CSP | Certified Sustainability Practitioner
Certified Sustainability Professional™ (CSP) Certification
The Certified Sustainability Professional™ (CSP) is a globally recognized certification that validates an individual’s competence in sustainability leadership, strategy, and implementation. This certification demonstrates the ability to integrate sustainability into business operations, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive long-term organizational value.
Assessment Based on Practical Application
Each of the 38 Performance Elements requires candidates to apply knowledge in a professional context, ensuring that CSP-certified professionals are capable of leading sustainability initiatives, integrating sustainability into project governance, and making data-driven decisions that align with sustainable development goals.
The assessment methodology is grounded in performance-based evaluation, requiring candidates to demonstrate capability rather than simply recalling information. This ensures that certification holders can:
Apply sustainability principles in real-world scenarios
Integrate sustainability considerations into organizational governance and project management
Measure and report on sustainability performance using recognized impact assessment methodologies
A Certification That Ensures Practical Competence
Many sustainability certifications provide only a conceptual understanding of sustainability frameworks. The CSP is unique in that it certifies actual ability to perform. Holders of this credential have been evaluated against an internationally recognized standard and have demonstrated that they meet the full set of competence requirements necessary to drive sustainability in organizations and projects.
By earning the CSP, professionals signal to employers, clients, and stakeholders that they possess validated expertise in sustainability leadership, strategy, and implementation—measured against the industry’s most rigorous standard.
Skills / Knowledge
- Ethical Leadership
- Living Systems Stewardship
- Assessing and Responding to Sustainability Impacts
- Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement
- Sustainable Procurement
- Change Management and Resilience
- Talent Acquisition, Retention, and Empowerment
Earning Criteria
Required
Certified Sustainability Professionals are committed to advancing sustainable practices and advocating for sustainability principles. This individual works collaboratively with others to design and implement solutions that foster long-term sustainability and resilience. They take action to integrate sustainability into decision-making processes, value chains, and day-to-day operations.
They have been submitted evidence for 7 Competence Units (CU) and Performance Criteria (PE) from the GPM Sustainability Competence Standard and have been formally assessed by an assessor.
The CSP™ certification process is designed in alignment with the principles of ISO/IEC 17024, the international standard for personnel certification. This ensures a rigorous, competency-based assessment that verifies candidates have demonstrated the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to apply sustainability principles effectively in professional practice.