Frequently Asked Questions

The GRI Professional Certification Program is a sustainability curriculum that delivers globally applicable professional development on the GRI Standards and offers professionals an opportunity for continuous learning and upskilling. The program has two flexible learning routes to choose from - online self-paced (Route A) hosted on the GRI Academy [GRI Academy;https://griacademy.globalreporting.org/learn/signin] or blended (Route B), delivered together with GRI’s network of Certified Training Partners [Certified Training Partners;https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting-support/gri-academy/certified-training-partners/].

This program was developed in response to a market need, and the continuous calls by sustainability professionals for GRI to develop a certification program. Through this program, professionals will be able to enhance their knowledge, expertise, and skills on sustainability practices, particularly in implementing the GRI Standards, with the overall aim to improve the quality of sustainability disclosures and reporting. For a full list of courses offered by the GRI Academy, please see our complete training curriculum [training curriculum;https://www.globalreporting.org/media/xyvb5vrn/gri-academy-curriculum.pdf].

• Improve skills of sustainability professionals: and subsequently the quality of sustainability disclosures and reporting
• Provide acknowledgement: way for sustainability professionals to demonstrate knowledge, capability, and competence
• Create credibility and marketability: it is a form of quality assurance for sustainability professionals, improving their marketability
• Maintain and upskill knowledge: continuing education will keep sustainability professionals up to date

The program is comprised of four courses (see below) that cover the fundamentals of GRI reporting and the certification exam. On the GRI Academy courses page you can find more information about each course, the content and the learning objectives:

1. Introduction to sustainability reporting and the GRI Standards


2. Reporting with GRI Standards


3. Reporting on Human Rights with GRI Standards


4. Integrating the SDGs into sustainability reporting

If you are not certified yet, you can become certified by completing the full Certification Program via Route A or Route B and passing the Certification exam.

The reason for having different learning channels (online – Route A - and face to face – Route B) is to cater to the needs of different types of learners and have a global reach at the same time.

GRI’s Certified Training Course is a customized training in a peer-to-peer learning environment offering networking opportunities and locally tailored content delivered by 91 training partners [training partners;https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting-support/gri-academy/certified-training-partners/] across 48 countries offer.

If you opt for Route B, the GRI Standards Certified Training course, held by our Certified Training Partners, is equivalent to the first two courses

1) “Introduction to sustainability reporting and the GRI Standards”
2) “Reporting with GRI Standards Update”.

In cases where CTPs also license the two additional courses –

3) “Reporting on Human Rights with GRI Standards”
4) “Integrating the SDGs into sustainability reporting”,

these courses can also be taken through a CTP. Otherwise, these courses can be completed directly on the GRI Academy.

There is a lot of added value to attending a course through a Certified Training Partner including:

• Local context: The material from Training Partners is certified and includes local cases and examples tailored to the region where the course is being offered. Often, it is also offered in the local language.
• Peer to peer learning: CTPs provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, which is invaluable.
• Networking opportunities: Through the set-up of face-to-face or remote training sessions, the participants get networking opportunities through the CTP courses.
• Practical learning: The GRI online courses cover the essentials of reporting, but without the learner practicing the presented concepts, whereas the CTP courses provide practical exercises and case studies.
• Access to a trainer: The participants get access to the trainer (an experienced sustainability professional) throughout the CTP courses.

If a participant previously completed the required CEUs in an effort to recertify, any
additional CEU credits will roll over into the new certification period

We will only recognize CEU credits towards the extension of you certification if they were obtained after the date you received your certification.

Besides sustainability reporting professionals (within companies) and consultants, this program is also very useful for anyone who works with sustainability reporting, such as Chief Sustainability Officers and assurers.

No, for the moment there is no such requirement.