top of page

LEED GA Certification Training 

If you’re looking for LEED GA certification training or LEED Green Associate exam prep, San Diego LEARN offers free and low-barrier pathways to help eligible learners prepare for the USGBC LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) credential. Our programs support adults in San Diego County who want to build careers in energy efficiency, sustainability, green building, and high-performance construction

Whether you’re new to green building concepts or already working in the field, LEED GA certification can help you demonstrate foundational knowledge of sustainable design and position yourself for growing career opportunities in San Diego.

What Is the LEED Green Associate?

(LEED GA)

The LEED Green Associate is an entry-level professional credential offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It verifies your understanding of green building principles, sustainability strategies, and the LEED rating system.

The LEED GA credential is widely recognized across industries including:

  • Construction and building trades

  • Decarbonization & electrification skills

  • Energy efficiency & building performance 

  • Sustainability and green workforce training

  • LEED GA exam prep and green building courses

​

These programs are designed for adults at all experience levels from beginners to those already working in the field.

Why Become LEED Green Associate Certified?

Stand out in a competitive job market. Employers increasingly value sustainability credentials across architecture, engineering, construction, facilities management and design roles. 

​

  • Grow your professional knowledge: LEED GA training expands your familiarity with green building principles and prepares you to support LEED projects teams-- something that is in-demand in San Diego. 

 

  • Opportunity: With growing sustainability initiatives in San Diego and more LEED certified projects in the works, this credential supports career mobility in local and global markets. 

Interested in LEED GA certification but not ready to commit to a formal exam prep program? LEARN offers free training on LEED-aligned sustainability concepts, providing foundational and supplemental learning that closely aligns with the topics covered on the LEED Green Associate exam.  Helping you to build confidence, explore career pathways and decide if LEED certification is the right next step for you. 

What  Do I Need to Know to Pass the LEED GA Certification Exam?
LEED GA Exams cover multiple concepts in the field of sustainability, including:

Building systems thinking and interrelationships between building systems

  • HVAC systems, the building envelope, lighting

  • "Triple Bottom Line" of people, planet, profit.

​

Location & Transportation​

  • Site selection, alternative transit, reducing car dependence.

 

Sustainable Site Selection​

  • Preventing construction pollution, stormwater management and heat island reduction.

​

Water Efficiency

  • Water use reduction, efficient fixtures and irrigation.

​

Energy & Atmosphere

  • Renewable energy, carbon reduction, energy efficiency and building performance.

​

Materials & Resources

  • Sustainable sourcing, materials life cycles, waste management and building reuse, etc.

​

Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), low-emitting materials, thermal comfort, etc. 

​

Project Surroundings & Public Outreach

  • Environmental impact of buildings, relation to codes, the value of green buildings. 

​

Many of the sustainability and building performance courses LEARN offers can provide context to help you prepare for your LEED GA exam. Preparing for the LEED Green Associate exam requires a strong understanding of sustainable building systems, performance strategies, and  environmental impacts. Many learners benefit from building this knowledge before enrolling in a formal LEED GA prep course. 

Why Use LEED-Aligned Courses as Foundational or Supplimental Exam Prep over a Paid & Certified Program?

If you are looking for LEED GA exam prep support, LEED green associate online learning, or an introduction to green building concepts relevant to LEED certification in San Diego, LEARN courses can lay the foundational knowledge and are offered on demand to work with your own schedule. This approach allows youto:

  • ​Explore LEED-related topics without pressure

  • Build foundational knowledge on sustainability systems

  • Strengthen understanding of complex concepts through applied learning

  • Decide if investing in full LEED GA exam prep is the right next step

  • Supplement existing LEED GA exam prep with deeper topic-specific learning.

​

This is especially helpful for career-changers, early-career professionals and anyone new to the green building industry.

What LEED GA Exam Topics are Covered in LEARN Courses?

Our sustainability courses and webinars cover many of the core subject areas tested on the LEED Green Associate exam, including:

​

Building Envelopes & Performance

Understanding how building envelopes influence energy efficiency, comfort, and durability. This ia a critical concept in green building design and LEED projects. 

Indoor Air Quality & Indoor Environmental Quality

Courses exploring ventilation, materials impact, occupant health and strategies to improve indoor air quality. These are key domains to understand for the LEED exam.

Heat Islands & Urban Environmental Impacts

Explore how materials, site design, and landscaping affect heat retention and community health.

Biomimicry & Carbon-Free Homes

Study innovative approaches to sustainable design inspired by nature, carbon reduction strategies amd future-focused housing solutions, including "Tiny Home" design. 

HVAC, Heat Pumps, Building Performance & Systems Thinking

Gain insight into how buildings operate as integrated systems, supporting LEED concepts around performance optimization and long-term sustainability. Heat Pump Water Heaters are a current trend in the area of sustainable systems thinking, and are one of our best covered topic areas. 

Collectively, these courses and others, support LEED GA exam preparation by reinforcing concepts, terminology, and real-world applications. Helping you prepare not just for the exam, but for putting these sustainable building practices into action, supporting a healthier, more sustainable San Diego. 

Flexible LEED-Aligned Online Learning

All courses are available through online, self-paced modules and live webinars, making it easy to fit learning into your schedule. Whether you're exploring sustainability for the first time or strengthening knowledge alongside a formal USGBC LEED GA class, this training supports your learning journey.

For eligible applicants within San Diego, LEED GA exam costs may be covered by LEARN! We aim to reduce financial barriers and make certification more accessible. This allows you to focus on building your knowledge first, then move forward with confidence whenever you're ready to test, and we'll pick up the bill! See if you qualify for certification sponsorship through LEARN. 

Exam Fee Support for Eligible Learners
Who Will Benefit from Taking LEARN Courses?

The training topics in alignment with LEED Green Associate certification are a strong fit for:

​

  • Individuals considering LEED Green Associate certification

  • Career-changers exploring sustainability and green building industries

  • Professionals seeking supplimental LEED GA exam prep

  • Learners wanting foundational knowledge before committing to a formal LEED GA course

  • Those interested in LEED certification in San Diego and regional sustainability initiatives.

Are these training programs really free?

Yes they are! LEARN works in alignment with many industry partners to help increase sustainable building practices and energy efficiency across San Diego country. As part of these efforts we provide FREE training for residents and workers alike to build the skills needed to keep San Diego clean, and reduce the strain on our collective energy grid. Its a win-win all around!​

​​

Where can I get sustainable practices certification in San Diego?

Sustainable practices certification in San Diego is available through professional certification bodies and training organizations. We offer affordable courses that provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and foundational knowledge aligned with many sustainability-related certifications, and for qualifying participants, we may cover certification exam fees upon request (limited availability).​​

Are there low-cost or subsidized options for sustainability certifications?

Yes. Our courses are designed to be affordable and provide required CEUs or foundational training. In some cases, LEARN can offer financial support to help cover certification costs for qualifying participants, based on availability.

You might also be interested in reading articles on current energy industry and workforce trends including many related to the types of courses LEARN offers on our Insights from the News page:

The LEARN Program is funded by California utility customers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission and implemented by RHA (Richard Heath & Associates) Now a part of Resource Innovations, under a contract awarded by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E®). Customers who choose to participate in this program are not obligated to purchase any additional services offered by the contractor. The trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

© Resource Innovations, Inc. © 2026 All rights reserved.

bottom of page