LEED Green Associate Course

What is LEED?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the world's foremost green building standard. It was developed by U.S. Green Building Council.

How do I become LEED certified?
You don't - buildings get certified, people get accredited. However, you will receive a certificate when you pass the 3rd party test(s).

What is the difference between Green Associate and LEED Accredited Professional (AP)?
Green Associate is "for professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice." It shows "basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations." LEED AP signifies "an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices." At NYREI, we say Green Associate and AP are similar to Real Estate Salesperson and Broker. They study the same material, but Salespersons learn the basics, and Brokers goes into more depth and have practical experience.

If LEED Accredited Professional (AP) is better, can I skip Green Associate?
No.. The LEED AP course builds on Green Associate. In this school, we will not allow you to take AP until you have taken Green Associate.

But my friend became a LEED AP this summer, and she never heard of Green Associate.
That's because Green Associate is new. Until June 30, 2009, candidates were allowed to take the AP test without any previous classes or experience. The rules have changed. Now the Green Associate 2-hour exam comes first, then the LEED AP 2-hour exam. If you meet the qualifications, you may take the exams on the same day or different days.

What does the price include? If I take both classes can I get a package discount?
Our Green Associate course is $395 for 16 hours and LEED AP is $195 for 8 hours. These are the lowest prices we have ever seen for LEED. If you wish to repeat either course, we will offer it to you for half price.

All our reading and study materials are included in the price of the course. The LEED 2009 Reference Guide, costing $185 (almost 700 pages) is NOT included. We felt students should have the option of buying the Guide if they want it, rather than adding $185 to the cost of the class. If enough students are interested, we can bulk order the Guide and offer it at a discount. The 3rd party exam fee is not included.

What is the 3rd party exam?
Although U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED, they do not give tests. Tests are administered by a group called Green Building Certification Institute, and are held at a professional testing facility called Prometric, a few blocks from NYREI. Prometric consists of dozens of computer cubicles where students take everything from the GREs to the Firefighter exam. You may take the LEED exams whenever they have a free appointment for you. Sign up online and pay the exam fee directly to Prometric. For complete information on the 3rd party exam, please visit www.GBCI.org.

Who is GBCI and how are they different from USGBC?
Many people are confused, because USGBC and GBCI have the same address and phone number, and their websites are linked. To maintain independence in testing and certifying, GBCI was created in 2008 to take over those responsibilities from USGBC. When you pass the exams on USGBC's LEED system, your certificate will come from GBCI.

How long should I study?
That is a subjective question. It depends on your background, how well you can memorize, and other factors. However, do NOT fall into the trap of thinking that if you are very smart or a fast learner you don't have to study. The exams are HARD. Most architecture and engineering firms encourage their professionals to study at least 2-3 months.

Do I have to study in addition to taking the course?
Yes - absolutely. It would be impossible for any school to give you all the information you need to pass in 3 days, considering that most architects study 3 months. We will teach you the material and give you tips on important things you must know, but it is up to you to read as much as you can and study hard.

If I need more study, can I just sit in on the class again for free?
No. Some students think if they return without signing the attendance sheet it won't hurt anyone. That's not true - it hurts the other students, the teacher and the school. As a result, we scrutinize the attendance sheets.

We understand that students enjoy the class enough to take it two or three times. As one student put it, "I would rather pay to take the class twice than to take the exam twice." Therefore, you may repeat the course for half price. If for some reason you fail the exam, we will allow you to repeat the class for free.

Does the class give exam prep?
Yes and no. Under GBCI rules, if you are taking the Green Associate course to qualify to take the Green Associate exam, you may NOT take an exam prep course. It has to be a knowledge-based course. An analogy would be that schools like Kaplan teach you how to pass the SATs; they don't teach you math. Therefore, our Green Associate course does not include sample questions. However, there is no such rule about LEED AP, so in that class we cover sample questions, exam tips and study guides. Even if you only plan to take the Green Associate exam, it's a good idea to take the LEED AP class to get study help.

What are the exams like?
Green Associate and LEED AP exams are both multiple choice. However, they are often structured as, "Choose 3 out of 7," instead of the traditional 1 choice out of 4. Athough the Green Associate exam is much easier, both exams are very, very hard.

USGBC and GBCI will not release pass rates, but most estimates are that only about 35% of AP test-takers pass. That means 65% FAIL. Our school has a documented pass rate that ranges between 80-90%. While other schools claim a 90+ pass rate, we have observed that most do not engage in systematic follow-up with their students as we do. If for some reason you do not pass the 3rd party exam, you may take it again in accordance with GBCI rules.

How can I qualify for the LEED Accredited Professional (AP) exam?
To take the AP exam, you must first take the Green Associate exam, even if you take it on the same day. You also must show experience working on a LEED project. Since there are only about 300 LEED registered buildings out of a total of about 900,000 buildings in New York City, it is not easy to get on a LEED project team. The easiest way is with an unpaid internship. Our LEED teacher has helped dozens of qualified students become interns. If you are interested in internship, you may speak with our teacher. Please be aware of the following terms:

Neither NYREI nor its teachers will hire you directly as a LEED intern. We may, however, refer students to LEED Project Teams seeking interns.

Internships are not guaranteed: whether a student is hired for an internship is decided by the LEED Project Team and is completely out of the control of NYREI or its teachers.

NYREI's teacher may assist some students in finding opportunities for internships. This requires a $30 processing fee which, is refundable only if the teacher does not refer the student to a LEED Project Team. If the student does not interview, does not accept, or is not accepted for the internship, the $30 is not refundable.

Internship referrals are ONLY available to students enrolled in BOTH our Green Associate and LEED AP courses. We will not provide referrals for non-students or past students.

Other rules may apply and will be explained to students.

I'm an interior designer and my friend is a property manager. I want to specialize in Commercial Interiors (CI) and she wants Operations and Maintenance (O&M). Should we take your LEED AP course?
LEED APs pursue a specialty. We teach the most popular specialty, Building Design and Construction. You are welcome to find a school that teaches a different specialty. However, LEED core principles are used in every specialty and many students choose to take our course and then study the nuances at home. Dozens of CI, O&M and Homes specialists have taken our course and passed their exam with flying colors. If you feel unsure about the decision, we suggest you compare the LEED speciality scorecards. Here are the links:
Commercial Interiors
Operations & Maintenance
Building Design & Construction

What kind of job can I get? How much can I earn?
It used to be that mostly architects and engineers became LEED accredited. But now, LEED touches every profession. Building owners want to hire people who understand green, from property managers to brokers, bankers, decorators, contractors, appraisers, home inspectors and more. It is not possible to give a specific figure on earnings, as LEED consultants make widely different amounts depending on their skills, experience, size of project, and other considerations.

Green credentials do get employers' attention. If you can take only one career enrichment course, we recommend this course to help you obtain a LEED certificate.

How can I find out more?
We urge you to read the USGBC and GBCI websites thoroughly. In particular, you may read the Green Associate Handbook http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3571 and the AP Handbook http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3572

These FAQs are based on information provided by USGBC and GBCI. However, their policies and rules are subject to change at any time without notice or publication. If you need clarification on any subjects addressed in this document, please call USGBC/GBCI at
800 795 1747.

Kristen Bacorn has been called one of the pioneers of the green architecture movement.

Kristen's first green consulting projects came when she wrote an Environmental Impact Statement for a new construction by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and performed energy research for a foreign oil-producer. In architecture school, she created environmentally conscious designs and received a university-wide award for architectural theory.

Kristen later worked on the construction site of the nation's first green residential hi-rise, The Solaire, and wrote the first environmental architecture course to be accepted by the NY Dept. of State. To promote the green movement, Kristen also trains architects, engineers and contractors to become LEED Accredited Professionals like herself. Syracuse University School of Environmental Sciences as well as Binghamton University School of Engineering have invited Kristen to offer environmental science courses.

As a lecturer and educator in great demand, Kristen has been featured speaker at many venues, including the annual Javits Center Construction Expo. Her writing has been published in Newsweek, and she has granted exclusive interviews to national entities such as Lowe's Home Improvement and the Wall Street Journal. In addition, she has served for many years on the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment.

Kristen Bacorn also has extensive experience as a broker and private real estate investor. For 12 years she was Vice President of Fox Residential Group, one of New York's top ten brokerages. In commercial real estate, Kristen marketed and sold shopping centers in portfolio packages. She also dealt with brownfield acquisition and remediation. These accomplishments brought her to the attention of the Real Estate Board of New York, who invited her to serve on their Credentials Committee.

Although Kristen's background is in architecture, she is aware of the importance of accessing the many financing opportunities, which are sometimes complicated. In her current projects, Kristen guides her clients through the maze of green funding options.

Because of her considerable experience, many groups have retained Kristen as a consultant. In recent years she collaborated with Costas Kondylis on a feasibility study for residential conversion of 67 Broad Street, a 40+ story tower in the financial district. She has worked on dozens of green constructions from single family homes to huge hi-rises, and also served as an advisor to green manufacturers and vendors.

Kristen has is currently working on a number of projects, including a midtown hotel and a 500-unit Manhattan condo.

Kristen brings to her clients a wealth of knowledge, fine reputation and an accessible personality. As an investor and member of project development teams, she has first-hand knowledge of the needs of developers and owners in this demanding market. Kristen welcomes opportunities to share her industry expertise with those who may benefit from her unique insights.

Kristen Bacorn Kristen@GreenEstateConsulting.com 917 209 8585

NOTE: Kristen Bacorn also offers a Green Certificate Course (22.5 hours of CE including the Fair Housing requirement) as well as a 7.5 hour CE course on Green Architecture every month.