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Exam registration and purchasing policies

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What are the professional credentialing exams offered by GBCI?

The Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) is the only certification and credentialing body within the green business and sustainability industry to exclusively administer project certifications and professional credentials of LEED, EDGE, PEER, WELL, SITES, Sustainability Excellence, Parksmart and TRUE.

Professional credentialing exams are offered for the following GBCI programs: LEED, EDGE, WELL, SITES, Sustainability Excellence, and Urban Greenhouse Gas Inventory Specialist. For more information on the TRUE Advisor certificate program, click here. 

How do I register for a LEED exam?

Log in to your USGBC Credentials account, or create a new account if you do not have one by clicking "create new" under "account" on USGBC.org. 

Before registering for the exam, make sure your name is entered exactly as it appears on the legal ID that you will use when you take your exam. Be sure to use Roman characters when entering your name in your USGBC user account and on your exam registration application. If you legally have only one name, enter “No Name” in the first or last name fields as applicable. 

To make changes to the way your name appears on an existing USGBC user account, click "edit" next to "name" in your USGBC account settings. 

Within the credentials tab of your account, you can select the LEED exam you wish to take, then follow the instructions on the screen to complete the exam registration application.

To watch a video tutorial of the exam registration process, download the "Register for your Exam" video. 

Where can I take a LEED exam?

You can take the stand-alone LEED Green Associate or LEED AP with specialty exam in person at a Prometric Test Center, or virtually through a remotely proctored internet-enabled (online) location of your choice using Prometric’s ProProctor tool.

Combined LEED Green Associate/LEED AP with specialty exams can only be taken in person at a Prometric Test Center. Online testing restrictions prohibit candidates from leaving the camera view for the duration of the exam. Because of this restriction, and the fact that combined exams can take up to 4.5 hours to complete, they cannot be taken remotely.

Once I register for an exam, how long do I have to take it?

Once you register and pay for your exam, you have 12 months to schedule and take your exam session. If you are unable to take your exam during your 12-month eligibility period, you may request a one-time courtesy extension of six months. Contact us before the end of your exam eligibility period to request an extension; please specify the month in which you intend to take your exam and if you plan to take your exam at a test center or a remote location.

Can I get a refund for my exam?

You can request a refund for your exam purchase within 12 months of the date of registration, as long as there is no exam appointment scheduled with Prometric. If you have an exam appointment scheduled, you will first need to cancel your appointment. After your appointment has been canceled, you can contact us to request a refund. Note: a $50 fee is charged for any exam appointments that are canceled within 3-30 days of the exam date; cancelation of an appointment 2 or fewer calendar days prior to the appointment results in a forfeiture of the entire registration fee. 

If your exam eligibility period is ending soon, you can request a one-time extension of six months. Please contact us before the end of your exam eligibility period to request an extension.

We encourage you not to delay earning your credential and to schedule a remotely proctored online exam if test center availability is limited. Before deciding if an online exam would suit your needs, review the ProProcter User Guide and complete a systems readiness check.

I registered for the wrong LEED AP with specialty exam. Can you update my registration information?

If you realize that you have registered for the wrong exam and have an appointment scheduled to take the exam, you should first cancel your appointment. After your appointment has been canceled, contact us. We cannot change the exam in your registration, but we can assist you with submitting a new registration for an exam of equal value. 

My organization is a USGBC member, but I did not receive the member discount on my exam purchase. Can I get a refund for the difference in cost?

Yes, we need to confirm that you are linked to your company's USGBC membership (see Membership Basics for instructions on linking to your company's membership). Email exam@gbci.org to request a refund for the difference in pricing.

Can I pay for multiple exams at once?

Purchasing exams in bulk quantity is a convenient way to pay for multiple exams at once; however, there is no price break price per exam for bulk purchases. Email exam@gbci.org to request an invoice. Be sure to include the name and address of the responsible billing party, the quantity and type (i.e., LEED Green Associate, LEED AP with specialty, combined) of exam(s), and whether or not a member or student discount should be applied.

How can I submit payment for my exam invoice? 

To pay by credit card: 

You can pay for an open invoice with a credit card directly through your USGBC user account. After logging in to your account, go to your order history page. If the invoice is not listed in your order history, enter the order number listed at the top of your invoice in the search field. Once the correct invoice has populated, click the button to "pay now" and follow the prompts to submit your payment.

To pay by check:
In locations where check payment is an available option, send a check to the 'check' address on the invoice:

Green Business Certification Inc.
PO Box 822964
Philadelphia, PA 19182-2964

For the fastest processing, please provide the invoice number with the payment.

To pay by wire transfer:
If you choose to submit payment by wire transfer, you can use the bank details on the invoice to initiate a wire transfer. Please be sure to include order number in the text to ensure prompt processing.

Can I pay by wire transfer or check for my exam?

Yes, you can request an invoice by emailing us at exam@gbci.org. Instructions for payment by check or wire transfer will be on the invoice you receive. If you have questions or require assistance in order to remit payment, please reach out directly to our Billing team at billing@gbci.org.

Can my organization place a purchase order (PO) for the LEED exam(s)?

GBCI does not accept purchase orders. Payments for an exam purchase can be made with credit card, check or wire transfer. You can request an invoice by emailing exam@usgbc.org.

Where can I find a receipt for my exam purchase? 

To download a copy of your receipt, log in to your USGBC user account and click on "Order History." 

Is there a student discount for LEED exams?

Full-time and part-time students can take advantage of the discounted rate of $100 for the LEED Green Associate exam. When submitting your exam registration, you will be required to enter your school, student ID number, and graduation date to receive the student discount. There is no student discount for the LEED AP with specialty exams or the combined LEED Green Associate/LEED AP with specialty exams.

Are there any scholarships available for LEED exams?

We currently do not have any scholarship opportunities available. To stay up to date on future scholarship announcements, follow us on LinkedIn and sign up for our email subscriptions by updating your email preferences in your USGBC user account settings.

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