Emphasis on health and wellness is growing by leaps and bounds in every sector today, including building and architecture. Healthy interiors and wellbeing are the trending buzzwords of sustainable design.

This is why GBCI developed the WELL AP credential in collaboration with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment.

The WELL Building Standard is all about monitoring the impact of the built environment on human health and wellness. It should be noted that WELL and LEED complement each other, or one can say that WELL takes off where LEED signs off. While LEED is more about becoming energy/resource efficient and saving on utility bills, WELL motivates you to want to better your surroundings to live a healthier lifestyle.

Now the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) credential signifies knowledge in human health and wellness in the built environment. Once you have decided to become a WELL AP, the first step would be to sign-up for a FREE WELL online account @ wellonline.wellcertified.com.

Then, register yourself for the WELL AP exam. Click “Become a WELL AP” at the top of the page, then, scroll down and select what country you are in, and finally click “Register Now” button. You will pay and register for your exam, then, you will receive a code that you enter into www.prometric.com and pick your day and time through their website.

Prometric has testing centers in almost all major cities; so, you should be able to find one nearby.

Next comes scheduling the exam. You have 365 days or up to 1 year from the exam purchase date to schedule the exam. If you find that you need more time, you may request a single 6 month extension. Exam extensions cannot be provided after the 365 day exam eligibility period has expired.

Now let’s move on to the next and the most crucial step – WELL AP exam preparation.

WELL AP exam preparation guide:

We agree that the WELL AP exam is not exactly an easy one. After all, it was developed using GBCI’s rigorous test development best practices, and is based on the expertise of leading building industry practitioners, academic researchers and physicians in the field of design, health and wellness in the built environment.

But no need to worry! We, at GBRI, are committed to making this seemingly difficult task as easy as possible for you!

In fact, we are so confident that you will pass your WELL AP exam that we’re backing it up with a money back guarantee! Receive a full refund on your exam prep if you do not pass your exam.*

Let GBRI help you take your career to the next level with your satisfaction guaranteed. With GBRI’s study materials, earn your WELL AP in as little as 5 weeks. Based on your schedule and preferences, attend live exam prep sessions online OR utilize self-paced online on-demand exam prep modules for your convenience.

So basically, GBRI WELL AP Exam Prep Package offers everything you need to pass the exam! It includes:

On-demand Audio/Video Modules for each Knowledge Domain/WELL Concept

Standalone Study Guide

Practice Quizzes for each Knowledge Domain/WELL Concept

Five (5) Mock Exams

Memorization Tools (FREE)!

*Some conditions do apply. Registrant must complete entire exam preparation package and recommended roadmap as well as successfully pass all mock exams prior to taking the WELL AP exam. Should all measures be taken as advised and the registrant not pass the exam, GBRI will refund charges for the exam preparation package purchased. Please note that documentation of exam date and score are required.

WELL AP Study Guide:

It should be noted that GBRI’s Study Guide and On-demand Modules are both stand-alone exam prep resources. Depending on your preference or learning style, you may choose one over the other.

You don’t need both the study guide and on-demand modules; however, if you prefer, you may use the study guide to complement the on-demand modules.

For example, you could start with the on-demand modules and use the guide to review what you learned or vice versa. While reviewing, pay close attention to underlined text in your study guide.

Take the practice exams after completing each module/knowledge domain/concept and review answer choices to identify topics that may need additional attention. Remember practice tests are the most helpful study tool and our customers rave about how helpful they are.

Also, note that the knowledge domains or concepts are the most important to study for the test. Understanding how many questions you can expect from each knowledge domain or concept will help identify how each section is weighed.

This is noted in the beginning of each knowledge domain or concept. At a minimum, identify, understand and learn the context of each feature, requirement and path involved. Pay close attention to texts that are highlighted, italicized, and underlined.

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WELL AP Mock Exams

Before taking the mock exams, we recommend completing the individual concept quizzes after completion of each concept. Once you are done studying the guide take each of the timed mock exams.

Once done, review all answer choices. Use the review process to strengthen what you already know and to fill your gaps. Retake the mock exams. We recommend scoring more than 90% before moving on to the next mock exam.

WELL AP Study Plan – Memorizing made easy by GBRI!

We have identified and listed several memorization techniques within the guide such as Mnemonics (using the first letter of each word to create an easily remembered phrase or word).

Choose the ones that work for you or use them to improvise your own techniques that suit you as each of us have a different way of learning and recalling information.

According to Edward Bolled – “We remember what we understand; we understand only what we pay attention to; we pay attention to what we want.”

Some of us identify and attach information to numbers while some identify them to sound, music and words. Studies have shown that revision is the key to long term memorization.

Add notes or annotate while you read the guide for the first time. Review a concept after you read it once, pay attention to underlined text and your notes. Review it again before going to bed, and again the next day while trying to recall requirements for each WELL feature.

Take the practice quizzes. Review your answers and revise the guide as needed. You should review the guide again after 1 day, 3 days and 1 week. Each time you review, you don’t have to read the whole concept, just focus on key items or underlined texts. You should be able to recall the information needed to pass the test.

Also, please note that you are not required to memorize every single threshold, number and reference standard. However, certain concepts carry more weightage than others. We have identified important ones by highlighting, italicizing or underlining the texts. Please memorize those.

For example, when studying the different preconditions and optimizations, pay more attention to the types of metals, pollutants, etc., and not so much to the numbers of metals, pollutants, contaminates, and so forth. It is better to know that you test water for Lead, Arsenic, Antimony, Mercury, Nickel, and Copper than it is to know you can only have .01 mg/L of Lead, .01mg/L of Arsenic, etc.

How much does the GBRI WELL Exam Prep cost?

Depending on your preference, GBRI has several options available:

All inclusive WELL AP Package (This includes everything) – $149 WELL AP Study Guide , Quizzes and Mock Exams (Everything minus On-Demand Modules) – $99 WELL AP On-demand modules, Quizzes and Mock Exams (Everything minus Study Guide) – $99 Quizzes and Mock Exams (Everything minus Study Guide & On-Demand Modules) – $69

Exam Eligibility Requirement:

GBCI recommends that candidates taking the WELL AP have exposure to concepts around health and wellness in the built environment through educational courses, volunteering or work experience prior to testing.

However, unlike the LEED AP (with specialty) exams, there is no prerequisite credential you have to earn to take the WELL AP exam.

Candidates must be 18 years old.

How much does the WELL AP Exam cost?

LEED AP exam prices vary based on what country you are in. If you are in the United States of America, the exam is $660 unless you are an Affiliate or Student.

Affiliates (USGBC or ASID members, LEED APs, and LEED Green Associates ) test for $465, and Students test for only $250.

Exam Format:

The WELL AP exam assesses candidates’ abilities at three cognitive levels: Recall, Application and Analysis.

Recall Questions: These questions assess a candidate’s ability to recall factual material that is presented in a similar context to the exam references.

Application Questions: These questions provide the candidate with a novel problem or scenario that the candidate can solve using familiar principles or procedures described in the exam references.

Analysis Questions: These questions assess a candidate’s ability to break the problem down into its components to create a solution.

The exam contains 100 randomly delivered multiple choice questions and must be completed in 2 hours. The exam has both scored and unscored questions.

All questions are delivered randomly throughout the exam and candidates are not informed of a question’s status, so candidates should respond to all the questions on the exam. Unscored questions are used to gather performance data to inform whether the item should be scored on future exams.

The exam is computer-based. Exam question and answer options are displayed on screen. The computer records your responses and times your exam. You are able to change your answers, skip questions and flag questions for later review. During the exam, candidates may submit comments on any question(s) they believe to contain technical errors in content by using the comment button located in the navigation bar.

Be prepared to commit 2 hours 20 minutes for the exam. Total exam time is broken out as follows:

An optional 10 minute tutorial,

2 hour exam, and

An optional 10 minute exit survey

Be aware that if a candidate exits the exam session before completing the exam, the exam cannot be restarted and the exam session and fee are forfeited.

Once you’ve taken the exam…

The WELL AP exam is scored between 125 and 200. A score of 170 or higher is required to pass.

You will receive your WELL AP exam score immediately following the exam. Your exam score will be displayed on the screen at the end of the exam and Prometric will email your score report to you within 24 hours. Your WELL Online credentials account will be updated within 72 hours of your appointment.

Login to download a PDF of your WELL AP certificate.