CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, announces today that it will market the Certificate in ESG Investing, created by CFA Society of the United Kingdom[1], in financial hubs across the globe. The education program represents a new global qualification for ESG in investment management; it aims to strengthen market integrity by delivering the benchmark knowledge and skills required by investment professionals to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process.
The Certificate in ESG Investing is designed to meet the needs of practitioners in investment roles who want to learn how to analyse and integrate material ESG factors into their daily investment analysis practice. It is also suitable for anyone looking to improve their understanding of ESG issues in functions such as sales and distribution, wealth management, product development, financial advice, consulting and risk.
The Certificate is a self-study course requiring approximately 130 hours of study, culminating in a two-hour, 20-minute computer-based exam comprising 100 questions at a proctored testing centre or via online proctored testing, where available and/or permissible by local regulation. Candidates have one year to sit the exam after registration, and there are no formal entry requirements. On successful completion of the exam, candidates will be awarded a certificate. The cost, which covers the exam and online learning, is £485 and candidates can claim 20 CE credits upon passing the exam.
The Certificate in ESG Investing was developed by CFA Society of the United Kingdom in conjunction with leading firms and is recognized by the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). Since its launch in September 2019, industry enthusiasm for the Certificate has been confirmed through its initial success within the UK and other Western European markets[2], where there have been a combined 5,000 registrations.
Says Will Goodhart, chief executive at CFA UK: ‘CFA Institute’s adoption of the Certificate in ESG Investing is a clear sign of the organisation’s commitment to sustainable investment, but it is also a testament to the success of the certificate and the global demand for access to skills and knowledge related to ESG integration. All of those that have done such a lot of work over the past three years to make the certificate the success it is today should feel really proud of their achievements to date. We all now look forward to seeing the certificate become the global standard for ESG education over the coming years.’
For further information contact pr@cfainstitute.org
[1] The Certificate in ESG Investing is developed, administered and awarded by CFA Society of the United Kingdom and successful candidates will receive the CFA UK Level 4 Certificate in ESG Investing; from September 2021 onwards, CFA Institute will award the Certificate.
[2] Switzerland, France, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.