Since CFA Institute incorporated the Certificate in ESG Investing into our suite of learning products, we have seen tremendous interest and opportunities to refine the learning experience for candidates.  

In the fiscal year ending 31 August 2023, the Certificate in ESG Investing saw over 16,000 registrants—an increase of 18% year-over-year. Eighty-three societies supported these registration efforts with formal marketing campaigns.

As we continue to refine the Certificate in ESG Investing to keep pace with industry demands, we want to share some important announcements about the curriculum and candidate experience.

Curriculum and Exam Updates

The 2024 (v5) Certificate in ESG Investing curriculum will be released on 1 January 2024. The last day a candidate can register for the 2023 (v4) curriculum will be 31 December 2023.

The new curriculum will include refreshed content, new case studies, and additional practice questions. You can find a comprehensive view of what is changing—including a list of enhancements, new content, and removed content—in our guide here.

Beginning with the 2024 (v5) curriculum, candidates will be tested on the curriculum they register for—regardless of when they register. We will no longer require a testing freeze in January to transition the exam to the new curriculum. For example,

• If a candidate registers on 22 December 2023, they will be tested on the 2023 (v4) curriculum.
• If a candidate registers on 5 January 2024, they will be tested on the 2024 (v5) curriculum.

Candidates will still have 6 months post registration to sit their exams. Accordingly, the last possible date for sitting the 2023 (v4) exam will be 30 June 2024.

Additional Mock Exam

Starting with the 2024 (v5) curriculum, we will provide an additional mock exam, making two total mock exams available for candidates to practice and achieve success.

Program Cost 

The 2024 Certificate in ESG Investing will be priced for USD 865 and a retake of the exam will cost candidates USD 690, an increase from USD 795 and USD 595, respectively.

This price change was based on an annual pricing review that included desk-based market research, a competitive landscape analysis, and candidate and certificate holder surveys. Combined with new features available to candidates beginning with registration on 1 January (new curriculum version, additional practice questions with explanatory answers, and a second mock exam), the review supported a revised price for the certificate.

Please direct candidates who have questions about these developments to our Global Contact Center.

Society Promotion

Our Product Marketing team is creating a new society toolkit that will reflect the refreshed CFA Institute branding. We look forward to sharing the toolkit in the coming weeks.