Often companies will spend tens of thousands of dollars to help their employees pass the LEED exam
Often companies will spend tens of thousands of dollars to help their employees pass the LEED exam. While it's a worthwhile investment to get your employees LEED-accredited, spending exorbitant amounts of money isn't necessarily the best way to go.
Employees just need to study hard with a good study strategy. A good strategy would be one that helps you logically organize the information in your mind so that you can remember and relate to it more efficiently. There is a lot of information to remember, and direct memorization is not always the way to go.
I found that when people start studying for the LEED test, they are immediately overwhelmed. They figure that the best way would be to read the entire LEED manual from start to finish at least a few times and then they will be ready. I thought the same thing when I started trying to study for my exam.
Trying to sit down and read the manual like a book is a good cure for insomnia. The guide is written as a reference manual, not an exciting novel to turn the pages. I thought you should memorize everything about one credit before moving on to the next. I was wrong again.
The best way is to put the foundation of LEED in your mind first and then build on it. It would be like ordering a bunch of files. I wouldn't start reviewing the files and creating the file structure as you go along. You would create a structure and then start filling the structure with data. Similarly, you want to start by learning the basics of LEED.
Start by studying the basic point system. Memorize how many points it takes to earn certain certifications and the differences between prerequisites and regular credits. Make sure you understand what the procedures are and how you can proceed to certify a building.
Then lay the groundwork for credits by simply memorizing the name and general idea of the credit. Start by memorizing the six categories (SS, WE, EA, MR, IAQ, and ID) and what each category focuses on. Then start memorizing the name and number of each credit and why it would be a sustainable practice. You should be able to write each of the credits simply from memory. It seems difficult to memorize the 50 credits more or less, but it is much easier to divide them into the six categories.
The biggest benefit for employers to become certified is the fact that they are qualified for projects that require the participation of a LEED accredited professional. When it comes to new construction or renovation of an existing project, there are generally certain requirements that must be followed, and often one of those requirements is that a LEED AP works on the project. This is often the case if the project receives some form of government funding or is for a company that wants to follow LEED standards.
Then, build on all the credits by memorizing how each is accomplished, the documentation requirements, and any referenced standards. It helped me a lot to build a huge spreadsheet, print it and take it with me at all times. He could easily and quickly reference and study it whenever he wanted.
Once you have built an organized wealth of knowledge in your mind, it is time to start practicing. Take as many practice tests as you can until you feel comfortable with the exam. If you're having trouble with practice problems, you may want to study your spreadsheet more. See if you can recreate everything from memory. Once you can do that, you are probably ready to take the test!
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