though strictly speaking buildings are certified and people are accredited.)
BD+C stands for Building Design and Construction. It’s the most widely held LEED AP
specialty, and it covers new construction and major renovations. From commercial,
multi-family residential, healthcare, industrial, to institutional projects. If a
project is being built or substantially rebuilt, it falls under BD+C.
The credential is in high demand, since developers market buildings as
LEED certified to earn tax incentives and sell faster. Architecture and engineering firms count their LEED APs when bidding for work, having accredited staff is often what wins the project. That’s why the credential moves salaries.
+7,000 OF OUR STUDENTS PASSED THE LEED AP BD+C exam, it’s your time!
meet your instructor
shadi abousamra
LEED TRAINER, SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
Shadi AbouSamra is a Sustainability consultant, LEED trainer, and university professor. Specialized in sustainable design, green building certifications, and high-performance buildings.
He has trained over +7,000 professionals to pass the LEED and WELL AP exam. Students worldwide have been prepared by Shadi from USA, UAE, Canada, KSA and many more.
Shadi has developed a simplified LEED AP BD+C, WELL and the LEED Green Associate course that has saved professionals their valuable time and money. Helping scale their career, increasing income and becoming more credible in the market.
Is the LEED AP BD+C Worth It?
- 35% SALARY HIKE
- Ashraf Shaaban
Project Manager
- 50% SALARY HIKE
- Omar Doughan
Operations Manager
- 47% SALARY HIKE
- Zeina Sawaya
Arch. Consultant
- FIRST JOB
- Linda K.
Junior Architect
- 20% SALARY HIKE
- Daria Taeb
Project Manager
- Ashraf Shaaban
Project Manager
- Omar Doughan
Operations Manager
- Zeina Sawaya
Arch. Consultant
LEED AP BD+C V5 REQUIREMENTS
1. Hold a Valid LEED Green Associate Credential
2. 18 Years Old
All applicants must be at least 18 years old when they register for the LEED AP test. In order to guarantee professional and legal preparedness for the certification, this is one of the fundamental LEED AP prerequisites.HOW TO BECOME A LEED AP BD+C
First become a LEED Green Associate or schedule a combined LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C exam. A 4 hour combined exam in one sitting rather than 2 exams of 2 hours each.
To become a LEED AP, you need to prepare by learning the material, exercising on practice exams and review through flashcards which is all the LEED AP study material you need. Rather than searching which is the best LEED AP study guide, since there is none. Reference books are 800 page long, made to certify a project, not ideal for exam preparation. Whereas simplified LEED AP exam prep courses are the best way to go if you value your time and money.
This LEED BD C exam prep course will help you learn the material in 1 week by watching 30 minutes of material a day. You will need another week to exercise on 1 practice exam a day and review through a few flashcards, to be ready for the LEED AP BD+C exam in 2 weeks.
After you earn the LEED AP accreditation, you will need to maintain the LEED AP certificate by doing a few continuing education hours.
LEED AP BD+C EXAM COST
The LEED AP exam fee is 350$ by itself if you are already a LEED Green Associate. If not, you need to take that exam for 250$ or a combined exam for 550$. Veterans, USGBC members and students earn discounts as well.
This is only the LEED AP exam cost and does not cover expensive LEED AP study guides and courses. If you are ready to become a LEED accredited professional, save time and money then enroll in this simplified LEED AP BD C exam prep course.
LEED AP BD+C FAQ
LEED Green Associate is the entry-level credential certifying foundational knowledge of the LEED certification. Has no requirements, anyone can take the exam and become accredited. It is commonly held by Architects, Engineers, contractors, interior designers, facility managers, consultants, and students.
The exam draws from the LEED v5 rating system’s credit categories: LEED process, integrative strategies, location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Focusing on the 3 impact areas in v5: decarbonization, quality of life and ecological conservation and restoration.
The LEED Green Associate exam is made up of 100 multiple questions, no essays or fill in the blanks. Most questions have 1 correct answer, but when stated there are a few questions where you need to choose 2 or 3 correct answers.
The 100 questions are made up of 9 subjects, which will be the study material in the LEED GA course as follows:
- LEED Process, 16 questions
- Integrative Strategies, 8 questions
- Location and transportation, 7 questions
- Sustainable sites, 7 questions
- Water efficiency, 9 questions
- Energy and atmosphere, 10 questions
- Material and resources, 9 questions
- Indoor environmental quality, 8 questions
- Project surroundings and public outreach, 11 questions
The standard fee is $250, reduced to $200 for employees of USGBC member companies and $100 for full-time students. Veterans can sit the exam free. The fee covers one attempt, a retake requires paying in full again.
You get 2 hours to answer 100 multiple-choice questions, plus optional 20 minutes for the intro tutorial and post-exam survey.
No. All LEED exams, including the Green Associate exam, are closed-book. You won’t be able to reference notes, the candidate handbook, or any outside material during the test, whether you’re testing at a Prometric center or remotely.
Yes. You can take it either in person at a Prometric testing center or remotely from home through Prometric’s ProProctor online proctoring platform. Both count equally toward the credential, testing online just requires a quiet, private space, a working webcam, and a system that meets Prometric’s technical setup requirements.
It’s manageable with the right preparation but can catch candidates off guard if they’re new to green building, since questions test applied understanding rather than memorized facts. Structured practice, timed mock exams and review of weak knowledge areas is what separates a comfortable pass from a stressful one.
Most candidates study for 2 months, but with the archiroots LEED Green Associate course you should be able to take the exam in 2 weeks or less.
Though reference books, study guides are good resources. A simplified LEED Green Associate training with credible practice exams have been proven to be the best and most efficient way to study for the exam.
Ideally the best method is to take the first week to learn the material through the simplified training (30 minutes per day). The second week, take 1 practice exam a day until you pass all practice exams, while reviewing through the flashcards.
There are not enough free resources to fully prepare, most candidates find free content leaves gaps, since it rarely maps cleanly to LEED v5’s exact credit weighting. A structured course built around the current exam objectives typically shortens study time and lowers the odds of needing a paid retake.
The credential needs to be maintained, you’ll need 15 continuing education hours every 2 years to keep it active or upgrade to the LEED AP to gain extra 2 years of credential maintenance.
LEED Green Associate certifies general knowledge of green building and the LEED rating system, with no prerequisites to sit the exam. LEED AP with specialty (BD+C, O+M, ID+C, and others) goes deeper into a specific project type and requires you to already hold or earn simultaneously the LEED Green Associate credential. Maintenance requirements differ too: 15 CE hours every 2 years for LEED Green Associate, versus 30 for LEED AP.
LEED Green Associate comes first. It’s a required prerequisite for any LEED AP with specialty credential, though you are allowed to take both exams back-to-back in the same testing window if you’d rather not wait between them. Most candidates still study for and pass LEED Green Associate first, then move on to a specialty once they’ve settled on which one fits their work.
BECOME A LEED AP IN 2 WEEKS!