LEED Green Associate exam content

- [Presenter] LEED Green Associate credential demonstrates green building expertise and leadership. LEED Green Associates are knowledgeable about green building concepts and LEED certification process, yet they are not expected to have in-depth knowledge of LEED credits and prerequisites. There is no eligibility criteria to becoming a LEED Green Associate. However, USGBC recommends that candidates taking the LEED Green Associate exam have prior exposure to LEED and green building concepts through educational courses, volunteering, or work experience. The best place to start with achieving your LEED Green Associate credential is downloading and reading the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook. You can find this free resource on USGBC's website. LEED Green Associate exam assesses a candidate's knowledge in various knowledge domains that include the LEED process, integrative strategies, location and transportation, sustainable sites, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, synergistic opportunities, project surroundings and public outreach. All knowledge domains are not equal in the exam. Close to 20% of the exam questions are focused on the LEED process. This includes common LEED concepts such as, what are the minimum program requirements, or LEED adaptations, and the steps of LEED certification? This section also includes USGBC and GBCI's organizational fundamentals, so make sure to review both websites. LEED process is so important that similar questions are also included in the LEED AP with specialty exam as well. So make sure to know all LEED terms, concepts, and processes like the back of your hand. I cover all of these in depth in my Introduction to LEED Certification course, if you want to investigate further. The integrative strategies knowledge domain tests candidates' knowledge of the integrative process, and project team members, as well as standards that are included in LEED credits and prerequisites. So please take your time and learn the most applicable standards, such as various ASHRAE standards and which LEEDs credits they apply to. The location and transportation domain includes site selection, and alternative transportation strategies and concepts, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, and indoor environmental quality includes various design and construction strategies as well as concepts and definitions. For example, you need to know what albido means, how about green infrastructure? LEED Green Associate has multiple simple questions in the lead glossary. These questions should be in the back as long as you study the LEED glossary, that you can find in the LEED reference guides or download it free on USGBC's website. Project surroundings and public outreach include green building concepts such as triple bottom line, codes, especially green building codes, and relationship between codes and LEED. For example, you need to know that if a building code says the opposite of a LEED credits requirements, you must follow the code, not the LEED credit. Although you may lose the credit as a result. This domain also includes benefits of LEED certification, green building costs, and regional design strategies. You can find most of this information in my other courses, Introduction to LEED Certification, and Green Building Concepts Foundations. The number of questions under each one of the knowledge domains is not the same. So keep this in mind while studying and don't lose precious time focusing on topics less likely to be in the exam. Once you pass the exam, a common mistake that you should not make is using LEED GA as an abbreviation to the credential. LEED GA is not an approved abbreviation for LEED Green Associate credential and should not be used under any circumstances. You can start using the LEED Green Associate and/or the logo as soon as you pass the exam.