For Individuals
For Teams
  • ESG program: 14 total courses, 11 required to earn ESG certificate
  • Self-paced & 100% online
  • Get full ESG program, community, & more with a CFI membership
  • Get this program and CFI's full training catalog for your organization
  • Manage learning, create custom paths & measure progress
  • For teams of 2 or more learners

ESG Specialization Overview

CFI’s Environmental, Social, & Governance specialization teaches the essential skills required to be successful in today’s rapidly changing financial landscape.

The nature of risks and opportunities facing the business community has evolved, and operators and capital allocators alike must better understand the implications. The ESG program includes a unique combination of theory and application, delivered in a condensed, self-paced curriculum that will better prepare you for today’s corporate pressures and stakeholder expectations.

Whether you’re a research analyst, investment professional, operator, business student, or board director, holding an ESG designation will broaden your horizons and provide actionable implementation strategies for you and your firm. Learn about sustainable investing and sustainable practices and become a certified ESG specialist.

Program Overview

14 courses

11 required courses and 3 practice labs

30–35 Hours

Average completion time

Receive a Certificate

To verify your skills

500,000+ 5-star ratings

Best-in-class training, as rated by you

Earning Your ESG Certification

CFI’s curriculum includes 14 courses covering finance, reporting, investing, and business strategy. This is an ideal ESG certification for individuals looking to gain practical, real-world skills that will translate to roles at top global institutions.

Step 1.

11 Required Courses

Introduction to ESG
4.8 (842 Ratings)
50min
50min
ESG Fundamentals
4.8 (70 Ratings)
1h 51min
1h 51min
ESG Disclosure
4.9 (41 Ratings)
50min
50min
ESG Integration & Financial Analysis
4.9 (52 Ratings)
3h 15min
3h 15min
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
4.9 (47 Ratings)
1h 10min
1h 10min
Human Capital Management
4.9 (29 Ratings)
1h 3min
1h 3min
Professional Ethics
4.9 (5,042 Ratings)
50min
50min
Corporate Governance
5 (49 Ratings)
1h 41min
1h 41min
Carbon Market Fundamentals
5 (23 Ratings)
1h 13min
1h 13min
Introduction to Climate Risk Management
4.8 (38 Ratings)
1h 23min
1h 23min
ESG Risk Management
4.8 (9 Ratings)
1h 19min
1h 19min
Hide All Courses
Step 2.

Practice Labs

Conducting a Materiality Assessment
4.7 (25 Ratings)
26min
26min
Developing ESG Policies
4.9 (14 Ratings)
27min
27min
Developing an ESG Governance Structure
4.8 (6 Ratings)
17min
17min
See All Practice Labs

Why Get ESG Certified?

Specialization certificates allow narrow and deep focus on a targeted subject area, with particular attention to specific analysis techniques and actionable skills.

They are designed to deepen your industry acumen and to prepare you for faster professional growth within your sector.

ESG certification

Skills & Learning Objectives in ESG

1
25%
ESG - The Big Picture
2
25%
ESG Analysis
3
17%
ESG Integration
4
17%
ESG Investing
5
16%
ESG & Business Intelligence
1
2
3
4
5
  1. 1.
    25%
    ESG - The Big Picture
  2. 2.
    25%
    ESG Analysis
  3. 3.
    17%
    ESG Integration
  4. 4.
    17%
    ESG Investing
  5. 5.
    16%
    ESG & Business Intelligence

ESG - The Big Picture

  • Describe key ESG concepts like materiality, physical climate risks, human capital management, and governance issues
  • Analyze ESG risks and opportunities for an organization or an industry
  • Differentiate between good ESG disclosure and Greenwashing, and connect ESG efforts to competitive advantages

ESG Analysis

  • Build an ESG scorecard to measure company performance over time and to benchmark against peers
  • Calculate a company’s scope 1 & 2 emissions in order to understand and implement greenhouse gas accounting best practices
  • Explain carbon taxation and calculate the weighted average carbon intensity of an investment portfolio

ESG Integration

  • Explain the differences between ESG integration and ESG investing
  • Incorporate ESG factors into a financial model
  • Calculate an adjusted enterprise value based on ESG integration techniques

ESG Investing

  • Define different types of ESG investing
  • Identify and act upon ESG trends in the capital markets

ESG & Business Intelligence

  • Identify key data sources for ESG information
  • Translate ESG information into business intelligence
  • Create dashboards and present ESG metrics for multiple stakeholders

Taught by Industry Experts

Noah Miller

Noah Miller

Noah Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Advisory Officer at Rho Impact, a North-American Based ESG advisory and software company. He has been CFI's ESG subject matter expert since 2020. Noah has held a variety of roles in the ESG space, ranging from consulting practice leader to fractional director for multiple public and private companies to a board advisor.
Kyle Peterdy

Kyle Peterdy

Kyle is VP, Commercial Banking & Credit with CFI. Kyle’s background is in commercial lending, including real estate transactions and construction project financing, where he spent significant time assessing physical environmental risks.
Lisa Dorian

Lisa Dorian

Lisa Dorian is Co-Founder, and formerly Chief Risk Officer and Managing Director, of CFI. As a finance executive, she gained extensive experience in governance, risk, and compliance, as well as business process and strategy.

Derek Young

Derek is a Managing Director and leads the ESG Consulting Services Practice for Summit Strategy Group. Derek has over 20 years of consulting experience in ESG, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility across both the for-profit and nonprofit sector, as well as multiple public policy roles.

Careers in ESG

Over 85% of executives, supervisors, and HR professionals agree that certified individuals bring value, gain credibility, and are seen as top performers.
* Source

  • Asset Management

    Asset Management

    Enhance your ability to navigate the ESG landscape in professional investment or portfolio management for institutional clients.
  • Management Consulting

    Management Consulting

    Support clients, including private companies, public issuers, and the investment community, in implementing effective, comprehensive ESG strategies
  • Business Analyst

    Business Analyst

    Distill complicated concepts and data to help management teams drive better performance and manage risk more effectively
  • Credit Analyst

    Credit Analyst

    Incorporate ESG considerations and analysis techniques into your assessment of a borrower’s creditworthiness
  • Corporate Development

    Corporate Development

    Make more informed and nuanced decisions around organic and inorganic growth opportunities
  • Senior Leadership

    Senior Leadership

    Make more informed strategic decisions by understanding how ESG issues create material risks and opportunities for your business
  • Research

    Research

    Conduct more comprehensive, ESG-integrated analysis to inform buy, hold, or sell recommendations

Our Learners Work At:

What Our Students Say

Over 75% of CFI learners report improved productivity or competency within weeks.

This particular course is very engaging and clear even for me, who have very little knowledge of finance.

Akshay Sanwal

The introductory course was very concise, detailed, and informative with relevant real world examples which significantly helped apply the concepts in assessing my own business’ footprint.

Brittian Foster

ESG specialization is highly required skills and glad CFI is solving that issue.

Chaitanya Korra

CFI’s ESG programme is a very useful tool towards mitigating contemporary challenges facing the business world.

Johnny Marudu

Frequently Asked Questions

If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.

What is Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) Specialization and who is it designed for?
The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Specialization is CFI’s program for professionals seeking expertise in sustainability and responsible investing. It is ideal for analysts, consultants, and managers who want to integrate ESG factors into financial analysis, corporate strategy, or investment decision-making.
What are the admission requirements for the ESG Specialization?
There are no formal prerequisites to begin the program. The courses start with ESG fundamentals and progress to advanced applications, making them accessible to beginners while still valuable for experienced professionals. All you need is a computer with Excel (2016 or newer) and a reliable internet connection.
How long does it take to complete the ESG Specialization, and how flexible is the program?
Most learners finish the ESG program in 30-35 hours, though the program is completely self-paced. You can study at your own speed, revisit materials anytime, and access future course updates as long as your subscription is active.
Is the ESG Specialization recognized worldwide by employers?
Yes. CFI certifications are trusted by over 2 million professionals and thousands of organizations worldwide. Adding an ESG credential signals to employers that you have job-ready sustainability skills valued across finance, consulting, and corporate roles.
What career opportunities can the ESG Specialization help me pursue?
The ESG certification prepares you for roles like ESG analyst, sustainability consultant, corporate social responsibility manager, risk manager, or investment analyst. These are fast-growing career paths as organizations increasingly prioritize sustainable and responsible business practices.
How does CFI ensure the ESG training is practical and job-ready?
The curriculum is designed by industry experts and includes real-world case studies, Excel exercises, and scenario-based ESG analysis. You’ll graduate with desk-ready tools and templates that you can apply immediately in your role.
How are ESG exams conducted, and how do I earn my certificate?
Each course includes an online exam with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and Excel-based questions. You’ll need to score at least 80% to pass, and exams can be retaken as many times as needed during your subscription. Once you complete all required courses, your digital ESG certificate will be issued instantly.
Are CFI courses accredited?
Yes. CFI is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and recognized by global professional bodies for continuing education, including NASBA and CPA institutions. Completing the ESG certification may also count toward your CPE or CPD requirements. You can find more information here.
How much does the ESG Specialization cost, and what’s included with my subscription?
The ESG Specialization is included in CFI’s annual subscription plans, which provides unlimited access to the full course library. Your subscription covers all lessons, downloadable templates, interactive exercises, exams, and certificates, with no additional fees, during your subscription.
What kind of learner support and career resources does CFI provide during the program?
You’ll have access to technical and learning support, plus CFI’s global community of professionals. Learners on the Full Immersion plan also receive premium learning resources like one-on-one email support and instant help with AI Tutor.

If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.

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