Aligned with new research and standards, the professional field of sustainability has evolved quickly over the past few decades. Professionals across a variety of disciplines and sectors are now finding that understanding sustainability helps them stay relevant and be more effective in their jobs and careers.
A few professional sustainability credentials of potential interest to Pitt employees and graduates are below.
If you’re a Pitt employee and are seeking free opportunities to advance your sustainability knowledge, consider the Sustainability Professional Development Certificate delivered via HR’s Faculty & Staff Development program.
General
- Certified Climate Change — Professional (CC-P) Candidate via Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO)
- Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) via ACCO
- GRI Certified Sustainability Professional via Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
- Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) via International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP)
- Sustainability Excellence Professional (SEP) via ISSP
- Sustainable Event Professional Certificate via Events Industry Council
Building, Infrastructure, & Landscape Credentials
- Fitwel Ambassador Accreditation via Center for Active Design
- GRESB Accredited Professional via Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
- Green Roof Professional Accreditation via Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
- Green Professional (GPRO) Operations & Maintenance via Urban Green + Green Building Alliance teaches locally
- LEED Green Associate and LEED Accredited Professional with specialty via U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) relating to projects pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
- Living Future Accreditation via International Living Future Institute (IFLI)
- WELL Accredited Professional via International WELL Building Institute
- Passive House (PH) Consultant, Designier, or Trades (CPHC, CPHD, CPHT) via PHIUS or PH Institute
- SITES Accredited Professional via Sustainable SITES Initiative
- Sustainable Landcare Accreditation by Phipps Conservancy (local) for landcare professionals; based on Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) standards.
- TRUE Advisor for zero waste facilities pursuing Total Resource Use & Efficiency (TRUE) Rating System
Circular Economy, Products, & Supply Chain Credentials
- American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA)
- Biomimicry Practitioner via Learn Biomimicry
- Certified Professional Product Steward via Product Stewardship Society
- Certified Sustainable Supply Chain Professional via International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA)
- Climate Foundations for Procurement certificate via Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC)
- Supply Chain Resilience Certificate via Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, & Decarbonization Credentials
- Carbon Footprinting Certificate via University of New Hampshire
- Certified Decarbonization Professional via American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM) via Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
- Certified Energy Procurement Professional via AEE
- Certified Renewable Energy Professional via AEE
Products & Vendors
There are copious sustainability reporting standards, labels, and certifications at the product and company scale. Learn more about identifying sustainable products and companies below:
- Commodity Specific Guidelines for Sustainability at Pitt
- Identify Greener Products and Services (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Pitt Sustainability Plan Goal Alignment
The information above is provided, in part, to support the Pitt Sustainability Plan goal “in the “Engagement & Awareness” goal to “Enhance mechanisms for employees to obtain University-sponsored sustainability professional education & credentials relevant to their fields.”
Pitt employees should discuss their personalized professional development aspirations and opportunities associated with their field of work with their supervisor. University employees are eligible for 7.5 hours of professional development or volunteer time during regular working hours.