Guide · Updated June 2026
LEED v5 Green Associate exam guide: what's on it and how the beta works
The Green Associate is the entry credential of the LEED program — and it changed in 2026. The v5 beta exam launched April 28, 2026, written against the new LEED v5 rating system. Here's the verified picture, sourced from the official USGBC candidate handbook.
Format
100 multiple-choice questions, 2-hour period, 170/200 scaled score to pass. Of the 100 delivered items, 85 are scored and 15 are unscored field-test questions mixed in randomly — you won't know which are which, so treat every question as real.
The eight v5 domains
| Domain | Share of scored items |
|---|---|
| LEED Process | ~18% |
| Energy and Atmosphere | ~18% |
| Materials and Resources | ~13% |
| Water Efficiency | ~12% |
| Indoor Environmental Quality | ~13% |
| Location and Transportation | ~11% |
| Sustainable Sites | ~9% |
| Integrative Process Planning and Assessments | ~7% |
Compared to v4-era prep, note the framing shift: v5 organizes everything under three impact areas — decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration — and the exam expects you to know how credits ladder up to them.
How the beta works
Beta candidates take the full-length exam, and USGBC uses the results to establish the final v5 passing benchmark. Until the finalized exam publishes (toward the end of 2026), the v5 beta is the exam — same credential, discounted registration, results delivered when the data phase closes.
Studying for it
Version match is the whole game in 2026: prep written for v4.1 covers a different domain structure. Exam Relay's LEED v5 Green Associate deck is built from the v5 rating system with a citation on every card — 551 flashcards covering 461 distinct concepts, three timed practice exams, and a full study guide in the bundle.
Sources: USGBC LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook (usgbc.gitbook.io/leed-candidate-handbooks); usgbc.org/credentials/leed-green-associate; GBCI v5 beta announcements. Domain shares shown as approximate percentages of the 85 scored items. LEED® is a trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council. Exam Relay is not affiliated with USGBC or GBCI; study materials only.