About Us

Who We AreThe Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute is a nationally recognized incorporated society granting the Certified Sustainability Professional (CSP)™ designation to members who demonstrate competency and understanding in the sustainability field through a practical credential examination process. Sustainability practitioners within Canada now have an opportunity to obtain a professional designation from an Institute that is innovative and progressive. Our PurposeThe Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute is focused on increasing the awareness of sustainability in the Canadian business community in order for it to become mainstream in society. The Institute has identified four endeavours to support this goal:1. Forming a Canadian Community of Interest in the field of sustainability,2. Establishing sustainability as a profession within Canada through the promotion of the Certified Sustainability Professional designation, 3. Providing the means for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability,4. Providing valuable networking opportunities to its members and sustainability practitioners across Canada. Our VisionThe Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute is an independent, ethical, and responsible entity comprised of professionals that lead, change, and inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace sustainable practices. Through the efforts of our members, who represent all areas of society, Canada will become the most sustainable country in the world. Our Guiding PrinciplesEthical conduct –- Integrity, transparency, and accountability are behaviours that should be followed by every individual striving for personal and professional excellence. Respect for community - Societal changes are fostered through diverse communities that are inclusive and promote open dialogue. Economic vibrancy - A thriving economy founded on a sensible mix of local, national, and international companies reduces the societal pressures and obstacles to sustainability.Conservation - The health of the planet and the human race will only be realized through the responsible use of natural resources and balanced preservation.

Copyright 2011, Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute

Privacy Policy

Body of Knowledge

Body Of Knowledge
SustainabilitySustainability is best understood in business as the balance between environmental, economic, and social factors leading to shorter-term decisions with a longer-term outlook.The Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute has developed a body of knowledge for a Certified Sustainability Professional™ that embraces basic foundational competencies and is supplemented by critical transformational competencies. Our members are tested for their demonstrated experience and knowledge in all facets of the body of knowledge.Foundational CompetenciesThe foundational competencies of a Sustainability Professional are based on the understanding and application of the traditional three pillars of sustainability.Social Factors are societal aspects such as human rights, education, social justice, and First Nations inclusion. Economic Factors are the basic financial elements such as profit, return on investment, capital, and interest. Environmental Factors are the components related to our natural world such as greenhouse gas emissions and carbon neutrality.Transformational CompetenciesThe transformational competencies of a Sustainability Professional focus on the ability of individuals to influence, change, and motivate people and organizations to install sustainable practices.Leadership is the process of social influence in which one person can enlist the support of others in the accomplishment of a common task. Change Management is a planned approach aimed at empowering individuals and organizations to accept and embrace changes in their current practices. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality, right and wrong, as well as good and evil.Measurement denotes the indicators, benchmarks, audits, indices, and accounting for informed management of sustainability.Decision Making is a structured process resulting in the identification of the optimum course of action among several alternatives.

Copyright 2011, Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute

Privacy Policy

Membership

Become a Member
Membership OpportunityThe Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute is actively promoting the Certified Sustainability Professional designation across Canada and through our social media network. We are seeking new members who want to help influence the Sustainability Body of Knowledge and promote sustainable practices in all areas of society. All members are encouraged to take the next step and become a Certified Sustainability Professional. Successfully passing the credential examination grants each member the right to present themself as a professional and display the CSP designation after their name.Sign-up today to become an active member!Membership Dues Student Members: $ 55 + HST annually Professional Members: $ 135 + HST annually Credential Examination Fees Student Members: $ 55 + HST Professional Members: $ 115 + HST Examination fees include the cost of framing the member's certificate and shipping charges.

Copyright 2011, Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute

Privacy Policy

Certification

Earn a Professional Designation
Step 1: Become a MemberAll Sustainability Professionals are required to obtain membership in the Institute prior to writing the credential examination. Applicants must specify when they plan to take the exam on the membership application form.Join now and receive your membership!Step 2: Prepare for the ExaminationOnce the membership application has been processed, the member is emailed a list of recommended reading material to help prepare for the exam. The reading material can be sourced on-line or from local libraries and book stores. Step 3: Write the ExamOn the specified date, the member is emailed a link and unique password to the on-line examination. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions and covers all areas of the sustainability body of knowledge.Since the exam is time-based and must be completed in one session, it is recommended the exam be taken in a location that will be quiet for up to 2 continuous hours.About the ExamCertified Sustainability Professionals lead the way in making businesses more sustainable. With this in mind, the credential examination has been developed to test for competency in the installation and application of sustainability in organizations. Approximately 50% of the exam is focused on the foundational competencies while the remaining 50% is focused on the transformational competencies with each component of the body of knowledge receiving equal weighting. The suggested reading material is intended to be used by applicants on a discretionary basis as a means of familiarizing themselves with the latest terms and concepts in the field. Most sustainability practitioners and leaders tend to do quite well on the exam without having to review additional reading material due to their familiarity with the general application of sustainability in business.The exam is administered through a 3rd party hosted website and requires a unique user password to access. Each question is allotted 2 minutes to complete and the system only allows applicants to view one question at a time. The questions are randomized by the system and often duplicated to penalize inconsistent answering. Applicants must achieve an overall score of 65% in order to have passed the credential exam.

Copyright 2011, Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute

Privacy Policy

Corporate Leadership

Corporate Certification
Corporate Sustainability LeadershipOrganizations can now demonstrate true commitment to sustainability through their most valuable assets - their people!The Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute offers a certification program for organizations that care about the future of the planet. Sustainability in business is only accomplished by changing existing norms and requires dedicated and knowledgeable leaders to make it happen. Certified Sustainability Professionals™ are those leaders!Certified Sustainability Professionals™ understand sustainability and what it takes to make it a reality. Our professionals are strong leaders who motive, inspire, and embrace the necessary changes to existing organizational practices and create a culture of sustainability. The Corporate Sustainability Leader™ certification program offers four levels of recognition based on the percentage of leaders who are Certified Sustainability Professionals™.Learn more about having your company certified.Obtaining any of these certification levels is a great way to demonstrate your organization is building solutions for the future. Encourage your team to earn the Certified Sustainability Professional™ designation and have your organization branded as a supporter of sustainability. Specialized group packages are available.

Copyright 2011, Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute

Privacy Policy

Contact Us

Contact Us

General Inquiries:

info_canadiansustainability.com

Membership Applications:

memberships_canadiansustainability.com

Most inquiries are best managed through email and will be handled expeditiously.

Mailing Address:

Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute

PO Box 334

3495 Cambie Street

Vancouver BC, V5Z 4R3

Join now and receive your membership!

Privacy Policy

Copyright 2011, Canadian Professional Sustainability Institute