Certificate in ESG Investing
Exam information
To help fit studying into your schedule, the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing uses a self-study model. The certificate is delivered in English, one level, and you have six months to take your exam.
Exam fees
The registration fee for the Certificate in ESG Investing is USD 890.
Fees displayed don't include local taxes. If we need to collect such taxes, they'll be added during the payment process. Please refer to our Tax Policy for more information.
Exam rescheduling fee
A USD 30 rescheduling fee will apply if you wish to reschedule your exam appointment. Please note you cannot reschedule within 72 hours of your exam appointment.
Funding for Hong Kong SAR residents
After successfully completing the Certificate in ESG Investing, eligible Hong Kong SAR residents can apply for a government subsidy of up to 80% of the course fee, or 100% if studying full-time. Learn more about the funding scheme and find out if you’re eligible.
Exam format
The Certificate in ESG Investing exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Here's how your exam appointment time will be allocated during the exam.
Exam page |
Time allocated on screen |
|---|---|
Candidate confirmation details |
3 minutes |
Non-disclosure agreement |
2 minutes |
Introduction and tutorial |
16 minutes |
Exam content |
140 minutes |
Survey introduction |
1 minute |
Survey section |
9 minutes |
Finish |
1 minutes |
When to schedule your exam
Once registered, you'll have five months to schedule your exam and six months to study for and sit your exam. We recommend beginning to study before scheduling. Then, depending on your study pacing, schedule your exam at least one month prior to your desired exam period.
At a minimum, allow two working days after receiving your registration confirmation to schedule your exam.
How to take the ESG certification exam
There are two different ways to take your ESG certification exam.
Online Proctored Testing (OPT)
You may take the test at home if you meet certain strict vendor requirements.
Before registering, please check if the remote examination or a physical test center is available in your area (ProProctor remote proctoring is currently not available in all markets).
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| General testing requirements |
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Proper environment
Equipment & internet capabilities
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| Questions to answer before you register and/or schedule |
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| Questions to answer before test day |
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Test drive the different experiences
If you're wondering which ESG exam experience is right for you, you can take an exam simulation – also known as the test drive experience. This is 30 minutes long and includes 10-12 questions from the ESG mock exam.
The test drive experience costs USD 30. This fee is non-refundable and is paid at the time you schedule your test drive appointment. You will not receive exam results for your test drive appointment.
Getting your results
Your exam results will be provided on-screen at the end of your exam, and a copy will be emailed to you. Exams are graded as either “pass” or “did not pass,” along with detailed performance feedback if you did not pass.
Your results will be available on the Prometric website within 24 hours of exam completion and in your CFA Institute account within 14 days.
Certificate in ESG Investing
- Certificate - 1 exam
- Foundational level
- 100 hours to complete
- Self-paced online learning
- Learning materials included
- 20 PL Credits (2 SER)
Frequently asked questions
After registering, you have six months to study the curriculum and complete the exam. We recommend studying 100+ hours before attempting the exam.
Prior knowledge of the investment process is helpful, but there are no prerequisites. This is a foundational certificate for anyone looking to improve their understanding of ESG issues.
The Certificate in ESG Investing builds foundational knowledge and a broad understanding of the issues across topics including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing Certificate is an advanced certificate for anyone who already has foundational knowledge and skills in financial statement analysis and valuation. It teaches practical application of climate-related factors to conduct analysis, valuation, and portfolio construction.
For more than 75 years, CFA Institute has provided investment practitioners with the knowledge they need to advance their career. Our certificates are renowned globally as the gold standard so you can be confident our curriculum will give you the skills you need to stay ahead.
The Certificate in ESG Investing provides holistic coverage of ESG Investing with a curriculum that is updated every year with the latest research and trends. Plus, with the self-paced format you can study on your own time and schedule the exam at a time that fits your schedule.
Explore Certificate in ESG Investing
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