How do I become ESG certified?

How do I become ESG certified? The definitive guide to getting the right qualification in a critical boardroom area of expertise. 

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has become one of the most discussed topics in boardrooms in the last two decades. The 2020s have undoubtedly brought more pushback from fiscal conservatives, but the amount of money and attention invested over the years means the topic isn't going to die away any time soon. 

It continues to be true that boards without ESG expertise risk falling behind. For directors and executives, demonstrating clear competence through professional training is one of the strongest signals you can send to stakeholders. 

Becoming ESG certified not only strengthens your decision-making capacity, but it also proves that you can navigate the scrutiny and complexity of modern corporate leadership.

The Corporate Governance Institute offers a dedicated, globally recognised qualification for you to become a Certified ESG Professional. The course is designed to equip current and aspiring board members with the practical skills to lead responsibly in this space. The programme covers the critical areas you'll need to master:

• Foundations of ESG – Understand what ESG really means, how it has evolved and, crucially, why it matters to boards specifically. 
• Regulation and reporting – Gain essential clarity on reporting frameworks like CSRD, ESRS, and ISSB, and learn how to ensure your organisation remains compliant. ESG is all about reporting, without which you cannot hope to show progress, and standards are getting higher, especially in Europe. That's why dedicated know-how is more important than ever. 
• Sustainability strategy – Develop the ability to align ESG commitments with long-term corporate strategy. This helps you avoid criticism for things like greenwashing, green "hushing" or focusing too much on sustainability in the present without promising long-term growth. 
• Risk and opportunity management – Learn how ESG is not only about risk mitigation but also about unlocking new sources of growth and investment.
• Board responsibilities and oversight – Explore how directors should exercise their fiduciary duties in an ESG context, ensuring robust governance.

It's always worth knowing the lay of the land before you dive in: As of 2025, the media tends to portray ESG as being at a crossroads. 

For the past two decades, ESG principles steadily grew in influence, reshaping corporate behaviour and attracting trillions in investment. More recently, however, ESG has become a lightning rod for political debate—particularly in the US, where some conservative politicians frame it as "woke capitalism" and take enough legal action against it to make people scared of even mentioning it. 

What we've seen on the ground is that this is just media noise, and the numbers simply don't back it up. 

ESG remains enormous in terms of the assets it commands (estimated to be just under $34 trillion by 2026), and ESG-labelled funds and strategies continue to increase in value despite some brief contractions. 

Legally, while the US remains polarised, other jurisdictions like the EU are ramping up their reporting requirements enough to make companies realise they urgently need more expertise. 

These requirements will take time to settle in and will inevitably change as different industries offer feedback, but the fundamental principle remains that stakeholders remain committed to ESG principles. Even if the term were outlawed worldwide tomorrow, the underlying goals would persist.

ESG is evolving. But for boards, the ability to demonstrate serious competence in sustainability, governance, and social responsibility is the true marker during this evolution. 

Becoming ESG certified through the Corporate Governance Institute equips leaders with the knowledge, frameworks, and confidence to not only respond to scrutiny but to actively shape the future of sustainable governance. In a world where accountability is currency, ESG training is your most substantial investment in leadership readiness.