Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby corbismyhomeboy » Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:00 am

Has anyone here taken LEED AP BD+C exams or CDT exam? I'm almost done with 4.0 and thinking about what I should be moving towards next, if anything. I'm hesitant to take LEED because my firm does almost no LEED projects - we've done 1 LEED project in the last 3-4 years that I've been here. Even the principals at my firm (all of whom are LEED AP) have told me during my last review that it's not worth the hassle or the money. I'm considering the CDT because I do a fair amount of spec review in my office, and I'd like to know more about specs and project delivery in general.

Has anyone been through either of these exams? What is the continuing ed like for LEED AP BD+C? Any advice on if CDT would be helpful on a resume?

Thanks in advance!
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby ekelsey15 » Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:11 am

I would be interested in this information as well. I have one test left, so LEED will be the next exam.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby gbalaka » Mon Apr 24, 2017 2:36 pm

I personally have zero interest in either LEED nor CDT examination. I'm in Cali and after I finished my AREs, all I care about is the supplemental exam to get my architect license and then I will be done with any type of exams for the rest of my life!

I know enough about LEED through the ARE study material....i'm no specialist - don't need to be one.

But that's just me. It's just not worth it for me. I don't mind reading up about it and being familiar with the topics, but please - no more exams.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby corbismyhomeboy » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:30 am

I'm curious what all is on the LEED exam, and how specific the material gets. Frankly, I wouldn't mind studying for it and taking it except I don't want to be tied to doing more continuing ed than what is already required for my license.

But you're right about never taking exams again... that is a nice idea... ;)
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby alkali » Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:59 pm

I took and passed the CDT exam a few years back. I took it before I finished my ARE exams and studying for this exam helped my on the CDS and PPP exams. Other than being able to use the certificate towards my IDP hours, I haven't gotten a ton of use from it. I am glad I took it because it qualifies me to take the other CSI certifications (CCS, CCCA, CCPR). I my opinion, the CDT and LEED exams serve two purposes: continuing education and marketing. These purposes alone make the certifications worth it in my opinion.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby rwwon » Sun May 28, 2017 11:24 pm

I did both prior to the AREs and licensing. CDT was good for continuing ed, but has done little in bolstering my resume - it's like stopping at the LEED GA. I suppose if you want, you can take the other exams CDT pprovides a gateway to, such as CCCA or CCS, which would be good for continuing education and maybe marketing yourself in those fields.

I have my LEED BD+C and in my area there is no interest in LEED buildings whatsoever. It's become more of a resume item is all.

Id get your LEEd BD+C since its all the rage and might look good on your resume. CDT would be more for you personally.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby mimi » Mon May 29, 2017 4:22 pm

I passed the CDT before I graduated. It was a big help on the ARE for a few of the tests. I work in a small office and having the CDT background gives me some clarity when issues come up. It also looks good on a resume.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby corbismyhomeboy » Tue May 30, 2017 6:16 am

Thanks for all of the feedback! Haven't decided yet whether I'm going to pursue either of these options. I'm kind of interested in specification writing which is why I'd be interested in the CDT one, but like many of you pointed out, it seems the LEED BD+C has more weight on a resume. Thanks again!
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby architect23 » Sat Jun 03, 2017 6:57 pm

Have taken LEED- it is more marketable and recognized. I can't say I have seen very many professionals in the industry with CDT, unless they are choosing not to include it in their signatures. I will say, you won't learn much from LEED content itself (I remember it being mostly theoretical, not really technical.. of course I took it in the last version so I do not know what has changed) but a good 'secondary' credential to have. I am sure you know this, but keep in mind, there are two exams for the LEED AP- the LEED GA and LEED AP that you must take.

And yes, you must maintain continuing education credits, I believe 30 every two years. If you are a LEED GA, I believe it is 15 credits. There is also a fee every 2 years, I believe $80 which is miniscule in comparison to others. Corb, feel free to message me if you have other questions.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby corbismyhomeboy » Sun Jun 04, 2017 7:12 pm

Thanks architect23, I'm still mulling it over. I'm on the fence about it because it's another thing I'd have to study for, and I'd have to pay for both exams and study material out of pocket. For me, all of my ARE study material was mostly free except for the supplemental video courses online like Amber, Thaddeus, and Black Spectacles, so I only really had to pay for the exams. Thinking about LEED and having to pay for the study material on top of the exams makes my stomach turn. Ugh.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby rwwon » Sun Jun 04, 2017 10:28 pm

The cost for the LEED exams themselves are expensive, but the study materials can be cheap, and you don't need to buy 10 different products. I did all my study materials through www.gbes.com. they have awesome practice exams. I wish when I was taking the AREs. I could have had a one-stop-shop for study materials instead of this Frankenstein monstrosity of study materials.
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Re: Anyone taken LEED BD+C or CDT exams?

Postby corbismyhomeboy » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:14 am

rwwon wrote:The cost for the LEED exams themselves are expensive, but the study materials can be cheap, and you don't need to buy 10 different products. I did all my study materials through http://www.gbes.com. they have awesome practice exams. I wish when I was taking the AREs. I could have had a one-stop-shop for study materials instead of this Frankenstein monstrosity of study materials.


Oh that's so awesome rwwon! Thanks for passing that along. Is this really the only source you had to use for LEED GA?! That's amazing!

I totally know what you mean. The last time I took the GRE I used Magoosh, which was AWESOME and I totally wish something like that existed for ARE. They provide these day-by-day free study guides based on how you initially score and your goal score. Then a subscription based service (which is actually super cheap compared to all of these ARE things) with flashcards, tutorials, and timed practice quizzes with videos explaining tricky wording and why/how which answers are right and wrong. It's way better than any GRE book you can buy on Amazon. Why does this not exist for ARE?!?!
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