US Green Building Council Exam LEED AP ND Topic 2 Question 5 Discussion

To earn one point under the Innovation Credit: LEED Accredited Professional (AP) in a LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) project, the individual must hold the LEED AP Neighborhood Development (LEED AP ND) credential. This credential signifies that the individual has specialized knowledge in the principles and processes specific to neighborhood development and sustainability, aligning directly with the requirements and intent of LEED ND.

Option A: LEED AP Neighborhood Development is the correct answer because to earn this specific credit in a LEED ND project, the LEED AP must hold the Neighborhood Development (ND) specialty. This ensures that the individual's expertise is aligned with the specific challenges and opportunities in neighborhood development, rather than other building-focused specialties (Reference: LEED v4 ND Reference Guide).

Option B: LEED AP Building Design and Construction would not qualify for this credit in a LEED ND project, as it focuses on the building level rather than neighborhood-scale development.

Option C: Any LEED AP without specialty credential is not sufficient for the Innovation Credit. LEED requires a specialty credential related to the specific project type (in this case, Neighborhood Development).

Option D: LEED AP with any specialty credential is also incorrect because LEED ND specifically requires the Neighborhood Development specialty for this credit, not just any specialty.

Thus, the correct answer is A. LEED AP Neighborhood Development.