LEED Green Associate v5 Exam: Format, Cost and Dates (2026 Guide)

The LEED Green Associate exam is 100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, scored on a scale of 125–200 with 170 required to pass. As of July 2026, the standard registration fee is $250 ($200 for USGBC members, $100 for students), and the exam is delivered at Prometric testing centers or online under remote proctoring. There are no prerequisites: no degree, no work experience, no prior course is required to sit it.

Timing is the complication this year. The v4 version of the exam retired on April 26, 2026, and the new v5 exam has so far run only as a beta. Its data-collection window closed on June 30, 2026, though USGBC states the beta remains available to take, with scores held until the phase concludes. USGBC expects beta scores (and with them the final, generally available v5 exam) in October 2026. This guide covers the format, the current fees, how registration works and exactly where the exam stands, with every figure sourced.

What the credential is and who it is for

The LEED Green Associate is the entry-level professional credential in the LEED system. It certifies broad, current knowledge of green building principles and how the LEED rating system works. Credit-by-credit project expertise belongs to the LEED AP, the next rung, which requires an active Green Associate at registration. People are accredited (Green Associate, AP); buildings are certified (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum). USGBC develops the LEED rating system; GBCI administers certification and the exams.

The exam is open to all individuals. GBCI recommends, but does not require, prior exposure to green building through coursework, volunteering or work experience, and candidates under 18 need parental consent. That makes it a realistic first credential for students, career-changers and professionals in adjacent fields as well as architects and engineers.

Exam format

Every question is single-answer multiple choice; there are no multi-select, essay or calculation-entry items. The exam is computer-based and closed-book. Of the 100 questions, roughly 85 count toward your score; the remaining ~15 are unscored pilot questions being calibrated for future exams. You cannot tell which is which, so answer everything, but it means a handful of hard or unfamiliar questions may not be counting against you.

You can sit the exam in person at a Prometric testing center or remotely through Prometric's ProProctor application. The content is identical either way. For a fuller walk-through of the exam's structure and scoring, see our exam guide.

The eight knowledge domains and their weights

The 85 scored questions are distributed across eight knowledge domains. The weights matter for study planning: two domains, LEED Process and Energy and Atmosphere, carry 30 of the 85 scored questions between them.

Note that domain weights are not the same numbers as the rating system's category points (Energy and Atmosphere, for example, is worth 33 of 110 points for New Construction but 15 of 85 exam questions). Keeping those two sets of numbers separate is itself a tested skill. You can start on the heaviest domain now with our free LEED Process module.

What the exam costs

As of July 2026, USGBC lists three fee tiers for the LEED Green Associate exam. The fee is valid for one attempt and is non-refundable once the exam has been taken; each retake means registering and paying again.

During the 2026 beta window, registrants received a 30% discount off the registration fee; that window has closed. USGBC has run other discount programs at various times, so it is worth checking the current fee schedule on usgbc.org before you register. Beyond the exam fee itself, budget for preparation materials if you use paid ones. The primary sources listed below are free.

Where the exam stands right now (July 2026)

This is the section most guides let go stale, so here it is as a dated ledger. The v5 exam exists, but as of July 2026 it has only been offered as a beta, and the final exam is not yet available to book.

Practically: if you did not sit the beta, your path is the final v5 exam, expected toward the end of 2026. The published exam structure (the 100-question format, the 170 passing score, the eight domain weights above) is stable; what the beta process settles is question calibration. That makes the months before the final exam publishes useful study time rather than dead time, since the content outline you are studying against will not change.

How to register

Registration runs through USGBC and GBCI, with scheduling handled by Prometric. Per the Candidate Handbook, the sequence is:

1. Create or sign in to your account on usgbc.org. The first and last name on the account must exactly match your government-issued ID: mismatches are the most common check-in failure.
2. Select the LEED Green Associate exam under the Credentials section and pay the registration fee.
3. Receive your eligibility ID (EID).
4. Schedule your exam at prometric.com/gbci, choosing either a testing center appointment or a remote-proctored session.

Standard registrations carry a 12-month testing window from the registration date, so you do not need an exam date picked before you pay. On exam day, bring a valid, unexpired government-issued ID with a photograph and signature; the name must match your registration in Roman characters, and photocopies or digital IDs are not accepted.

What to study from

The exam tests the LEED v5 rating system, and the highest-value study sources are free and primary:

• The LEED v5 BD+C Rating System, February 2026 edition: the document of record for every prerequisite, credit and point value, free on usgbc.org. If a prep resource disagrees with it, the rating system wins.
• The LEED GA Candidate Handbook (usgbc.gitbook.io): the exam specification itself, covering domain weights, policies and procedures.
• Foundations of LEED: USGBC's free primer on the concepts the exam assumes.

One warning that matters more in 2026 than in a normal year: a large share of the free question banks, flashcard sets and study guides in circulation were written for the retired v4 exam. v5 restructured entire credit categories, so v4-era materials now actively teach wrong answers. Check anything you use against the February 2026 rating system, or work from materials that cite it. Our free sample questions are written from and verified against that edition, and the full study platform covers all eight domains the same way, including a timed mock exam built to the published format.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the LEED Green Associate exam cost?

As of July 2026: $250 standard, $200 for USGBC members, $100 for students with enrollment verification. The fee covers one attempt and is non-refundable once the exam has been taken. Check usgbc.org for the current schedule before registering.

When will I get my exam results?

Beta candidates (tested April 28 – June 30, 2026) receive score reports after the passing score is finalized, estimated by USGBC in October 2026. Once the final v5 exam is published, results return to being delivered immediately on completing the exam.

Can I take the exam online?

Yes. Choose between a Prometric testing center and a remote-proctored session through Prometric's ProProctor application when you schedule. The exam content is the same in both formats.

What happens if I fail?

You register and pay again for another attempt. After three unsuccessful attempts within 12 months, the Candidate Handbook requires a 90-calendar-day wait before a new registration. Note that GBCI publishes no official pass rate: any percentage you see online is unsourced.

Is the v5 exam available in languages other than English?

The v5 beta was English only. USGBC has offered translation aids on earlier exams; check usgbc.org for the language options attached to the final v5 exam when it publishes.

Does the credential expire?

It must be maintained: 15 continuing education hours reported within each 2-year cycle. Meet that and the credential renews; let it lapse and reinstatement rules apply, so diarize the cycle when you pass.