Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) Specialization

4.8 (6,304 Ratings)

Become an Environmental, Social, & Governance specialist with valuable skills in investing, financial and corporate strategy, and more, and earn an in-demand ESG certification program upon completion.

Skills You’ll Gain:

ESG Concepts, ESG Risks, ESG Opportunities, ESG Analysis, ESG & Business Intelligence and more

Great For:

Asset Management, Management Consulting, Business Analyst, Credit Analyst, Corporate Development, Senior Leadership and more

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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

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Manage learning, create custom paths & measure progress
For teams of 2 or more learners

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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 (843 Ratings)

50min

ESG Fundamentals

4.8 (70 Ratings)

1h 51min

ESG Disclosure

4.9 (41 Ratings)

50min

ESG Integration & Financial Analysis

4.9 (53 Ratings)

3h 15min

Greenhouse Gas Accounting

4.9 (47 Ratings)

1h 10min

Human Capital Management

4.9 (29 Ratings)

1h 3min

Professional Ethics

4.9 (5,048 Ratings)

50min

Corporate Governance

5 (49 Ratings)

1h 41min

Carbon Market Fundamentals

5 (23 Ratings)

1h 13min

Introduction to Climate Risk Management

4.8 (38 Ratings)

1h 23min

ESG Risk Management

4.8 (10 Ratings)

1h 19min

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Step 2.

Practice Labs

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.

Skills & Learning Objectives in ESG

25%

ESG - The Big Picture

25%

ESG Analysis

17%

ESG Integration

17%

ESG Investing

16%

ESG & Business Intelligence

1.

25%

ESG - The Big Picture
2.

25%

ESG Analysis
3.

17%

ESG Integration
4.

17%

ESG Investing
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

ESG Integration

ESG Investing

ESG & Business Intelligence

Taught by Industry Experts

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Displaying the varying investment strategies a ESG-observant business may pursue, along with the relative factors taken into consideration for each strategy, enabled me to understand a business’ general stance on an ESG-related concept, such as greenhouse gas emissions. The bonus content pertaining to the use of data tables to automatically generate status quo figures was an enlightening trick, even for a frequent Excel user.

Jude Baguio

The Course was very educating, precise and informative. The diagrams helped a lot in understanding the terms and concept being explained.

Juliet Nwosu

Very practical and presents the most update-to-date practice and standards in ESG disclosure over the world.

Liwei Ma

My employer had asked me to look into it to prepare an ESG initiative for our company. I was so relieved to see that CFI offered an ESG course. I was super thrilled to learn so many new skill sets and topic areas.

Olga Abinader

Great illustration of the potential for ESG to impact a business. Incorporating a holistic view to complement the initiatives proposed and sensible assumptions with a high degree of prudence as to the positive ESG impact on WACC and employee and customer behaviour.

Steve Nevin

The course really helped me in understanding the various ESG factors that may affect the decisions and have an impact on its stakeholders.

Veral Bajaj

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.

Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) Specialization

ESG Specialization Overview

Program Overview

Earning Your ESG Certification

11 Required Courses

Introduction to ESG

ESG Fundamentals

ESG Disclosure

ESG Integration & Financial Analysis

Greenhouse Gas Accounting

Human Capital Management

Professional Ethics

Corporate Governance

Carbon Market Fundamentals

Introduction to Climate Risk Management

ESG Risk Management

Practice Labs

Conducting a Materiality Assessment

Developing ESG Policies

Developing an ESG Governance Structure

Why Get ESG Certified?

Skills & Learning Objectives in ESG

ESG - The Big Picture

ESG Analysis

ESG Integration

ESG Investing

ESG & Business Intelligence

Taught by Industry Experts

Noah Miller

Kyle Peterdy

Lisa Dorian

Derek Young

Careers in ESG

Asset Management

Management Consulting

Business Analyst

Credit Analyst

Corporate Development

Senior Leadership

Research

Our Learners Work At:

What Our Students Say

Akshay Sanwal

Brittian Foster

Chaitanya Korra

Johnny Marudu

Jude Baguio

Juliet Nwosu

Liwei Ma

Olga Abinader

Steve Nevin

Veral Bajaj

Frequently Asked Questions