The LEED AP BD+C (Accredited Professional – Building Design + Construction) is a useful professional credential to add to your Resume. Apart from its global recognition, it prepares individuals to handle a wide breadth of issues related to Building Design, Construction and Sustainability. Some of our writers attempted and passed the LEED AP BD+C examination with high scores (190+ out of 200). We decided to pool their understanding and resources to write a series of articles on the LEED Experience.
These articles are assuming that readers have already given the LEED Green Associate examination (This is an introductory exam, that in most cases needs to be passed before one attempts the LEED AP BD+C). We will later try and write a series on LEED Green Associate.
We will be using the following post series order for articles. Hope these are useful!
- 4 reasons why LEED AP BD+C was a difficult cookie to crack!
- 11 Essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 1)
- 11 Essential ‘Need-To-Knows’ before LEED AP BD+C Prep (Part 2)
- LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Free)
- LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Paid)-1
- LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Paid)-2
- LEED AP BD+C: Resources and Materials (Paid)-3
- LEED AP BD+C: Setting Exam Timeline – 4 Considerations
- LEED AP BD+C: Method of Study
- LEED AP BD+C: Giving the Exam
- LEED AP BD+C: After the Exam
- How is the LEED AP BD+C ‘Experience’ helpful? – not just to pass the exam
4 reasons why LEED AP BD+C was a difficult cookie to crack!
1) 85%
You need a minimum of 85% (170 / 200) to pass the examination!! This is a tall order.
2) Heavier load in 2 hours
Unlike in LEED Green Associate, there are calculations involved. The questions are longer and more detailed, while you still get 2 hours to attempt 100 of them. This is taxing and requires planning and practice.
3) LEED Specific Experience
Our writers had Architectural or Sustainability backgrounds, but almost no experience on LEED Specific Projects. Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) recommends that you should have prior LEED Project Experience before attempting the examination. If you have this experience, things become relatively easier, since the questions are effectively asking you how you worked on the projects.
4) Expense of resources
The complete Reference Guide for LEED AP BD+C costs $200. Many people either didn’t want to, or could not afford to buy this Guide. This was a risk, since their preparation could be incomplete. However, they were able to achieve good scores using alternative materials provided by USGBC and other websites.
Look out for the remaining articles in coming weeks. If you have suggestions for other topics or queries related to this content, kindly let us know in the comments below.
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About the Author
Aditi Bisen started writing for ‘The Architecture Gazette‘ in 2016. She is an Architect and LEED AP BD+C with a Masters in Integrated Sustainable Design from National University of Singapore. You could connect with her here-
The Architecture Gazette 