2.4 Certification Levels and Scorecard

The Four Certification Levels

LEED uses the same four certification levels across every rating system. Memorize these thresholds cold — they show up on nearly every LEED AP exam.

A few rules the exam tests:

• Points are cumulative across categories — a Gold project can come from many small wins or a few category sweeps
• There is no minimum per category beyond the prerequisites — a project can earn zero Materials credits and still hit Platinum if it dominates Energy and Water
• Prerequisites award zero points but are required for any certification level
• The point thresholds are the same in BD+C, ID+C, O+M, ND, and Homes

The 110-Point Scorecard (LEED v4.1 BD+C)

LEED v4.1 BD+C uses a 100-point base scorecard plus 10 bonus points from Innovation and Regional Priority.

Why the Distribution Matters

• EA is dominant — at 33 points it is more than 3x larger than the next-largest category (LT and EQ at 16 each). The exam expects you to know EA is the biggest lever.
• IP is symbolic — 1 point — but it disproportionately shapes performance in every other category
• Innovation (IN) rewards strategies above credit thresholds, novel approaches not covered by existing credits, and pilot credits — and includes 1 point for having a LEED AP with a specialty matching the project rating system on the team
• Regional Priority (RP) awards bonus points (up to 4) when a project achieves credits that USGBC has flagged as locally important based on the project's ZIP code

Prerequisites: The Mandatory Floor

Prerequisites are mandatory items that earn zero points but must all be satisfied to certify at any level. A project that hits 110 points on the scorecard but fails one prerequisite is not certified at all. The exam loves this point — expect a scenario question that ends with 'but the project did not meet the Minimum Energy Performance prerequisite' and the right answer to be 'no certification.'

The LEED v4.1 BD+C prerequisites are listed below. Memorize the category and the name of each — the exam asks both 'which is a prerequisite' and 'which category does this prerequisite belong to.'

Integrative Process (IP)

• No prerequisites — the IP credit is voluntary but recommended

Location & Transportation (LT)

• No standalone prerequisites — LT requirements are integrated into the rating system structure

Sustainable Sites (SS)

• SS Prerequisite: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention — Create and implement an Erosion and Sedimentation Control (ESC) plan that conforms to the 2017 U.S. EPA Construction General Permit (CGP) or local equivalent. Required for every BD+C project.

Water Efficiency (WE)

• WE Prerequisite: Outdoor Water Use Reduction — Reduce outdoor water use by either (a) eliminating permanent irrigation after a 2-year establishment period or (b) reducing landscape water use by 30% from a calculated baseline.
• WE Prerequisite: Indoor Water Use Reduction — Reduce indoor water use by 20% (relative to the LEED v4 baseline) using compliant plumbing fixtures and fittings.
• WE Prerequisite: Building-Level Water Metering — Install permanent water meters that measure total potable water use for the building and grounds, with data reported monthly and annually to USGBC for 5 years.

Energy & Atmosphere (EA)

• EA Prerequisite: Fundamental Commissioning and Verification — Engage a Commissioning Authority (CxA) by the end of design development to verify that energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and durability systems perform per the OPR and BOD.
• EA Prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance — Demonstrate at least a 5% improvement over the ASHRAE 90.1-2016 baseline for new construction (3% for major renovations) using whole-building energy simulation or prescriptive paths.
• EA Prerequisite: Building-Level Energy Metering — Install permanent meters that measure total building energy use across all fuel sources, with data reported monthly and annually to USGBC for 5 years.
• EA Prerequisite: Fundamental Refrigerant Management — Do not use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in new HVAC&R systems.

Materials & Resources (MR)

• MR Prerequisite: Storage and Collection of Recyclables — Provide dedicated areas for the collection and storage of recyclables (mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, metals), and for two of: batteries, mercury-containing lamps, and electronic waste.
• MR Prerequisite: Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning — Develop and implement a written plan that identifies the materials targeted for diversion and the diversion strategy.

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

• EQ Prerequisite: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance — Meet ASHRAE 62.1-2016 minimum ventilation rates (or local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.).
• EQ Prerequisite: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control — Prohibit smoking inside the building and within 25 ft of operable windows, entries, and outdoor air intakes; or implement a compliant building-wide no-smoking policy with signage.

Prerequisite Memory Aid

A helpful pattern: in every major category, there is a prerequisite for performance (you must hit a floor) and one for measurement (you must be able to prove it).

Pursuing a Specific Certification Level

Project teams typically work backwards from a target level. A common Gold strategy in BD+C:

• All prerequisites satisfied (required regardless)
• ~25 points from EA (energy modeling, commissioning credits, renewables, refrigerants)
• ~10 points from LT (site selection, transit, parking)
• ~7 points from WE (above prerequisite reductions)
• ~8 points from EQ (low-emitting materials, daylight, views)
• ~5 points from MR (EPDs, sourcing, recycled content)
• ~4 points from SS (open space, heat island, rainwater)
• IP credit (1 point)
• Several IN and RP bonuses

That path lands roughly 60-65 points — comfortably into Gold with some buffer for review attrition.

Scorecard Pitfalls

• Submittal attrition. Teams routinely lose 5-10 points during GBCI review when documentation falls short. Target a buffer above the level boundary.
• Innovation (IN) overload. Only 5 credits in IN are available — you cannot stack endless innovations to overshoot a level.
• Regional Priority (RP) is location-locked. RP credits are pre-selected by USGBC for each ZIP code; teams cannot pick their own RP credits.
• Prerequisites do not count. A project that 'almost' has a prerequisite has nothing — partial credit does not exist for prerequisites.