LEED AP BD+C Syllabus
The eight exam domains, the reference materials USGBC lists and how to move from the Green Associate.
In this guide
- Is there an official LEED AP BD+C syllabus?
- Which domains does the exam cover?
- Which reference materials does USGBC list?
- What do the question levels mean?
- How do you move from the Green Associate to BD+C?
- Try it: BD+C syllabus explorer
- Find your LEED v5 route
- Practice quiz: BD+C syllabus
- Frequently asked questions
- Where 3FOLD fits
Candidates searching for the LEED AP BD+C syllabus want to know what the exam covers before they start studying. USGBC does not call it a syllabus, but it publishes the BD+C v5 exam specifications in the LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook, and it lists reference materials on the USGBC LEED v5 exam information page. This article explains the eight knowledge domains, the question levels, the references and how to move from the Green Associate to BD+C. It does not state question numbers, weights, passing scores or fees, so check the handbook and the official USGBC and GBCI pages for those details.
Quick answer
The closest thing to an official LEED AP BD+C syllabus is the BD+C v5 exam specification in the USGBC LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook. It lists eight knowledge domains: LEED Process, Integrative Process, Planning, and Assessments, Location and Transportation, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality. The exam assesses three question levels: Recall, Application and Analysis. Always check the handbook and the exam information page for the current version and status.
| Short answer | USGBC publishes the LEED AP BD+C v5 exam specifications in the LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook |
| Version | The exam is based on LEED v5 |
| Domains | Eight knowledge domains, each with detailed knowledge areas |
| Question levels | Recall, Application and Analysis |
| References | Four references are listed on the USGBC exam information page |
| Course | A course organizes the content, and it does not replace the official handbook |
| What is not here | Question numbers, weights, passing scores and fees |
| Key rule | Check the handbook and the official USGBC and GBCI pages for current details |
Is there an official LEED AP BD+C syllabus?
USGBC publishes the exam specifications in the candidate handbook, which works as the syllabus.
The USGBC LEED v5 exam information page lists LEED AP BD+C among the professional exams updated to align with LEED v5. The same page said, when this article was written, that the LEED AP with Specialty exams were still in beta testing and that the final LEED v5 version was expected in 2027, so check the page for the current status before you plan your exam. The LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook lists the BD+C v5 knowledge domains and the knowledge areas inside each one. Our guide on what a LEED exam question actually tests explains how those areas turn into questions. The table below summarizes six points candidates ask about most.
| Question | Answer | Source or note |
|---|---|---|
| Is there an official syllabus? | USGBC publishes BD+C v5 exam specifications in its candidate handbook | USGBC candidate handbook |
| How many domains are listed? | Eight knowledge domains | USGBC candidate handbook |
| Which version is the exam based on? | LEED v5 | USGBC exam information |
| What question levels are assessed? | Recall, Application and Analysis | USGBC candidate handbook |
| Which references does USGBC list? | Four references, led by the LEED v5 Reference Guide for BD+C | USGBC exam information |
| Where are weights and exam rules? | On the official USGBC and GBCI pages | USGBC and GBCI |
Want a structured way through the BD+C content?
Compare the course and check the next batch.
Which domains does the exam cover?
The handbook lists eight knowledge domains for the BD+C v5 exam.
- LEED Process: minimum program requirements, credit interpretation, synergies and tradeoffs, project and LEED boundaries, rating system selection and LEED occupancy.
- Integrative Process, Planning, and Assessments: the integrative design process, core and shell, climate resilience, human use and health, and carbon assessment.
- Location and Transportation: development constraints, community connectivity, access to quality transit, transportation demand management, electric vehicles and economic and social vitality.
- Sustainable Sites: site assessment, construction pollution prevention, habitat conservation and restoration, exterior lighting, heat island reduction, rainwater management, extreme climate events and accessible open space.
- Water Efficiency: irrigation demand, fixtures and fittings, appliance and process water, types and quality of water, water reuse and water measurement.
- Energy and Atmosphere: energy performance, electrification, peak thermal loads, renewable energy, refrigerants, commissioning, metering and controls, emergency and future-proofing and grid interactivity.
- Materials and Resources: whole-building life-cycle assessment, low-embodied-carbon procurement, building and material reuse, material stewardship, low-emitting materials, human and ecological health and waste management.
- Indoor Environmental Quality: thermal, sound, lighting and biophilic environments, accessibility and inclusion, construction management, ventilation strategy, indoor air quality management, risk-event management and resilient design.
The handbook is updated by USGBC, so confirm the domain names and knowledge areas in the current LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook before you plan your study.
Which reference materials does USGBC list?
The USGBC exam information page lists four references for the LEED AP BD+C v5 exam.
- LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, February 2026 Edition.
- Foundations of LEED, January 2023.
- Guide to Certification: Commercial.
- Addenda Database, U.S. Green Building Council.
The page also lists Foundations of LEED, Guide to Certification: Commercial and the Addenda Database for LEED AP O+M and LEED AP ID+C. See the USGBC LEED v5 exam information and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) for current details.
Ready to see how the course follows the content?
Check the LEED AP BD+C course page and the next batch.
What do the question levels mean?
The handbook says the exam assesses Recall, Application and Analysis.
- Recall: factual material from the exam references.
- Application: solving a new problem with familiar principles or procedures.
- Analysis: breaking a problem into components and evaluating how they interact.
This is why reading the reference guide alone may not be enough. Our article on why LEED candidates struggle with scenario-based questions looks at the Application and Analysis levels.
How do you move from the Green Associate to BD+C?
USGBC states that Green Associate holders are qualified to take the LEED AP with Specialty exam.
- Download the handbook and the references, and list the eight domains as your checklist.
- Compare the knowledge areas with what you studied for the Green Associate, using our guide to the LEED Green Associate syllabus.
- Start with LEED Process, because rating system selection and credit interpretation shape how you read every other domain.
- Practise with questions after each domain, and review every answer you miss.
- Take full-length mock exams to find weak domains before you register.
- Check current eligibility on the USGBC credential pages before you book.
On the 3FOLD Training course pages, the LEED AP BD+C course runs 21 hours and the combined LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C path runs 35 hours. The courses are delivered as Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) with Learning Management System (LMS) resources, practice questions and full-length mock exams. A course helps organize the content and does not replace the official handbook. Our guide on the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C career path shows the wider route, and our guide on how online LEED training works explains the format.
Try it: BD+C syllabus explorer
For practice only. Pick your situation to see a domain to review first, why it helps and a suggested next step.
Domain to review first
Why it helps
Suggested next step
The explorer opens on a Green Associate holder so you can see the pattern: match your situation to a domain, see why it helps, then take the next step.
Find your LEED v5 route
For planning only. Answer 7 quick questions to get a suggested route and the sections of this guide to re-read first.
How confident are you in each topic from this guide?
After you press the button, you get a suggested route, a confidence score for this guide, and links to the sections to re-read first. Eligibility and exam rules are set by USGBC and GBCI, so check their pages before you book.
Practice quiz: BD+C syllabus
For practice only. Test what you have learned in this article, then check the answers.
Have questions about LEED v5 training? Send your question through the course enquiry form or the 3FOLD Training team on WhatsApp. You can also try LEED Green Associate practice questions to refresh the foundations.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official LEED AP BD+C syllabus?
USGBC does not use the word syllabus, but it publishes the LEED AP BD+C v5 exam specifications in the LEED AP with Specialty Candidate Handbook. They list the knowledge domains and the knowledge areas inside each one, and they work as the syllabus for your study.
What topics does the LEED AP BD+C exam cover?
The handbook lists eight knowledge domains: LEED Process, Integrative Process, Planning, and Assessments, Location and Transportation, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Confirm them in the current handbook.
Are the BD+C domains the same as the Green Associate domains?
The domain names listed in the two handbooks are the same. Compare the knowledge areas in each handbook to see the detail, and read our guide to the LEED Green Associate syllabus for the foundation.
Which reference materials does USGBC list?
The USGBC exam information page lists the LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction (February 2026 Edition), Foundations of LEED (January 2023), Guide to Certification: Commercial and the Addenda Database. Check the page for the current list.
What question levels does the exam assess?
The handbook says the exam assesses three cognitive levels: Recall, Application and Analysis. Recall covers factual material from the references, Application solves a new problem with familiar principles, and Analysis evaluates how components interact.
Is the LEED AP BD+C v5 exam final?
The USGBC exam information page lists LEED AP BD+C among the exams updated to align with LEED v5. When this article was written, the page said the LEED AP with Specialty exams were still in beta testing, so check the page for the current status.
Do you need the Green Associate before BD+C?
USGBC states that candidates who earned the Green Associate credential are qualified to take the LEED AP with Specialty exam. This article does not state other eligibility rules, so check the USGBC credential pages before you choose a route.
How is the exam weighted across domains?
This article does not state weights, question numbers or scoring. Check the current handbook and the official USGBC and GBCI pages for those details.
Where should you start?
Many candidates start with LEED Process, because rating system selection and credit interpretation shape how you read the other domains. Then work through each category domain and practise with questions after each one.
Does a course replace the official handbook?
No. A course organizes the content and gives you instructor explanations, practice questions and mock exams. The handbook and the USGBC pages remain the official source for exam details. A training certificate is not a credential.
How long is the 3FOLD Training LEED AP BD+C course?
On the 3FOLD Training course page, the LEED AP BD+C course runs 21 hours, delivered as Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) with Learning Management System (LMS) resources, practice questions and full-length mock exams. The combined path with the Green Associate runs 35 hours.
Where 3FOLD fits
3FOLD Training is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and offers Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) exam preparation through LEED Green Associate training, LEED AP BD+C training and a combined LEED Green Associate and LEED AP BD+C option. The courses are delivered as Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) with Learning Management System (LMS) resources, practice questions and full-length mock exams. 3FOLD prepares you for the exam, GBCI administers the LEED credential exams, and USGBC publishes the LEED rating system. Check the current batches on the course calendar.
Ready to start your LEED AP BD+C preparation?
Check the upcoming course batches.
Leave a reply