Guide · Updated July 2026
LEED AP BD+C v5 beta: complete dates + registration guide
The v4 era is over — the last v4 AP with Specialty exam date was June 28, 2026 — and the v5 beta window is open now: June 30 through October 27, 2026. If you want the 50% beta discount, you have a hard registration deadline of October 21. Every date below comes from USGBC's official LEED v5 exam information page and GBCI's beta announcement, linked in the sources.
Every date that matters
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Last day to take LEED AP with Specialty v4 | June 28, 2026 (passed) |
| v5 beta testing window | June 30 – October 27, 2026 |
| Beta registration closes | October 21, 2026 |
| Beta scores released | Tentatively February 2027 |
| Final v5 AP exam launches (instant scoring) | Tentatively February 2027 |
For reference, the LEED Green Associate ran the same transition earlier: its v5 beta was April 28 – June 30, 2026, and its final exam now provides immediate scores.
Why take the beta at all?
- 50% discount on the exam registration fee — the published (pre-discount) fees are $350 specialty-only / $250 USGBC members, or $550 / $400 for the combined GA + AP exam.
- Continuing education credits upon passing, per GBCI.
- Same credential. Pass the beta and you're a LEED AP BD+C — identical to passing the final exam tentatively in February 2027.
USGBC's September 28, 2026 update lists AP beta opt-in registration through October 21 and testing through October 27, 2026 (Eastern time), with a 50% registration discount. AP scores and the final exam are tentatively expected in February 2027; dates may change.
How to register
- Check eligibility. Per USGBC you "must hold a current LEED Green Associate credential (or take and pass that exam at the same time)" and be 18+. No GA yet? The combined exam covers both in one sitting — or read our GA vs AP ladder guide to decide which order fits you.
- Register at usgbc.org under Credentials → LEED AP with specialty, selecting the BD+C specialty. Registration for the beta closes October 21, 2026.
- Schedule your seat — test center or remote proctoring — with your exam appointment inside the June 30 – October 27 window.
What the v5 exam looks like
100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours; a scaled 170/200 passes (for the beta, the cut score is finalized after the window from candidate data — that is why beta scores are delayed). The v5 BD+C blueprint is eight knowledge domains led by Energy and Atmosphere at 18 of 85 scored items — the full domain-by-domain breakdown is in our LEED v5 AP BD+C exam guide.
One warning for beta takers: most AP prep on the market is still written for v4, which had a different domain structure. Check the version before you buy anything.
Testing in the beta window?
Exam Relay's LEED v5 AP BD+C deck is built from the v5 handbook spec — source-cited cards weighted to the official domains, plus timed 100-question practice exams.
See the AP BD+C study deck →Sources
- USGBC — LEED v5 exam information (v4 end dates, beta windows, registration close, score release, final launch)
- GBCI — LEED v5 beta exams to launch in 2026 (original beta announcement; current benefits verified against the September 28 USGBC update)
- USGBC — LEED AP with specialty (eligibility, fees, exam format)
LEED® is a trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council. Exam Relay is not affiliated with USGBC or GBCI; study materials only. Confirm registration details at usgbc.org before scheduling.