Registering for the LEED AP BD+C exam is straightforward, and the part that catches people out is not the booking — it is the deadlines afterwards. You get a 12-month testing window from the date you register, and you cannot reschedule your appointment after midnight on the third day before it. Miss that and miss the exam, and the whole fee is gone.

Before you can register

One requirement: an active LEED Green Associate credential at the point of registration, or an active LEED AP with Specialty credential if you already hold one. Not at the point you sit — at the point you register. Full detail in LEED AP requirements.

Two things to settle before you pay:

Which specialty. Five exist and they are not interchangeable — see which LEED AP specialty should you choose.

Which version.The LEED AP BD+C exam has entered the LEED v5 beta phase; USGBC currently lists the v5 beta testing period for BD+C from November 2026 through January 2027, with the final v5 exam expected to become available in February 2027.  See LEED AP BD+C v5 exam changes, and confirm in the handbook.

How the process runs

1.Register and pay through your USGBC or GBCI credentialing account. Fees are published by USGBC and GBCI — see the LEED AP exam cost.

2.Receive your eligibility to test, which is what lets you book with Prometric.

3.Book an appointment with Prometric, either at a test centre or as a remotely proctored online exam through ProProctor.

4.Check the name. The first and last name on your registration must match your identification exactly. It is a requirement the handbook states in capitals, and it is entirely avoidable at this step.

5.Sit the exam within your window.

Your testing window

The handbook gives standard registrations a 12-month testing window from your registration date.

Twelve months sounds generous and disappears quickly. Two points worth taking seriously:

The window starts when you register, not when you start studying. Registering early to commit yourself is a legitimate tactic, but it spends part of the window on the decision rather than on the exam.

Do not assume an extension exists. The handbook states the window; it does not set out an extension policy. If you need to know whether one is available in your circumstances, ask GBCI before your window runs down rather than after.

The deadline that costs people money

This is the section to read twice.

“You cannot reschedule your exam after midnight on the third day before the scheduled appointment.”

Inside that window there is no rescheduling and no refund. If something happens and you cannot attend, you cannot move the appointment — and missing the exam entirely means the full fee is forfeited.

The rest of the schedule, as set out in the handbook with effect from 1 January 2025, counts back from your appointment:

Cancellation fees as published by USGBC in the LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook, effective 1 January 2025. Last checked 22 August 2026. Confirm current fees before you book — these are set by USGBC and GBCI and can change.

Exam fees are also non-refundable once the exam has been taken, which matters if you sit it and immediately realise you were not ready.

The practical advice that follows: book the appointment when you are reasonably confident of the date, not when you are hoping. Moving it costs nothing at 46 days or more, a cancellation fee inside that, and everything at three.

Test centre or online?

Both run through Prometric, and the choice is genuinely consequential — the rules differ.

The online option removes travel and adds obligations — a compliant room, a compliant machine, a stable connection, and no leaving the webcam’s view at any point. What each involves in practice is in LEED AP exam day. Read that page before you choose, not after.

Identification

Get this right at registration and it never becomes a problem.

You need one valid government-issued ID carrying:

• • Your first and last name, exactly matching the name you registered with
  • A recent, recognisable photograph
  • Your signature
  • Issue and expiration dates, and it must not have expired

Photocopies, duplicates and digital IDs are not accepted. A photograph of your passport on your phone is not identification for this purpose.

The exact-match requirement is the one to check now. If your identification carries a middle name, a second surname, an accent or a different transliteration from the name in your account, sort it out before you book — not at the test centre door.

Testing accommodations

If you have a documented disability you may request accommodations, and the handbook states that GBCI complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Two things worth knowing, because both are easy to assume otherwise:

There is no additional charge for testing accommodations.

Approved accommodations remain valid for 12 months.

Requests go through GBCI. Start that before you book, so that whatever is approved is in place by the time you are scheduling.

A short pre-booking checklist

1.Green Associate credential active?

2.Specialty decided?

3.Version confirmed against the handbook?

4.Name in your account matching your ID exactly?

5.Accommodations requested, if you need them?

6.Test centre or online decided, having read what each requires?

7.A date you are confident about, not hopeful about?

8.Then register, book, and put the third day before your appointment in your calendar as the last day anything can be changed.

Frequently asked questions

How do I register for the LEED AP BD+C exam?
Register and pay through your USGBC or GBCI credentialing account, receive your eligibility to test, then book an appointment with Prometric either at a test centre or as a remotely proctored online exam. You must hold an active LEED Green Associate credential, or an active LEED AP with Specialty credential, at the point of registration.

How long do I have to sit the exam after registering?
The handbook gives standard registrations a 12-month testing window from the registration date. It does not set out an extension policy, so ask GBCI before your window runs down rather than after.

Can I reschedule my LEED AP exam?
Yes, but not after midnight on the third day before the scheduled appointment. Inside that window there is no rescheduling and no refund, and missing the exam entirely means the full fee is forfeited.

What is the cancellation fee for the LEED AP exam?
As published by USGBC effective 1 January 2025: a full refund is available 46 or more days before the appointment, a refund less a 30 US dollar cancellation fee at 30 to 45 days, a refund less a 60 US dollar cancellation fee at 4 to 29 days, and no refund or rescheduling within 3 days. Confirm current fees with USGBC before booking.

What identification do I need for the LEED AP exam?
One valid, unexpired government-issued ID showing your first and last name exactly as registered, a recent recognisable photograph, your signature, and issue and expiration dates. Photocopies, duplicates and digital IDs are not accepted.

Can I take the LEED AP exam online?
Yes, as a remotely proctored exam through Prometric’s ProProctor application, or in person at a Prometric test centre. The rules differ between the two, so decide which suits you before booking.

Are testing accommodations available?
Yes. If you have a documented disability you may request accommodations, and GBCI complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is no additional charge, and approved accommodations remain valid for 12 months.

What happens if I miss my exam appointment?
The full fee is forfeited. Since rescheduling closes at midnight on the third day before the appointment, there is no way to move it once you are inside that window.

Timing your preparation against the window

3FOLD TRAINING has prepared professionals for certification exams since 2008, across more than 100 countries. Our LEED AP BD+C training runs online and in person, and we can talk through where a course fits against your testing window before you book anything. No course is required to sit or pass the exam, ours included. Ask through the course enquiry form.