LEED AP exam and accreditation requirements are changing. Here is how:
You will only be able to register to take the current exam till March 31st,2009. That means you can register to take LEED NC, LEED CI and other tests till then, example, you can still take the original test in April if you are registered before March 31st 2009. Then the format and accreditations will change. Here is what this means:
As of April 2009, you will have to see what accreditation you want to achieve. Here is the brake down:
There are 3 Levels or Tiers of expertise to be achieved:
Tier I – LEED Green Associate: This would be a person that knows the basics of LEED information. Before the changes of 2009 - if you become a LEED AP, you can be a LEED AP on any project as all LEED exams and reference guides (example, NC, CI, EB, etc) have the same basic body of knowledge that is needed to be a LEED AP (SS,WE,EA,MR,EQ, & ID). So if you took LEED CI, you would be classified as an expert in NC as well, as no distinctions were made between tests taken after the test. Choosing to take this part only will let people know that you have general knowledge of sustainable design and environments.
On this level your exam will be 2.5 hours of computer based multiple choice questions.
NOTE: If you chose to go to Tier II, this test will be the first part of your test that is in 2 parts, see below for more information.
Tier II – LEED AP + Specialty Track: What this means is that a title will be given to LEED AP with the specialty test they are taking, here are the changes:
Example: LEED NC – Before when you took this test you became a LEED AP – Now when choosing to take this test you will become a LEED AP Building Design and Construction (BD&C) – The specialty track will be known.
Here are the tracks to date:
LEED EB – Changes to Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
LEED HOMES – changes to Residential Design and construction (HOMES)
LEED NC – changes to Building Design and Construction (BD&C)
LEED CI – changes to Interior Design and Construction (ID&C)
On this level exam you have 4 hours to take a 2 part test – first part is the same Tier I exam, the second part will be a specialty exam depending on the track you chose to follow. If you fail one part of the exam, you have one year to take it 3 times to pass – if you do not pass, then you will have to take both parts again.
Tier III – LEED AP Fellow: This would be the elite class of leading professionals that have years of experience and undergo peer review. The credentials for this level are still being developed.
*** If you are a LEED AP like me or will be taking the original version of the test to become a LEED AP - here is what you will need to know:
You will be known as “Legacy” LEED APs and beginning June 2009 you will have 2 years to choose to Opt In or Out. To Opt In - you will have to sign disciplinary policy and agree to credential maintenance. If you choose to Opt Out, you will be a LEED AP as inactive in the system till 2011 but after that you will have to retake the tests if you want to Opt In.
If you choose to Opt In – you will have to maintain credential requirements and get to use the LEED AP + Designation (Example – I took LEED NC – so I would be LEED AP BD&C) and be listed in the active registry.
If you are a LEED AP and took the test LEED NC but would also like to get an additional specialty, then you would only have to take that portion of the test.
If you want more information on this topic go to www.gbci.org.
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