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LEED reference guides

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General

I'm preparing for my LEED exam. Which reference guide version should I be using?

If you are planning and preparing to take the LEED Green Associate on or before April 26, 2026, or the LEED AP with specialty exams on or before June 28, 2026, continue studying the LEED v4 content. Candidates who take the exam to earn their LEED credential in 2025 will be tested on the content from the LEED v4 rating systems. Learn more about exam timelines.

LEED v5 reference guides

Where do I access the LEED v5 reference guides?

The LEED v5 reference guides can be accessed through any LEED v5 credit in the LEED credit library, the resource library, or your USGBC account.

How can I access the LEED v5 reference guides, and how long do I have access?

The LEED v5 reference guides are available exclusively in digital format. Once you access them, you can view the guide online or download it as a PDF for easy offline use. Access is available in two ways:

  • Membership licenses: Companies with national membership at any level have access to a limited number of user licenses. These licenses are reassigned annually after membership has been renewed.
  • Purchased guides: Digital and downloaded guides are available to the purchaser for life.

Do I receive member pricing as an Individual/Community member?

Learn about national member pricing.

Are student discounts available for LEED v5 reference guides?

Yes! If you're currently enrolled in college, either full- or part-time, you qualify for a student discount on publications, including reference guides. To apply the discount, just enter the name of your school, student ID number, and future graduation date at checkout.

Note: student discounts cannot be combined with membership discounts. If you qualify for both, only the membership discount will apply.

Learn more about student benefits.

Can I purchase multiple copies of a digital LEED reference guide, and share access to other employees in my organization?

Yes! It is possible to share access across your organization.

To get started, contact us to request a bulk invoice. In your message, please include:

  • The name and address of the billing contact
  • The specific reference guide(s) you'd like to purchase (i.e., LEED v5 BD+C, LEED v5 O+M, etc.)
  • The quantity
  • Whether a member discount should be applied

Our customer service team will create a customized invoice for you. Once payment is received, our team will provide instructions on ensuring access is provided to designated users.

Note: This option is designed for organizations that prefer to make a single payment for multiple guides. While we don't offer bulk discounts, we're happy to streamline the process for you.

Can I add and save notes in the LEED v5 reference guides?

You can add notes to any page by selecting the note icon located at the bottom and right side of the page. Notes are saved locally in your browser using cookies or local storage so that you can return later to edit or review them. However, if you clear your cookies or switch browsers/devices, your notes may be lost.

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Can I download my notes along with the PDF?

To download the guide with your notes included, click the download icon at the bottom of the page. Then, check the box that says, “Add my notes to PDF” and click the Full Flipbook download button. The PDF will download to your device.

  • If you open it in a browser, your notes will be there, but they won’t be marked or color-coded—you’ll need to look through the document to find them.
  • If you open it on your desktop, your notes will be tagged and color-coded, making them easier to find.
  • Note: Any notes you take will not be included in the printed version.

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How do I search within a LEED v5 reference guide?

Search for words or phrases in the reference guide by selecting the search icon at the top right corner of the page. Once selected, a search bar will open. While the search bar is open, the table of contents will disappear. Once you close the search function, the table of contents will reappear.

Tip: Select the filter icon and then select the "Exact match" box to filter for results.

Search function:

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Filters and exact match:

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Which browsers are supported?

The LEED v5 reference guides will work on most modern browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari (macOS and iOS), and Mircosoft Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported.

To ensure the best experience, always use an up-to-date browser version.

LEED v4 reference guides

Where can I buy the LEED v4 web-based reference guide?

To purchase the LEED v4 web-based reference guide, go to the product page in the USGBC Store. The LEED v4 web-based reference guide is also included with the purchase of a subscription to the USGBC course catalog.

Before placing an order for a printed reference guide, be sure you are ordering the correct guide. Learn more about each of the LEED rating systems and their reference guides.

What is the difference between the PDF access for e-document and hard copy reference guide purchases?

Printable PDF versions for the reference guide are available for purchase independently of the hard copy.

The e-document purchase provides 30-day access to download a printable PDF version of the reference guide. This option does not include a hard copy delivery of the reference guide. The e-document reference guides have a personalized watermark on every page, which cannot be removed.

The e-document (PDF) reference guides are intended for personal use only and should not be stored on any shared networks.

If I purchase the LEED v4 web-based reference guide, does it expire after a year?

It can expire if you do not renew your subscription to the web-based version.

Is the LEED v4 web-based reference guide included with my membership-based education benefits?

Unlimited company-wide access to the LEED v4 web-based reference guide is included with Platinum-level membership. LEED v4 web-based reference guide access is not included with Silver or Gold-level membership.

Is access to the LEED v4 web-based reference guide included in my course catalog subscription?

Yes, the subscription includes access to the LEED v4 web-based reference guide.

How can I purchase access to the LEED v4 web-based reference guide for my entire company?

The LEED v4 web-based reference guide is sold in terms of individual access. Therefore, organizations will need to purchase a LEED v4 web-based reference guide for each employee who needs access. Please note that Platinum-level companies receive organization-wide access to the web-based reference guide.

How do I access the web-based LEED v4 reference guides?

Once purchased (either directly or via trial period), your access to the web-based guide is immediate.

  • Step 1: Go to the LEED Credit Library
  • Step 2: Select the “v4” version of any applicable rating system and the credit you are interested in
  • Step 3: Select the Guide tab and you’ll see all of the content in the print/pdf versions of the guide plus helpful tutorials and videos.

Don’t forget to review the reference guide introductory and overview sections: Getting Started, Minimum Program Requirements, Rating System Selection, and Credit Category Overviews. These sections are supplemental to the web-based reference guide. To access, please select from the following links:

What content does the web-based reference guide cover?

The web-based reference guide includes all rating system adaptations within LEED v4. Prior or later versions of LEED are not included.

While LEED v4.1 is under development, only the credit requirements are included at this time. The LEED v4.1 reference guides, which include any applicable credit guidance in addition to the credit language, may be downloaded from the LEED v4.1 page.

Do the LEED reference guides incorporate addenda?

The LEED v4 web-based and PDF versions incorporate the addenda and are updated with the regular addenda cycle.

The hard copies of the LEED v4 reference guides do not incorporate new addenda.

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