LEED Certification Journey- Part Two
- Gabriela Sortino Herrero
- Oct 6
- 4 min read
Written by Gabriela Sortino Herrero
Now that you've signed up for the LEED Certification exam, the nerves really start to kick in. But no worries, the key ingredients are time and dedication to study and to fully comprehend the contents of the exam. In this Part Two, I'll share my personal experience, the tools I used to pass the exam, how long I studied for it, and what strategies worked for me. Please keep in mind, people have different learning techniques and time constraints, so I encourage you to learn from my experiences and adapt them to your situation.
How Long Before the Exam Should One Start Studying?
I'm someone who starts studying for exams early on. This approach gives me confidence and time to fully understand terms and definitions. For the LEED Green Associate Exam, I set aside 30 days for preparation. During that month, I was also working full-time, so I dedicated approximately 2 hours a day, six days a week. The GBES course offers a 30-day study plan, which provided me an excellent framework for my preparation.
Study Materials and Resources
After researching budget-friendly study resources, I decided to go with the GBES Exam Prep Materials. I snagged the GBES UNLIMITED package for just $150, which gives you 12-month access to prep tools for all LEED exams (including those AP specialties!) plus continuing education courses. Here's a friendly tip: keep an eye on the price, as it tends to go up and down throughout the year (regular price is around $300). This package is worth it! You'll get video modules, weekly live training sessions, and exam simulators—the last one became my favorite during study time. I highly recommend this bundle as it closely simulates the actual exam experience while providing diverse learning approaches for mastering the material.
On a tight budget? Don't worry! There are several great free resources that can help you prepare without spending anything. The fan-favorite free option is GreenCE's LEED Exam Prep course. Though I haven't tried it myself, my friends have great things to say about it. Just a heads-up: their practice questions may be slightly more challenging than those on the actual exam—which could actually better prepare you for test day! You can also check out free study materials from GBES itself and Archiroots, which offer plenty of content for those who prefer to study at their own pace.
Whether you choose to invest in a paid course or stick with the free options, all these resources can work with whatever timeline you have. Remember, the materials are all there waiting for you—your commitment to studying consistently is what will really make the difference in the end!
Effective Study Techniques
Feeling a bit nervous about retaining all that information for exam day, I developed a friendly, structured study approach centered around practice exams. My strategy was methodical but manageable: I dedicated the first two weeks to content absorption, watching lecture videos on topics such as Integrative Strategies and Location & Transportation while creating detailed handwritten notes and summaries for weekly review. I complemented this by studying the GBES chapter materials, taking digital notes to reinforce my understanding.
After building this knowledge foundation, I transitioned to focused practice tests for each chapter. This diagnostic approach was invaluable. I analyzed every incorrect answer, studied the concepts I'd missed, and retook exams until finally achieving those passing scores. The final week before my exam was exclusively dedicated to comprehensive practice tests, with a personal requirement of scoring at least 80% on each attempt.
Why did I begin by watching all lectures in the first few weeks? Honestly, I was intimidated by the material and decided to "rip off the Band-Aid" all at once. This initial overview provided a conceptual framework that made subsequent deep-dives into each module more manageable and contextual.
I cannot overstate the value of practice tests in my LEED certification journey. They were the most helpful part of my study journey and the main reason I passed the exam with good scores!
Test Day Preparation
As I mentioned in Part 1, I highly recommend taking the exam in-person at a testing center. Despite having to travel from San Luis Obispo to Oxnard (the nearest testing location), the journey was absolutely worth it. In fact, I plan to do the same for my future AP exams.
Why choose a testing center? The professional environment makes a world of difference! The staff provides excellent support, ensuring someone is always available if issues arise. The quiet setting, reliable equipment, and friendly professional atmosphere helped me focus solely on the exam content rather than worrying about any potential technical difficulties.
Online testing is certainly an option (and I've actually received some positive feedback from friends who chose this method), but for me personally, I loved the peace of mind that came with the controlled testing center environment. If you're worried about traveling to a test center, just think of it as a small investment in your certification success, totally worth it in my experience!
Additional test day tips: Get plenty of rest the night before, eat breakfast or lunch before your exam, and arrive with time to spare. For specific information about what to bring (and what not to bring), be sure to check out the detailed guidelines on both the testing center's website and the GBES resources page.
Final Thoughts
You've got this! The journey to LEED certification is challenging but rewarding. I've discovered that this credential is far more than just a line on your resume, it has shaped my understanding of sustainability within architecture and deepened my commitment to green building practices both professionally and academically. The knowledge you'll gain through this process will serve as a foundation for your entire career, helping you see every project through the lens of sustainability and creative green solutions. Trust me, it's worth every minute of study time!
Resources
Paid:
GBES Unlimited Pack: My top recommendation for comprehensive exam preparation. This subscription provides access to all LEED exam materials and continuing education courses for 12 months. https://gbes.com/catalog/subscription/product-gbes-unlimited/
Free:
Archiroots LEED Green Associate Exam Prep: A solid website with free alternative tools and content.
GreenCE LEED Exam Prep: Highly recommended by colleagues for its challenging practice questions. https://www.greence.com/LEED_Exams/LEED_v4_Exam_Prep
GBES Free Resources: Helpful supplementary materials directly from one of the leading LEED training providers.
GBES YouTube Video:
YouTube Tutorial: This video provided an excellent overview of the exam process and key concepts.