It looks like LEED 2012 is going to require an AP w/ specialty to get the LEED AP credit. I have a feeling this will eventually become a prereq.
For "legacy" LEED APs, it is currently free to enroll, and then you have two years to get your CEUs. If during that time you decide the specialty is not worth the effort and expense, simply don't do anything, you will revert back to AP without specialty at the end of the period and not be out anything. Makes sense to me given the LEED 2012 may well make legacy APs obsolete, in fact a LEED Green Associate has more pull in the new system (as it is written in its draft form anyhow). At least to sit and watch the drama unfold it makes some sense to enroll at least to keep your options open for now.
Only problem is with the specialty hours. Only six approved LEED specific hours in free webinar format exist as of today (Ingersoll Rand/Trane webinars). Works for the first cycle. I hope more come along in two years.
You can either take the GA & AP exams in one 4 hour sitting, or take them separately. I'd recommend taking separately, that way you avoid the 4 hour sitting, and you hold the GA credential while working on the AP. This will cost $50 more, but if you're new to the LEED system, the GA exam is MUCH easier than the AP. That said, if you've worked a ton of LEED projects already then you might consider bashing both out at once.
on big time.
These exams can take your shirt if you're not careful.I am qualified to take the LEED Green Associate and I plan to take the exam in a month. Can you recommend good books/study materials for this exam? I bought the two books from USGBC 1) LEED Green Associate Study Guide and 2) Green Building and LEED Core Concepts and just didn't feel confident with just these two. They seem to be somewhat identical and only touch the surface of the topics.
I am considering the package offered by greenexamprep (without the online 8hr course) on here http://www.greenexamprep.com/store/product...LVERLEEDGA.html
But I want to ask for your opinion on good and relevant study materials before I waste more money on this whole #@$#%$$#$ LEED thing!!!
I've already spent roughtly $200 for an educational class to get qualified for the exam, money for the GBCI to verify my qualification and the two books from the source that don't seem to be very helpful...and yes, I feel like being
thank you for the tips and the links.These exams can take your shirt if you're not careful.I am qualified to take the LEED Green Associate and I plan to take the exam in a month. Can you recommend good books/study materials for this exam? I bought the two books from USGBC 1) LEED Green Associate Study Guide and 2) Green Building and LEED Core Concepts and just didn't feel confident with just these two. They seem to be somewhat identical and only touch the surface of the topics.
I am considering the package offered by greenexamprep (without the online 8hr course) on here http://www.greenexamprep.com/store/product...LVERLEEDGA.html
But I want to ask for your opinion on good and relevant study materials before I waste more money on this whole #@$#%$$#$ LEED thing!!!
I've already spent roughtly $200 for an educational class to get qualified for the exam, money for the GBCI to verify my qualification and the two books from the source that don't seem to be very helpful...and yes, I feel like being
Not to make you feel too bad, but people have been getting approval to take the GA using certificates generated by the free CMP web based courses offered at https://www.usgbc.org/CourseCatalog/CourseC...;CMSPageID=2115 ..not sure if they would stand up to an audit, but there's plenty of word of mouth getting around that these are a-okay
Depending on your profession & school background, a signed letter from a boss or professor would also have done the trick....
I also bought the core concepts & study guide. waste of $$ big time
I would recommend the GBES GA package for $50 regardless of what other material you have purchased. This includes a study guide in pdf & MP3 format as well as 7 practice tests. EVERYONE who takes the test should get this IMO... But if you want free stuff, there is some available:
http://www.greenlearner.com/
http://studio4llc.com/category/e-store/study-materials/
http://www.green.ca.gov/leedtraining.htm (careful as these were recorded prior to the massive changes in the appendices coming out)
http://www.buildingmygreenlife.com/leed-gr...-practice-test/
Also make sure you are familiar with all the free OFFICIAL reference download documents here: http://www.gbci.org/main-nav/professional-...-associate.aspx ESPECIALLY the refrigerants.
Hope this helps.
I think I spent about a month like VTEnviro, but I spent maybe 5 hours a week in the first few weeks and only ramped it up for the last week or two. Not a hard test at all, just understand the concepts and use the GBES tests to show you what funny items need to be memorized such as standards, refrigerants, the types of facilities included in community connectivity, etc etc. You'll get the picture when you take some tests. FYI some questions from the Greenlearner tests go far beyond the scope of the GA by asking for specific points earned in BD+C etc.
Nope. You are a LEED AP now and forever more as you tested under LEED v 2.2. You may want to keep in mind that it looks like LEED 2012 will make LEED APs without specialty less relevant. There is a credit in Innovation in Design/Operations that under LEED 2009 requires any LEED AP to be working in a principal role in the project. Under 2012 it will now require a LEED AP specialized in the specialty of the project as principal & two LEED APs of any specialty OR two Green Associates. Long story short, unless you enroll to the new system and do the CE Hours, you will not be able to earn that point... Does that matter to you?
