LEED AP BD+C Exam Guide 2026: FREE Study Plan, LEED v5 Transition & Credit Categories

LEED AP BD+C in 2026: The LEED v5 Transition Guide

The LEED AP BD+C (Building Design + Construction) is the globally recognized professional credential for architects, MEP engineers, construction managers, commissioning providers, and sustainability consultants working on new construction and major renovation projects pursuing LEED certification. Issued by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) under the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it signals deep expertise in the LEED Rating System for Building Design and Construction.

The 2026 story is LEED v5. The LEED v4 BD+C exam was retired on June 28, 2026. The LEED v5 BD+C beta exam launched June 30, 2026 and runs through August 31, 2026. The final v5 exam is expected December 2026. If you are registering today, you are registering for LEED v5.

This guide covers what no competitor does: the complete v5 transition timeline, v5 beta exam mechanics (30% discount, delayed scores, standalone-only format), v5 knowledge domains with exact question counts, v5 rating system point distribution including new credit categories and prerequisites, v5 referenced standards (ASHRAE 90.1-2019/2022, 62.1-2022, 55-2023), v5 Platinum mandatory minimums, corrected recertification requirements, and a 12-16 week study plan calibrated to v5 content. Every fact was cross-referenced against the USGBC Candidate Handbook and USGBC LEED v5 exam information.

free LEED AP BD+C practice questionsPractice questions with detailed explanations

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LEED AP BD+C Exam At-a-Glance (2026, LEED v5)

Verify current details at usgbc.org/credentials/leed-ap-bdc before registering — the v5 transition is live and details may shift.

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The LEED v5 Transition: What Changed and When

Timeline

What This Means for You

As of July 2026, the only available BD+C exam is the LEED v5 beta. You have two choices:

1. Take the v5 beta now (June 30 to August 31, 2026): Get a 30% discount on the registration fee. Your scores will NOT be released immediately — you receive a Notice of Completion at the exam, and results come approximately December 2026 after psychometric analysis establishes the final passing score. Beta exams are English only and standalone (no combined Green Associate plus BD+C format).

2. Wait for the final v5 exam (approximately December 2026): Pay standard pricing, get immediate scores, and possibly access to combined exam format and translated languages.

What Changed from v4 to v5

LEED v5 reorganizes the rating system around three impact areas: Decarbonization, Quality of Life, and Ecological Conservation and Restoration. Key changes affecting the BD+C exam:

• 4 new Integrative Process prerequisites: Climate Resilience Assessment, Human Impact Assessment, Carbon Assessment, and Tenant Guidelines (CS only)
• New EA credits: Electrification (5 pts), Reduce Peak Thermal Loads (5 pts), Grid Interactive (2 pts)
• New EA prerequisite: Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan
• New MR prerequisite: Quantify and Assess Embodied Carbon
• New MR credit: Reduce Embodied Carbon (6 pts NC)
• New SS credit: Enhanced Resilient Site Design (2 pts)
• New EQ credits: Accessibility and Inclusion (1 pt), Resilient Spaces (2 pts)
• New EQ prerequisites: Construction Management, Fundamental Air Quality
• Low-Emitting Materials moved from EQ to MR category
• Innovation plus Regional Priority merged into Project Priorities (10 pts combined)
• Updated referenced standards: ASHRAE 90.1-2019/2022 (energy), ASHRAE 62.1-2022 (ventilation), ASHRAE 55-2023 (thermal comfort), IES TM-30-20 (color rendering)
• New Platinum mandatory minimums: Electrification, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy (100%), and Embodied Carbon reduction (20%)
• Five-year development cycle (LEED v5 covers 2025-2030; v6 expected 2030)

ND and Homes Stay on v4

LEED AP Neighborhood Development and LEED AP Homes exams continue to be based on LEED v4 — only BD+C, ID+C, and O+M transitioned to v5 in 2026.

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v5 Beta Exam: Should You Take It?

Pros

• 30% discount on the registration fee
• Same credential — passing the beta earns the same LEED AP BD+C credential as the standard exam
• Early completion — get the exam behind you before year-end
• CE hours awarded upon passing

Cons

• No immediate score — results come approximately December 2026 (3-4 months after beta closes)
• English only — no translated-language exams during beta
• Standalone only — no combined Green Associate plus BD+C format; you must already hold a Green Associate
• Study materials still maturing — the v5 Reference Guide (February 2026 Edition) is available, but third-party prep materials are still rolling out

Recommendation

If you already hold a LEED Green Associate and can study from the LEED v5 Reference Guide for BD+C (February 2026 Edition), the beta is a smart play — the 30% discount and early timeline offset the score delay. If you need a translated language, require a combined exam, or want immediate results, wait for the final v5 exam in December 2026.

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The Green Associate Prerequisite

Every LEED AP specialty requires an active LEED Green Associate credential before registering. The Green Associate establishes foundational LEED literacy: rating system families, credit category structure, certification process, and sustainability fundamentals.

Green Associate v5 Transition

The Green Associate also transitioned to v5 in 2026:

• Last day to take v4 Green Associate: April 26, 2026
• v5 Green Associate beta: April 28 to June 30, 2026
• v5 Green Associate final exam: approximately October 2026

If you do not yet hold a Green Associate, register for the v5 Green Associate exam. Both v4 and v5 Green Associate holders are eligible to take the v5 BD+C exam.

Two Scheduling Paths (When Combined Returns Post-Beta)

Path A — Separate appointments (required during v5 beta):

1. Take Green Associate. Pass with 170/200.
2. Earn your LEED GA credential.
3. Study BD+C Specialty content for 2-4 more months.
4. Take BD+C Specialty standalone. Pass with 170/200.

Path B — Combined 4.5-hour appointment (returns after beta):

1. Register for the combined exam: $550 non-member or $400 member.
2. Sit for 200 questions across 4.5 hours at a Prometric Test Center (in-person only, no remote option).
3. Pass both parts with 170/200 each.

If you fail only the Specialty part of a combined appointment, the passed Green Associate remains valid.

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LEED v5 BD+C Exam Content Outline

The v5 BD+C exam has 100 questions (85 scored + 15 unscored pretest) in 2 hours. Questions test three cognitive levels: Recall, Application, and Analysis.

Knowledge Domains (Scored Questions)

Energy and Atmosphere is the heaviest domain at 18 questions (21% of scored content). EA, MR, and IEQ together account for 44 of 85 scored questions (52%) — prioritize these three domains in your study plan.

Task Domains (Percentage Framework)

The exam also organizes content by task domains:

• LEED Project and Team Coordination: 22%
• LEED Certification Process: 32%
• Analyses Required for LEED Credits: 32%
• Advocacy and Education for LEED Rating System Adoption: 14%

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LEED v5 BD+C Rating System: Credit Categories and Points

LEED v5 BD+C: New Construction uses 110 total points across 8 credit categories plus Project Priorities. The v5 point distribution differs significantly from v4.1.

v5 BD+C New Construction Point Distribution

Certification Thresholds (Unchanged from v4)

v5 Platinum Mandatory Minimums (NEW)

v5 adds mandatory performance floors for Platinum certification (NC):

• EAc1 Electrification: at least 5 points
• EAc3 Enhanced Energy Efficiency: at least 8 points
• EAc4 Renewable Energy: 100% of site energy use from renewables
• MRc2 Reduce Embodied Carbon: 20% reduction

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v5 New Prerequisites and Credits Deep Dive

New IP Prerequisites (Integrative Process)

1. IPp1 Climate Resilience Assessment — Identify observed, projected, and future natural hazards. Select at least 2 priority hazards (drought, extreme heat, flooding, hurricanes, sea level rise, wildfires). Assess IPCC emissions scenarios, projected service life, exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability.

2. IPp2 Human Impact Assessment — Assess demographics, local infrastructure, human use and health impacts, and occupant experience to address social equity.

3. IPp3 Carbon Assessment — USGBC provides a 25-year projection of operational, refrigerant, and embodied carbon emissions using data from EAp1, EAp5, MRp2, and optionally LTc4.

4. IPp4 Tenant Guidelines (CS only) — Formerly a v4 credit; now a prerequisite for Core and Shell projects.

New EA Credits and Prerequisites

• EAp1 Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan (prerequisite) — New
• EAc1 Electrification (5 pts NC / 4 pts CS) — New; rewards building electrification and elimination of on-site fossil combustion
• EAc2 Reduce Peak Thermal Loads (5 pts) — New; rewards passive design strategies that reduce peak heating and cooling loads
• EAc3 Enhanced Energy Efficiency (10 pts NC / 7 pts CS) — Replaces v4 Optimize Energy Performance; modeled against ASHRAE 90.1-2019/2022
• EAc6 Grid Interactive (2 pts) — New; rewards demand response and grid-interactive controls

New MR Credits and Prerequisites

• MRp2 Quantify and Assess Embodied Carbon (prerequisite) — New
• MRc2 Reduce Embodied Carbon (6 pts NC / 8 pts CS) — New; rewards embodied carbon reduction through material selection, reuse, and low-carbon alternatives
• MRc3 Low-Emitting Materials (2 pts NC / 1 pt CS) — Moved from EQ to MR in v5

New SS and EQ Credits

• SSc4 Enhanced Resilient Site Design (2 pts) — New; rewards flood, heat, and hazard resilience strategies
• EQp1 Construction Management (prerequisite) — New; formerly an EQ credit in v4
• EQp2 Fundamental Air Quality (prerequisite) — New
• EQc3 Accessibility and Inclusion (1 pt) — New; rewards universal design and inclusive accessibility
• EQc4 Resilient Spaces (2 pts) — New; rewards design for occupant safety and continuity during disruptions

Referenced Standards Updated in v5

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Cost Stack: What You Will Actually Spend

The 30% beta discount effectively reduces the specialty fee from $350 to approximately $245 (non-member) or $250 to approximately $175 (member). USGBC membership saves $100 on the standard specialty exam and grants free or discounted Education courses.

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Registration via USGBC, GBCI, and Prometric

1. Create a USGBC account at usgbc.org (free).
2. Optional: Join USGBC as an individual member for exam discounts.
3. Earn your LEED Green Associate first (required prerequisite during v5 beta).
4. Register for the BD+C Specialty exam through the GBCI Credentialing Services portal. Choose standard or beta (30% discount).
5. Pay the exam fee. Beta registration closes August 26, 2026.
6. Schedule at Prometric (prometric.com/USGBC) at a test center or via remote proctoring (ProProctor). 12-month eligibility window for standard registration; 2-month validity for beta.
7. Exam day: arrive 30 minutes early. Bring two forms of ID (one government photo). No personal items; lockers provided. Scratch paper provided. Closed-book — accessing personal effects is a security infraction.
8. Results: standard exam reports scaled score on-screen immediately. Beta exam gives a Notice of Completion; scores released approximately December 2026.

Rescheduling Fees (Effective January 1, 2025)

Retake Policy

After each failed attempt, you may re-register and pay the fee again. After 3 unsuccessful attempts within 12 months, you must wait 90 calendar days before submitting a new registration. The 12-month counting period starts on the date of the first failed attempt.

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2-Year Recertification via 30 CE Hours

LEED AP BD+C is maintained through the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP), per the GBCI CMP Guide updated November 2024.

Per 2-Year Cycle

• 30 total CE hours, comprising:
  • 6 LEED-specific hours in your specialty (BD+C-related content)
  • 24 general CE hours (general sustainability, AEC professional development, or additional LEED-specific)
• Reporting period: 2 years from exam date, ending 2 years minus 1 day
• Self-reported through the USGBC user portal
• Credential renewal fee applies each cycle (verify current amount at usgbc.org)

Grace Period and Expiration (Updated November 2023)

• Active status: within 2-year reporting period (early renewal rate applies)
• Inactive status: 12-month grace period after reporting period ends (reactivation fee applies after first 30 days)
• Expired status: after the 12-month grace period, you must retest as a new candidate starting with the LEED Green Associate — not just the Specialty exam

Eligible CE Activities

• USGBC Education online courses
• Greenbuild conference sessions
• USGBC chapter events and webinars
• Approved third-party green-building courses
• Teaching or presenting on LEED topics
• Authoring LEED-relevant articles (3 CE hours each) or books (10 CE hours each)
• Working on LEED BD+C registered or certified projects (1 CE hour per credit)
• Volunteering on LEED BD+C rating system development (max 50% of total hours)

Multiple Specialties

If you hold multiple LEED AP specialties, add 6 LEED-specific hours per additional specialty per cycle (36 total for two specialties).

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12-16 Week LEED AP BD+C v5 Study Plan

Calibrated for a working AEC professional at 6-10 hours per week. Assumes you already hold the Green Associate. Adjust for your background.

Weeks 1-2: Orientation and v5 Foundation

• Download the Candidate Handbook
• Acquire the LEED v5 Reference Guide for BD+C (February 2026 Edition)
• Read the v5 impact areas: Decarbonization, Quality of Life, Ecological Conservation
• Study v5 credit category view versus impact area view
• 20 practice questions

Weeks 3-4: LEED Process and Integrative Process

• Master the 4 new IP prerequisites: Climate Resilience Assessment, Human Impact Assessment, Carbon Assessment, Tenant Guidelines
• Study the Integrative Design Process credit and charrette mechanics
• Understand the v5 certification process and LEED Online Next
• 30 practice questions

Weeks 5-6: Location and Transportation plus Sustainable Sites

• LT credits: Sensitive Land Protection, Equitable Development, Compact and Connected Development, Transportation Demand Management, Electric Vehicles
• SS credits: Biodiverse Habitat, Accessible Outdoor Space, Rainwater Management, Enhanced Resilient Site Design, Heat Island Reduction, Light Pollution Reduction
• 30 practice questions

Weeks 7-8: Water Efficiency plus Energy and Atmosphere Part 1

• WE: Water Metering and Reporting (prereq), Minimum Water Efficiency (prereq), Enhanced Water Efficiency (8 pts)
• EA prerequisites: Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan, Minimum Energy Efficiency, Fundamental Commissioning, Energy Metering, Fundamental Refrigerant Management
• Master the ASHRAE 90.1-2019/2022 baseline modeling approach
• 40 practice questions

Weeks 9-10: Energy and Atmosphere Part 2 (Heaviest Domain — 18 Questions)

• EA credits: Electrification (5 pts), Reduce Peak Thermal Loads (5 pts), Enhanced Energy Efficiency (10 pts), Renewable Energy (5 pts), Enhanced Commissioning (4 pts), Grid Interactive (2 pts), Enhanced Refrigerant Management (2 pts)
• Energy modeling against ASHRAE 90.1-2019/2022 baseline
• 50 practice questions — EA is 21% of the exam

Weeks 11-12: Materials and Resources plus Indoor Environmental Quality

• MR: Planning for Zero Waste Operations (prereq), Quantify and Assess Embodied Carbon (prereq), Building and Materials Reuse, Reduce Embodied Carbon, Low-Emitting Materials (moved from EQ), Building Product Selection, Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion
• EQ: Construction Management (prereq), Fundamental Air Quality (prereq), No Smoking or Vehicle Idling (prereq), Enhanced Air Quality, Occupant Experience, Accessibility and Inclusion, Resilient Spaces, Air Quality Testing
• 50 practice questions

Weeks 13-14: Project Priorities, Synergies, and Full-Length Mocks

• Project Priorities: Innovation credits, LEED AP on team (1 pt), Regional Priority
• v5 synergies and trade-offs across categories
• Impact area view: mapping credits to Decarbonization, Quality of Life, Ecological Conservation
• Two timed mock exams (100 Q / 2 hours each)
• Review every wrong answer

Weeks 15-16: Taper and Exam Day

• Week 15: targeted review of 2 weakest domains (usually EA and MR)
• Week 16: light flashcard review, rest, final mock at 80% or higher
• Exam day: arrive early, eat a real meal, bring two IDs, use all 2 hours

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Free and Paid LEED AP BD+C v5 Resources

Free

Paid

Avoid v4-only prep materials. LEED v4 study bundles do not apply to the v5 exam. Verify any third-party product covers v5 before purchasing.

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Test-Day Strategy

Pacing

100 questions / 120 minutes = 72 seconds per question. The time is generous if you know the material. Flag difficult questions for review and move on.

Scenario Question Technique

Most BD+C questions are short project scenarios:

1. Identify the credit category — which of the 8 domains is this testing?
2. Identify the specific credit or prerequisite — is this Fundamental Cx (prerequisite) or Enhanced Cx (credit)?
3. Apply intent language — what is the credit trying to achieve?
4. Check thresholds — does the scenario meet the point threshold?
5. Eliminate distractors that mix categories or confuse prerequisite versus credit

Elimination Rules

• Eliminate answers that confuse prerequisite versus credit
• Eliminate answers citing v4 standards (ASHRAE 90.1-2010 or 2016) — v5 uses 90.1-2019/2022
• Eliminate answers citing the wrong ASHRAE reference (90.1 for energy, 62.1 for ventilation, 55 for thermal comfort)
• Eliminate answers referencing v4-only credit structures (Innovation and Regional Priority as separate categories — v5 merges them into Project Priorities)
• Between two plausible answers, pick the one aligned with LEED v5 Reference Guide terminology

Remote versus In-Person

The standalone specialty exam can be taken remotely via Prometric ProProctor or in-person at a Prometric Test Center. Remote requires a closed room, camera on, no interruptions for 2 hours. Choose in-person if your home environment is not controllable.

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Common Pitfalls That Tank First-Time Candidates

Pitfall 1: Studying v4 Content for a v5 Exam

The v5 exam tests v5 content. Studying from a v4 Reference Guide will miss new prerequisites (Climate Resilience, Carbon Assessment, Operational Carbon Projection), new credits (Electrification, Reduce Peak Thermal Loads, Grid Interactive, Reduce Embodied Carbon), the new Project Priorities category structure, and updated ASHRAE standards. Use the LEED v5 Reference Guide for BD+C (February 2026 Edition).

Pitfall 2: Prerequisite versus Credit Confusion

Fundamental Commissioning is a prerequisite (required for ALL projects). Enhanced Commissioning is a credit (additional points). Minimum Energy Efficiency is a prerequisite; Enhanced Energy Efficiency is a credit. Prerequisites earn zero points but are mandatory. This distinction appears in nearly every scenario question.

Pitfall 3: Confusing v4 and v5 Category Structures

v4 has 9 categories (IP, LT, SS, WE, EA, MR, EQ, Innovation, Regional Priority). v5 has 8 categories (IP, LT, SS, WE, EA, MR, EQ, Project Priorities). Innovation and Regional Priority merged into Project Priorities. Low-Emitting Materials moved from EQ to MR. Know the v5 structure cold.

Pitfall 4: ASHRAE Standard Confusion

ASHRAE 90.1 is energy (v5 uses 2019 or 2022 edition). ASHRAE 62.1 is ventilation and IAQ (v5 uses 2022). ASHRAE 55 is thermal comfort (v5 uses 2023). IES TM-30-20 is color rendering (new in v5). Candidates mix these on exam day.

Pitfall 5: Ignoring Decarbonization Emphasis

v5 heavily emphasizes decarbonization: Operational Carbon Projection (prerequisite), Electrification (5 pts), Reduce Embodied Carbon (6 pts), Carbon Assessment (prerequisite). Understand the difference between operational carbon, embodied carbon, and refrigerant emissions.

Pitfall 6: Forgetting the 15 Unscored Pretest Questions

The exam has 100 questions but only 85 are scored. 15 are unscored pretest items placed randomly. You do not know which are which, so answer every question. Do not panic if a question seems off-topic — it may be a pretest item.

Pitfall 7: Daylight Metric Confusion

sDA (spatial daylight autonomy) rewards SUFFICIENT daylight (you want HIGH sDA). ASE (annual sunlight exposure) measures EXCESS direct sun (you want LOW ASE). Candidates often flip the optimization direction.

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Career Value: What a LEED AP BD+C Earns

Per BLS 2026 Occupational Outlook data and AEC salary sources (Robert Half, AIA Compensation Survey, PayScale):

Why LEED AP BD+C Drives Salary

• Project qualification requirement — LEED Gold or Platinum projects frequently require LEED APs on the team (and earns 1 Project Priorities point directly)
• AIA member-firm signal — most AIA firms list LEED AP BD+C as preferred in project-manager and sustainability-lead roles
• Public-sector project gating — federal GSA, state universities, K-12 districts, municipal buildings frequently mandate LEED certification
• GC premium — Turner, Skanska, Suffolk, Gilbane, Clark, and other top GCs list LEED AP as standard for sustainability-focused PMs
• SEC climate disclosure driving corporate commitments increases demand for credentialed sustainability professionals

LEED AP BD+C plus What?

• LEED AP BD+C plus WELL AP — occupant health expansion
• LEED AP BD+C plus PMP — capital programs director
• LEED AP BD+C plus ENV SP — infrastructure and horizontal construction
• LEED AP BD+C plus CCP / BCxP — commissioning authority practice
• LEED AP BD+C plus BEMP — energy modeling specialization
• LEED AP BD+C plus AIA architect license — the standard top-tier architect credential stack

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LEED AP BD+C vs ID+C vs O+M vs ND vs Homes

You can earn multiple APs by passing additional Specialty exams (the Green Associate prerequisite is shared across all). If you hold multiple specialties, add 6 LEED-specific CE hours per additional specialty per recertification cycle.

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Your Next Steps After LEED AP BD+C

• WELL AP — occupant health and workplace wellness (IWBI)
• ENV SP — Envision Sustainability Professional for infrastructure
• BCxP / CCP — Building Commissioning Professional / Certified Commissioning Professional
• BEMP — Building Energy Modeling Professional (ASHRAE)
• AIA architect license (if not already held)
• ENERGY Star Portfolio Manager certification
• IFMA CFM — if transitioning toward facility management

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Final CTA: Start Practicing Today

The 2026 LEED AP BD+C exam is a passable 2-hour, 100-question test with a clear roadmap — but only if you study the right version. The candidates who fail almost always share one of three traits: they studied v4 content for a v5 exam, they confused prerequisite versus credit on Energy and Atmosphere, or they underestimated the new decarbonization emphasis. You can fix all three right now.

Start practicing nowPractice questions with detailed explanations

The 2026 AEC market continues to favor LEED-credentialed professionals — public-sector mandates, SEC climate disclosure driving corporate commitments, and the LEED v5 transition have all increased demand for current AP credential holders. The investment pays back within one project or one raise.

Good luck. You can do this.

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Official Sources

• LEED AP BD+C program: usgbc.org/credentials/leed-ap-bdc
• LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook: usgbc.gitbook.io/leed-candidate-handbooks
• LEED v5 exam information: support.usgbc.org
• LEED v5 program: usgbc.org/leed/v5
• LEED v5 BD+C Rating System (February 2026 Edition): USGBC resources
• GBCI CMP Guide (November 2024): usgbc.org
• GBCI: gbci.org
• Prometric: prometric.com/USGBC
• USGBC Education: education.usgbc.org

Information current as of July 2026. The LEED v5 transition is live — always verify specific fees, beta dates, and exam content at usgbc.org/credentials/leed-ap-bdc before registering.