FAQ

The field is rapidly growing and already has a severe shortage of those with expertise, so there are definitely jobs to be had.

All GHGMI members and alumni have access to our GHG Experts Forum, where you can interact with professionals in the field, ask questions related to emissions inventories, carbon markets, and other carbon management topics, and network with other GHGMI members. GHGMI staff and members will also occasionally post job opportunities in the field. Becoming a GHGMI member is free, and you can sign up by clicking here.

Exams are graded by Institute staff and reviewed by the Dean of the Institute. The passing grade is 70%. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your exam to be graded. Learners are given two (2) chances to pass an exam. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, you will be notified and re-enrolled in the exam. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, and you wish a third attempt, you will be required to purchase the exam again. Additional exam attempts are US$50.

Once your exam has been graded, you will receive an email from our Registrar’s office with the results and Certificate, if applicable.

You would certainly be able to say that you’d received a Certificate of Proficiency or a Diploma from the Institute; however, certification is another matter entirely.

Professional certification is a means by which individuals formally demonstrate competency in a practice area. Professional certification programs consider a basket of measures (e.g., training, experience, witnessing, etc.) to assess professional competency. Professional certification programs typically accept our Certificates of Proficiency and Diplomas as demonstration of training.

Currently, there is no credible personnel certification program out there. Right now, the key is to show that you have deep expertise. The carbon markets are not mature enough yet to really operate under a common professional practice standard.

The purpose of the GHGMI software evaluation program is to ensure commercial carbon accounting and reporting software produces data of sufficient quality, when applied by competent professionals, to manage greenhouse gases (GHG). In doing so, GHGMI supports the development of the GHG software marketplace and improves the quality and functionality of GHG software products on the market. We view GHG software as an important tool for GHG professionals, and as such, this program supports the Institute’s larger mission of professional development of tomorrow’s carbon management experts.

GHGMI’s software evaluation process entails a technical review, comprising an initial evaluation and annual updates. Currently, we assess GHG software functionality for corporate-level GHG emissions inventories by assessing compliance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard using a tailored evaluation and testing protocol.

Software providers may also obtain ad-hoc evaluations of recently added or improved/unique functionality or the software’s compliance with a specific GHG program.

During the evaluation process, GHGMI plays the part of a typical customer using the software product. We review functionality by applying a software evaluation protocol and checklist comprised of over 100 detailed questions and tests. We document the results of our review in a Software Evaluation Report for the software supplier, and a Software Evaluation Summary, for potential users and stakeholders at large.

Evaluation and review typically take between 10-12 weeks, depending on the timeliness of communication and schedule coordination.

Software providers and users can obtain information about GHG software from a variety of sources. What makes GHGMI’s feedback unique is that:

• Software evaluation and testing is hands-on use of the software, rather than interviews or surveys
• During our review process we go ‘under the hood’ to test how different software modules actually perform
• The review is undertaken by independent experts in the field so the review perspective is one of a combined GHG/software expert

GHGMI’s evaluation and testing protocol:

• Addresses compliance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard.
• Is applicable to functionalities relevant for corporate-level GHG inventories. It does not currently evaluate the functionality necessary for other types of GHG accounting frameworks (e.g., value chain or product “carbon footprint) or for the performance of mitigation and financial analysis.

The GHGMI evaluation protocol applies a case study of a hypothetical company to test the functionality and performance of GHG software. The evaluation and testing protocol does not:

• Address software or reporting requirements for a particular company. The needs of GHG software users can vary significantly. Before selecting a particular software package, users are advised to complete company-specific requirements.
• Evaluate the functionality necessary for reporting frameworks beyond the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard.

Our review is designed to provide independent expert feedback to software developers and to stimulate improvement.  Software providers use our evaluation process and reports to:

• Identify GHG methodological shortfalls and opportunities for improvement
• Identify distinct advantages
• Develop priorities and inform product roadmaps
• Communicate with stakeholders including customers, GHG registries and assurance providers