How Do You Maintain a LEED GA Credential?
Earning the LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is only the beginning. To keep your credential active, you need to complete the required continuing education (CE) hours during each reporting period and renew your credential through GBCI.
If you are planning to take the LEED Green Associate exam or already hold the credential, this guide explains the current maintenance requirements, CE hours, reporting process, renewal fees and what happens if you miss your renewal date.
- What is the LEED GA maintenance requirement?
- How does the two-year reporting period work?
- What counts as LEED GA CE hours?
- Which activities can earn CE hours?
- How do you report CE hours?
- Do you need to keep proof?
- How much does LEED renewal cost?
- What happens if you miss renewal?
- Do GA CE hours transfer to LEED AP?
- Frequently asked questions
What Is the LEED GA Maintenance Requirement?
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) , LEED Green Associates must earn a minimum of 15 continuing education (CE) hours during each two-year reporting period.
Maintaining the credential therefore involves both completing the required continuing education and renewing the credential within the applicable renewal period.
How Does the Two-Year Reporting Period Work?
LEED credentials are maintained in two-year reporting cycles. The reporting period starts when the credential is earned and ends two years minus one day from the start date.
For example, if you earn your LEED GA credential on August 30, 2026, the reporting period would run from August 30, 2026 through August 29, 2028.
You can confirm your own reporting period by logging into your USGBC Credentials account and checking your credential information.
What Counts as LEED GA CE Hours?
The 15-hour requirement consists of LEED-specific and general continuing education activities.
LEED-specific CE hours
At least 3 of your 15 CE hours must be LEED-specific. These activities need to have a direct connection to LEED and the credential being maintained.
General CE hours
The remaining 12 hours can be general CE hours or additional LEED-specific CE hours.
USGBC identifies green-building topics such as environmental sustainability, human health, resiliency, net zero, decarbonization, ESG, social equity and the circular economy as examples of subjects that may qualify as general green-building education.
Which Activities Can Earn LEED GA CE Hours?
USGBC recognizes four professional development activity types for credential maintenance:
- Education courses
- Project participation
- Authorship
- Volunteering
1. Education courses
Education is one of the main ways LEED professionals can earn CE hours. General education may cover relevant green-building concepts.
For LEED-specific CE hours, USGBC states that the education must be GBCI-approved and designated as LEED-specific.
You can also explore the official USGBC education listing for eligible learning opportunities.
2. Project participation
Active participation in qualifying LEED projects can generate CE hours. USGBC states that credential holders can receive 1 CE hour per credit worked on a qualifying LEED project.
Project participation can count toward the LEED-specific requirement when the project is registered or certified under the specific rating system associated with the credential.
Work on charrettes and precertification is not eligible for credential maintenance CE reporting.
3. Authorship
Authorship can also qualify for CE hours when the contribution meets the applicable credential maintenance requirements.
USGBC currently states that eligible authorship is worth 3 CE hours per published article and 10 CE hours per published book.
For LEED-specific hours, the publication needs to contain technical content related to the relevant LEED rating system or standard.
4. Volunteering
Eligible volunteering can earn 1 CE hour per hour of participation.
Volunteering can account for no more than 50% of the total CE hours required.
For the activity to qualify as LEED-specific, it must be directly related to LEED technical content.
How Do You Report LEED GA CE Hours?
CE activities are self-reported through your USGBC Credentials account .
After logging into your account, you can report your eligible continuing education activities and track your progress toward the required hours.
It is useful to report activities regularly rather than waiting until the end of the reporting period.
Do You Need to Keep Proof of Your CE Hours?
Yes. GBCI may review credential holders' records to verify reported continuing education activities.
Documentation can include:
- Certificates of course completion
- College or university transcripts
- Documentation of qualifying project participation
- Evidence of eligible volunteering
- Evidence supporting published authorship
USGBC provides specific documentation requirements for different types of CE activities in its CE reporting guidance .
How Much Does LEED Credential Renewal Cost?
The current LEED credential maintenance renewal fee is $100. USGBC also provides different fees depending on when the credential is renewed.
According to the official USGBC LEED credential renewal guidance :
- Early renewal: $85
- On-time renewal: $100
- Late renewal: $150
The applicable fee depends on your credential status and when you complete the renewal.
What Happens If You Miss Your LEED GA Renewal?
If you do not complete your continuing education requirements by the end of your two-year reporting period, your LEED credential becomes inactive.
You then have a 12-month grace period to earn and report the missing CE hours and renew your credential.
What happens after 12 months?
If your credential remains inactive for more than 12 months, it becomes expired and is no longer valid.
To regain a credential after expiration, you must register and retest as a new candidate and pay the applicable fees.
You can read the current rules in the official USGBC Credential Renewal Policy .
Do LEED GA CE Hours Transfer to LEED AP?
No. LEED GA and LEED AP with specialty are separate credential maintenance programs.
If you later earn a LEED AP with specialty credential, the CE hours you earned as a LEED Green Associate do not transfer to your new LEED AP credential.
This is important if you are planning to progress from LEED Green Associate training to LEED AP BD+C training .
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours does a LEED Green Associate need?
A LEED Green Associate must earn a minimum of 15 CE hours during each two-year reporting period, including at least 3 LEED-specific CE hours.
How many LEED-specific CE hours are required for LEED GA?
At least 3 of the required 15 CE hours must be LEED-specific. The remaining 12 hours can be general or additional LEED-specific CE hours.
Can LEED project work count toward credential maintenance?
Yes. Eligible participation in LEED-registered or certified projects can generate CE hours. USGBC states that qualifying project participation is reported at 1 CE hour per credit worked.
Can volunteering count toward LEED GA CE hours?
Yes. Eligible volunteering can generate 1 CE hour per hour of participation, but volunteering can account for no more than 50% of the total CE hours required.
Do I need to keep proof of my CE hours?
Yes. You should retain documentation supporting the CE activities you report because GBCI may review credential maintenance records.
How much does LEED credential renewal cost?
The standard renewal fee is $100. Early renewal is $85, while late renewal can be $150 depending on the timing of renewal.
What happens if my LEED GA credential becomes inactive?
You have a 12-month grace period to earn and report the missing CE hours and renew your credential. If it remains inactive for more than 12 months, the credential expires.
Do LEED GA CE hours transfer to LEED AP?
No. CE hours earned as a LEED Green Associate do not transfer to a newly acquired LEED AP with specialty credential.
Official Sources
For current credential maintenance rules, always refer to the official USGBC/GBCI information.
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