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High Demand Prompts Reopening of Beta Testing for ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification

  • 01/11/16

HARTFORD, CT – Beta testing of the globally recognized ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification Program has been reopened due to high demand among sustainability professionals interested in helping to validate the exam and test the processes used to apply for, score and award the ISSP Sustainability Associate (ISSP-SA) and ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional (ISSP-CSP) designations. Concurrently, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) has published the names of the first group of more than 130 sustainability professionals who have successfully qualified for ISSP-SA designation.

One hundred more sustainability professionals now have the chance to be among the first certified sustainability professionals in the world. ISSP has reopened the beta testing period through March 31, 2016. Beta testing of the Certification program is open to ISSP members only. When the ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification program is fully launched later this year, anyone interested in pursuing ISSP-SA or ISSP-CSP designation will be able to apply.

“Clearly there is a lot of interest in Certification for sustainability professionals,” says Maureen Hart, executive director of ISSP. “We have heard from many more ISSP members who would like a chance to participate in the beta testing of the program. So far, we’ve received wonderful feedback from participants on ways to improve the certification testing process. Based on that feedback, we’ve made refinements intended to make the Certification accessible and relevant worldwide, and we now want to test those modifications as well.”

ISSP is following the internationally recognized ISO 17024 standard in development of the Sustainability Professional Certification program. ISO 17024 sets out globally recognized criteria for creating a certification program for individuals. Adhering to the ISO 17024 standard ensures that the ISSP Certification provides a global benchmark for sustainability professionals and industry-recognized credentials that can be carried across national borders.

About ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification
The ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification is recognition of achievement and competency for both new and experienced professionals that goes beyond the completion of coursework (i.e. a “certificate”). Certification requires ongoing maintenance and commitment to professional development and learning, similar to other professional certifications. Here’s a look at the two levels of ISSP Professional Certification.

Sustainability Associate (ISSP-SA): For individuals who are relatively new to the field of sustainability but have sufficient education and training to pass a test on core knowledge and understanding of key sustainability concepts.

Certified Sustainability Professional (ISSP-CSP): A designation for experienced sustainability practitioners who demonstrate a combination of sustainability-related work experience and formal education. Obtaining the ISSP-CSP requires a passing grade on both the ISSP-SA and ISSP-CSP tests.

Both certifications require ongoing maintenance in the form of CEU’s (Continuing Education Credits) that will be verified every three years, and can be achieved through a number of vehicles, as described in the ISSP Sustainability Professional Beta Test Candidate Handbook.

The ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification program is the result of a multi-year, open, transparent development process involving hundreds of sustainability professionals and partner organizations who have contributed to the content and administrative processes of the program. ISSP continues to welcome conversations with members, other sustainability professionals and like-minded organizations who are interested in supporting the Certification effort.

To learn more about and register for ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification, visit http://bit.ly/1I0zVtj.

About ISSP
The International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) is the world’s leading professional association for sustainability professionals. ISSP is a member-driven association committed to moving the profession of sustainability forward by leading the design and delivery of sustainability professional certification, and by building strong networks and communities of practice. Webinars, online courses, a sustainability educational certificate, sustainability professional’s body of knowledge, special reports, resource directories and salary surveys are just a sampling of the rich content offered to members. Formed in 2007, ISSP boasts almost 1000 members from every region of the world.

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