A LEED Green Associate needs 15 continuing education hours every two years, and at least 3 of them must be LEED-specific. A LEED AP with specialty needs 30 hours every two years, and at least 6 must be LEED-specific and tied to the specialty. GreenCE offers free online courses that LEED APs can use toward their BD+C, ID+C and O+M hours.
What is the LEED Credential Maintenance Program?
The Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) is how GBCI keeps LEED credentials current. Instead of retesting, credential holders log continuing education during a two-year reporting period, then renew. The program matters more in 2026, because the exams themselves moved to LEED v5 while existing credentials carried over.
How many hours does each LEED credential require?
| Credential | Total CE hours per 2-year period | LEED-specific hours required | What the LEED-specific hours must cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEED Green Associate | 15 | 3 | LEED and the rating system generally |
| LEED AP with specialty (for example BD+C, ID+C, O+M) | 30 | 6 | The holder’s specialty |
LEED APs holding more than one specialty should check GBCI’s CMP guide for any added hours.
What is a LEED-specific hour?
A LEED-specific hour is education that deals directly with the LEED rating system, such as credit requirements, documentation or certification strategy. General hours can cover broader green building topics like energy, water, materials and health. Third-party study sites note that general online courses often count only as general hours. LEED-specific hours need to align with the LEED rating system itself (Archiroots).
For an AP, the LEED-specific hours should match the specialty. A LEED AP BD+C should log hours on BD+C content, not O+M.
When does the two-year clock start?
The reporting period starts the day you pass the exam and GBCI awards the credential. It runs for two years from that date (Zack Academy). Your deadline is personal: it depends on when you earned the credential, not on a calendar date shared by everyone.
What activities count toward CE hours?
Education is the most common route, but it is not the only one. Hours can come from (GBES):
- Online courses, live webinars and in-person workshops
- Participation in LEED projects
- Authoring articles or papers on LEED topics
- Volunteering with USGBC programs or committees
- Teaching or presenting LEED content
Hours are self-reported in your GBCI account, although some approved education providers report hours for you.
What happens if you miss the deadline?
You renew by finishing your hours and paying a $50 renewal fee within 30 days after the reporting period ends. Miss that, and the credential expires. You then have to pass the exam again to regain it, and a LEED AP must retake both the Green Associate and the specialty exams.
Did LEED v5 change the maintenance requirements?
The exams changed; the hour totals did not, according to current secondary sources. Key dates (CaGBC):
- Apr 26, 2026: last LEED v4 Green Associate exam.
- Apr 28, 2026: LEED v5 Green Associate beta exam launched (English only).
- June 28, 2026: last LEED v4 AP exams (BD+C, O+M, ID+C).
- June 30, 2026: LEED v5 AP beta exams launched.
If you already hold a credential in good standing, you do not retake the exam. You keep the credential through the CMP.
What has changed is the content worth learning. In October, USGBC added LEED v5 pilot credits on low-embodied-carbon steel manufacturing, partial renewable energy credit through long-term procurement, and alternative water baselines for offices (Action Services Group summary of USGBC’s Oct 21 update). LEED-specific hours are a natural place to catch up on v5.
How do you plan your hours without a last-minute scramble?
- Find your end date in your GBCI account and add a reminder 90 days before it.
- Lock in LEED-specific hours first, since they are the ones people most often fall short on.
- Spread general hours across the two years, using webinars and on-demand courses.
- Report as you go rather than all at once at the deadline.
- Keep certificates in case GBCI asks for documentation.
- Renew within 30 days of the period’s end.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does a LEED Green Associate need?
15 hours every two years, including at least 3 LEED-specific hours.
How many CE hours does a LEED AP need?
30 hours every two years, including at least 6 LEED-specific hours related to the AP’s specialty.
When does my LEED reporting period start?
On the day you passed the exam and GBCI awarded the credential. It runs for two years from that date.
Do I have to retake the exam now that LEED v5 is out?
No. Credential holders in good standing keep their credentials through the Credential Maintenance Program. Only new candidates take the v5 exams.
What happens if I miss my CE deadline?
The credential expires if hours and the renewal fee are not completed within 30 days after the period ends. You would then need to retest.
Why this matters for your continuing education
Your LEED credential is only as current as your last reporting period, and LEED v5 is giving credential holders plenty of new material to learn. Plan LEED-specific hours early, spread general hours across both years, and report as you go. GreenCE offers free courses for LEED APs working toward their BD+C, ID+C and O+M hours, along with a free LEED v5 exam prep course for colleagues just starting out.