The Environmental Professional in GHG Management, or EP®(GHG), is a rigorous global professional credential for individuals working in greenhouse gas management, covering GHG emissions accounting, reporting, analysis, verification, and related functions. The certification is designed for professionals in GHG management across sectors, including corporate sustainability teams, consultants, government regulators and policy makers, NGOs, and verification bodies. Both emerging and established professionals are welcome.

The EP®(GHG) credential is globally recognized across industries and regions. Building on the established EP Designation, the EP®(GHG) is designed for international applicability, ensuring consistent standards and relevance for professionals. The credential is aligned with ISO 17024 for personnel certification.

The EP®(GHG) applies across a wide range of greenhouse gas-related roles and project types, rather than being limited to specific sectors. Applicants select a specialization that best reflects their current or desired role within the GHG profession. Specializations* include:

• GHG Inventory Accounting and Reporting
• GHG Project/Intervention Development, Accounting, and Reporting
• GHG Validation, Verification, and Auditing
• GHG Mitigation
• GHG Data and Methods
• Climate Standards, Policy, and Regulations
• Climate Strategy
• Climate Finance
• GHG Capacity Builder

*All of the specializations above may not be available at this time. Download the Specialization Guide and consult the program website for a list of currently available specializations. All specializations receive the same credential: EP® (GHG) or EPt (GHG).

The EP®(GHG) is a professional certification in GHG management for professionals with at least three (3) years of relevant experience in GHG-related roles. Candidates must demonstrate competencies through documented work logs.

EPt(GHG) supports emerging GHG professionals by formally recognizing foundational knowledge and early-stage experience. Designed for transitioning workers, newcomers to the field, and recent graduates with less than three (3) years of GHG experience, the designation signals commitment to professional standards, ethical practice, and continued competency development while working toward full EP®(GHG) certification.

The EP® (GHG) Certification launched in March 2026 and is now accepting applications across all specializations. At the moment, the exam portion is only available for the ​​GHG Inventory Accounting and Reporting specialization. Other specialization exams will become available throughout 2026, though applicants can begin the process before those specializations launch.

Before applying, all potential applicants should:

• Read through the EP®(GHG) Application Guide or the EPt(GHG) Application Guide to get a firm understanding of the designation and self-assess whether or not they meet the eligibility requirements.
• Gather supporting documentation such as resume/CV, training certificates/records, and project summaries (if applicable experience has been gained) to allow for quicker input of application requirements into the online application system.
• Consult the ECO Foundation website for a list of available specializations before beginning your application. 

Once the applicant is ready to proceed, they may submit an application through ECO Foundation’s website at eco.ca/greenhouse-gas-designations.

There is no limit on the number of applications accepted, and eligible candidates may apply at any time. Our mission is to support and expand a global community of experts committed to high technical competence and ethical practice in addressing GHG emissions and removals.

Please refer to the EPt(GHG) and EP®(GHG) Applicant Guides for the comprehensive list of eligibility requirements.

EP®(GHG) applicants will be assessed on their education, GHG training, employment history, and demonstrated GHG-related work experience. Applicants will be required to successfully complete the EP®(GHG) exam, which addresses both knowledge and ethical components.

For the EPt(GHG) designation, applicants will be assessed on their education and GHG training. Employment history and GHG-related work experience are optional but may be considered if provided. EPt(GHG) applicants are not required to take an exam.

If an applicant cannot meet a requirement, options exist to demonstrate requirement equivalency through additional experience to substitute for the missing requirement(s).

 GHGMI and ECO Foundation recognize that professional pathways and experience may not always align exactly with the examples or criteria outlined in the Applicant Guides. Applicants whose education or professional experience differs slightly from the described requirements are encouraged to contact certification staff at Registrar@eco.ca prior to applying.

Yes, the certification will be fully online. The exam is delivered online but requires you to schedule it at a specific virtual location, one you and your exam proctor have agreed upon.

Applicants must first apply for the designation and are assessed on their GHG-related work experience and competency through a combination of an exam and evaluation. In addition, applicants must agree to an ethics agreement and commit to ongoing professional development through continuing education.

On average, it typically takes an applicant 1-3 weeks to complete and submit the application. Once the application is submitted, it is placed in the queue for review by certification staff. Depending on the completeness of the submitted information, application review and verification typically are completed within ten (10) working days. Once certification staff have completed review and verification of the application to ensure eligibility requirements have been met, the applicant may proceed to the next steps, Expert Review and Examination, which happen concurrently. 

Typically, applicants choose to schedule their exam three (3) to six (6) weeks after they have entered the Expert Review/Examination process, to allow adequate time to study.

All examination information, including scheduling, duration, proctor eligibility, exam preparedness, exam format, etc., is outlined in the Written Exam Guidelines for Applicants and Proctors document, sent to applicants once they begin the application process.

To ensure a designation remains in good standing, members must meet annual maintenance requirements and complete a Certification Term Renewal every five (5) years aligned with their certification anniversary date.

Certification maintenance requirements include obligations related to fee payments, professional development activities (based on a credit system), professional practice/GHG work log submissions, and continued adherence to ethical codes of practice. Find more details on these requirements in the Applicant Guide.

The following fees are in Canadian Dollars (CDN). The EP®(GHG) application fee is $350.00, and the annual renewal fee is $230.00. The EPt(GHG) application fee is $230.00; the annual renewal fee is $130.00. A 40% discount is available to recent graduates and applicants from lower-income countries (see the next FAQ).

There is a fee discount program designed to improve equitable access to the EP®(GHG) designation while maintaining program integrity and administrative efficiency. The program recognizes that financial barriers can limit participation by qualified professionals in low- and lower-middle-income countries, as well as by full-time students and recent graduates entering the greenhouse gas profession.

Applicants may qualify for a 40% discount on EP®(GHG) or EPt(GHG) application and renewal fees if they meet one (1) of the following eligibility categories at the time of application:

1. Residence in a low-income or lower-middle-income country

• Eligibility is based on the World Bank country income classification in effect at the time of application
• Applicants must be permanently residing in an eligible country when they submit their application

1. Full-time student or recent graduate

• Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student or have graduated within the previous twelve (12) months at the time of application

Group discounts are not offered by the EP®(GHG) program. Many companies and organizations provide the time and/or financial support for staff, partners, or students to receive certification. If you are interested in sponsoring a group of applicants, please contact certification staff at Registrar@eco.ca. A group enrollment invoice will be issued to your company or organization, and upon receipt of payment, certification staff will issue you a fee-waiver code for applicants to use within each of their applications.

Yes, though they are not the only options. GHGMI courses may be applied toward the EP®(GHG) training requirements. GHGMI’s courses and diplomas are fully online and self-paced, meaning you can complete them on your own schedule at any time of the year.

No. While GHGMI education is widely recognized, the EP®(GHG) certification is training-provider-neutral and open to applicants regardless of where they gained their expertise. However, the required GHG training must be completed through an organization whose training has been reviewed and approved for eligibility by the GHG Certification Committee. Please see the Applicant Guide for the full list of approved training providers. If a training provider is not on the approved list, applicants may still submit the training within their application. An applicant may be required to submit additional training information for evaluation during expert review.

If your company, organization, or government is interested in supporting, collaborating, or utilizing EP®(GHG), please contact: info@ghginstitute.org

If assistance is required with the application process or if applicants have questions after obtaining their certification, they may contact certification staff at any time at GHG@eco.ca.