The CFA Institute has taken its ESG certificate global in order to meet “increased demand” in ESG investing.
The Certificate in ESG Investing was developed by the CFA Society of the United Kingdom and is recognised by the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. Since launching in September 2019 the CFA said it has had 5,000 registrations.
Successful candidates are awarded the CFA UK Level 4 Certificate in ESG Investing, and from September 2021 the CFA Institute will award the Certificate, opening it up to financial hubs globally.
A CFA Institute survey found 76% of institutional investors and 69% of retail investors were interested in ESG.
Margaret Franklin (pictured), president and CEO of CFA Institute, said: “We are seeing a real acceleration of interest in ESG investing – a major development that will shape the future of finance – while increased demand from clients and investment management firms has fuelled the need for education.
“This Certificate is the first of its kind to be made available globally, and will equip practitioners with foundational knowledge and competencies, enabling them to better serve the needs of their clients and contribute to building trust within the industry.”
The CFA said the Certificate 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 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.
Candidates have one year to sit the exam after registration, and there are no formal entry requirements. The course costs around $665 and candidates can claim 20 CE credits when they pass the exam.
