USGBC is your connection to the highest-quality green building education in the market – especially USGBC's essential LEED curriculum, developed by the organization behind the LEED rating systems and delivered by the industry's leading experts with real-world experience implementing and innovating with LEED.
A professional development plan with USGBC's LEED curriculum at its core is the surest path to green building success. Begin by exploring the LEED courses below, and then move on to the rating system track (linked above) that's most appropriate for you. And round out your green building knowledge and earn more continuing education credit by exploring third-party offerings from USGBC's Education Providers at www.usgbc.org/courses.
If your professional development path is primarily focused on earning or maintaining LEED Professional Credentials, visit www.usgbc.org/credentials.
LEED 101: Green Building Basics & LEED
Half-day instructor-led »
2-hour online training »
2-hour online training, Spanish language »
If you’re new to green building and want to learn the basics, this course is for you. Learn about USGBC; green building motivators, principles, best practices, regulations and incentives; and fundamentals of the LEED rating systems – including the intents, concepts and terms for each LEED credit category. If you want to learn about LEED in greater detail, including specific strategies, metrics and referenced standards – or if you are pursuing the LEED Green Associate credential – you should consider LEED 201: Core Concepts & Strategies instead.
Ideal audience: Those seeking a basic introduction to green building and LEED, but who do not need to understand specific LEED strategies, metrics and standards.
LEED 201: Core Concepts & Strategies
Full-day instructor-led »
4-hour online training »
This course provides essential knowledge of sustainable building concepts that are fundamental to all commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, with brief mention of LEED for Homes. Learn about LEED intents and concepts at the credit category level, including common strategies, synergies, metrics and referenced standards; as well as basics of the LEED certification process. Interactive activities based on real LEED projects reinforce what you've learned. This course is recommended prior to taking commercial rating system-specific (BD+C, ID+C, or O+M) education programs.
Ideal audience: Those with a stake in their company's or community's building practices, whether on project sites or in a non-technical field of practice; those directly involved in green building projects; those pursuing GBCI's LEED Green Associate credential.
LEED 202: How to Document & Certify Projects
Formerly: Succeed in LEED v3: How to Document & Certify Projects
3-hour online training »
CEUs: 3 hours
Learn how to use LEED Online v3 from those who created it. This course addresses the full LEED certification process – from creating a project team, to registering a project in LEED Online v3 and adding team members, to building a LEED scorecard and navigating credit forms, to preparing a LEED certification application and completing review and close-out procedures. Best practices for LEED documentation are included to help you pave the way toward certification.
This course focuses primarily on LEED 2009 commercial rating systems – particularly LEED for New Construction, LEED for Core & Shell, LEED for Schools and LEED for Commercial Interiors – calling out the key differences between certification under these rating systems and the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance rating system. This course does not address LEED for Homes nor LEED for Neighborhood Development.
Ideal audience: Professionals who are involved in documenting and certifying LEED projects.
LEED 203: Dealing in Green: LEED for Brokers
Formerly: Elements of Green Leases
Online training series »
CEUs: 4.5 GBCI
This three-part online training program features speakers from the broker and tenant sides of commercial real estate, sharing experiences with finding, marketing, and leasing green commercial space. Join us as experts in the field delve into the differences of the LEED certification systems, share LEED leasing experiences, and review real life case studies.
LEED 204: LEED for Retail Series
Online training series »
CEUs: 4.5 GBCI
Featuring speakers from across the retail industry, this online training outlines strategies in green retail development and key components of the new LEED for Retail rating systems. Review best practices, business reasoning, tools currently being utilized to increase sustainable design in retail real estate – and find out how volume certification can act as a cost-effective path to achieving LEED certification on a large scale.
LEED 205: Green Buildings and Preparing for the LEED Green Associate
Semester (8 weeks online instructor-led) »
Upon completing this course, you will be prepared to sit for the LEED Green Associate credential exam. The course provides essential knowledge of sustainable building concepts fundamental to all LEED rating systems, including credit intents and concepts; strategies; synergies; key metrics and referenced standards; and project examples. Discussion groups and interactive activities are featured throughout the course, which wraps up with preparation to sit for the LEED Green Associate exam.
Ideal audience: Those pursuing GBCI's LEED Green Associate credential; those with a stake in their company's or community's building practices, whether on project sites or in a non-technical field of practice; those directly involved in green building projects.
LEED 251: Strategies for Success in LEED
Online training series »
CEUs: 9 hourrs
Interested in furthering your understanding of LEED – and learning successful implementation strategies, right from the experts? These online training sessions are designed to teach individuals about strategies useful in meeting LEED requirements in various credit categories. Conducted in partnership with Building Magazine.
LEED 252: Carbon Reduction Series
Online training series »
CEUs: 12 hours
This interactive online series will provide you with information and hands-on tools to establish realistic carbon reduction goals and implement strategies to reach them. USGBC is partnering with climate change experts from Pew Center on Global Climate Change, World Resources Institute, and CTG Energetics, Inc., and media partner Stamats Commercial Buildings Group, on this educational series.
Two introductory online training sessions provide a foundation for two Learning Tracks: Building Projects and Organizations.
NEW! LEED 253: Greenhouse Gases & Green Buildings: Understanding and Achieving Key Reduction Goals
Online training series »
CEUs: 1.5 hours
Join USGBC for an important online session – bringing you the tools you need to understand fundamental concepts, accounting requirements, important reduction goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions – and the cutting-edge strategies needed to meet these goals.