Top 10 Reasons to Take a LEED Class

Save yourself the trouble and time of tackling LEED exam preparation on your own and take advantage of the benefits of a LEED course. Here are the top ten reasons to sign up today!

  1. Improve your chances of passing the LEED exam. The most important thing to know is a LEED class is a valuable investment, but it’s a good investment when you pass the first time! Don’t waste time and money taking the test more than once; 90% of Everblue’s students pass the exam on their first try.
  2. Get a bountiful supply of sample test materials to aid in your studies. LEED classes include over 400 sample questions to help you prepare for the exam. The more familiar and comfortable you are with the exam format before taking it, the better you’ll do.
  3. Learn from the best of the best: LEED-accredited professionals. The classes are taught by LEED-APs from varying backgrounds in the design and building industries that have taken the exam and know what to expect. They know firsthand about what taking the exam will really be like.
  4. Get the focus you need to prepare for the exam. Can’t seem to sit yourself down to study? Instead of diving in it alone, you can sit in a LEED exam preparation course and have all the material explained to you clearly and concisely. Between procrastination and trying to teach yourself the material, a lot of time gets wasted!
  5. See the material come to life. The intensive, high-energy environment of a LEED class will enliven the course material in a way that independent study simply can’t match.
  6. Familiarize yourself with the exam format. LEED classes help you to prepare for the exam by breaking down and organizing the various topics covered on the exam comprehensively, making it easier to grasp the concepts. Consisting of 80 multiple choice questions, the test is scored from 125 to 200, with a score of at least 170 required to pass.
  7. Choose from a variety of courses. Beyond taking a LEED test preparation course, you can take a variety of courses designed to increase your knowledge in specific areas. As the Green Economy expands so will the demand for LEED-related careers. Your specialized knowledge will help you stand out from the crowd.
  8. Keep abreast of the changes to the LEED system. The introduction of LEED v.3 earlier this year brought with it a number of changes in how LEED certification is conferred and maintained. A LEED class will help explain these changes, provide up-to-date information, and will give you a chance to voice any questions you might have.
  9. Receive guidance on how to study for the exam. Long time since you’ve been in school? A LEED class helps with studying techniques that give you that extra advantage to do well.
  10. Meet other students taking the exam. Group study and discussion, with the benefit of input from others in the course, will help when it comes to understanding LEED topics. You’ll learn from the perspective that your classmates will bring to the course. Afterward, you’ll be at an advantage: you’ll be part of a network of LEED-accredited professionals, and with that comes new business contacts and opportunities.

 

What are you waiting for? Click here for more information about the LEED test preparation courses offered by Everblue. 

 
 
 
5 Comments

Switching Careers

  • Submitted by Brian St Clair (not verified) on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 14:17.
    Hi,
    I am in my 30s who has spent the last 12 years in a now unstable sales field. I have been considering a new career path for quite some time but was unsure of where to start. I have a strong desire to get involved in green energy for many reasons, not the least being it's necessary for the health of the environment.

    I happened upon your site a couple days ago and saw right away that this was the right program for me. I see myself in an advisory/consultant role or perhaps in the marketing aspect.

    I am unemployed and have been for longer than I care to admit, needless to say my financial situation is currently at an all time low. I have been looking for any type of work but haven't been able to find any, so as a result I have decided going back to school is my best option. I am interested in knowing about grants and other financial aid sources that Everblue has access to. I have started filing for FAFSA hoping a Pell grant would be available but I don't know how this program works in that regard. Without aid I have no hope of attending.

    I look forward to your reply. I would prefer to attend live classes but I dont believe you offer any in this area, Corpus Christie TX, I think the closest is San Antonio, but I am getting ahead of myself.

    Best Regards,
    Brian St.Clair

Advice for Green Energy Career Changers

  • Submitted by Everblue on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 13:55.
    Brian,

    Thanks for writing in. I have a counselor sending you a personal email with details of grant funding available in your area.

    To answer your basic questions, the green energy field is growing but a few short courses is not going to be enough to complete your transition. Rather look at the LEED training and credential as a stepping stone in the larger process. Training and a credential are essential for both your confidence and credibility but you'll still need to really invest yourself in a new career path. You should read everything you can get your hands on, speak to everyone that you can in the field, go out and tour projects, attend free information events and networking events, volunteer for organizations, and most importantly do not give up on your past.

    Rather than completely abandoning what you have done before, look for ways to tie your past work experience into the new green economy. Every industry will be affected by the transition to a clean energy economy. What niche can you carve for yourself in it?

Thanks for the valid points

  • Submitted by Brian St Clair (not verified) on Tue, 05/11/2010 - 12:26.
    Thanks,

    You raise obvious and valid points and that is exactly my dilemma, how to transition and be profitable and productive? I want more than just a LEED cert, I am interested in learning everything about green tech, but I am not a builder and I never will be, I hope to get as far into the auditor program as possible.

    I don't know if I am dreaming here, perhaps I am.

Brian, Best of luck to you.

  • Submitted by Wendy (not verified) on Wed, 05/19/2010 - 08:29.
    Brian,
    Best of luck to you. I am living proof that starting over with a new career path is possible at any age! I was a veterinary technician for 10 years and then switched over to construction. Been doing that for the past 10 years now.

    Anyhow, I too would like to move my career into sustainable building. I have been working in the construction industry for 10 years and I am currently an Estimator for large commercial buildings. I am sitting for my LEED AP test on Wednesday and look forward to having that credential under my belt. My problem is that my company has limited opportunities for me to actually be a key player on a LEED project and I fear that the LEED AP accreditation will end up being just another notch on my resume. I want to continue this path of buidling green and be an integral part of that process.

    So my question to Everblue is, where do I go from here? I have looked up LEED consultants in my area (Philadelphia) and they are limited. I thought about getting into the training side of it perhaps? Or maybe going over to the architects side to try to get more involved in this process? I'm not sure. I think my ultimate goal is to work independently, maybe as my own consulting firm, however, I need experience in order to do that. I can have the letters at the end of my name, but it means nothing if I don't have the experience.

    Any thoughts?

Using LEED After Your Credential

  • Submitted by Everblue on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 14:45.
    Wendy,

    Congratulations on earning your LEED AP. I would encourage you to look at your current company to become a LEED advocate for your company and it's customers. Would any of the existing customers be interested in exploring LEED? If they do not want to pay for certification itself, what about incorporating the LEED principles into the project?

    Last week I just met with a local building project where we are advocating that they pursue LEED. Initially, they told us that they were not interested because they heard that it was 5-30% more expensive. Well, that is not quite true and this is a big perception issue that LEED is facing. In this case, they are installing water less urinals, the highest efficiency chillers, they are located on multiple mass transit lines, they are installing Solar on the roof, daylighting sensors, low VOC paints, and much more. In essence, they meet the LEED requirements but were mis-informed about the costs. At the end of the day, this $14 Million dollar project could easily achieve LEED Certification with a few thousand dollars in costs.

    Who do you know that you can talk to about LEED? How can you advocate for it, especially as someone who understands project costs and estimating!

    Everblue

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