Become an Eco-Consultant

Eco-consultants are emerging in the sustainability industry that provide advice to consumers and businesses and are catalysts for change toward a more eco and green work and lifestyle.  Eco-consultants can specialize in one particular green topic such as green building or energy conservation or provide general and overall advice in all areas.  For a more detailed description of sustainability consultants for businesses read What is a Sustainability Consultant?

Certifications and Continuing Education

Helping organizations or individuals to become better eco-stewards is not as easy as it sounds. It requires a certain skill set of knowledge in the sustainability field. Take time to educate yourself before entering into the field. Below is a list of leading schools and organizations that provide continuing education, degrees and/or certifications in sustainability.

Antioch University
This New England based University offers a ‘green’ MBA in organizational and environmental sustainability. 

Bainbridge Graduate Institute
This Seattle based school is one of the pioneers in education offering one of the first MBA programs in social and environmental sustainability.  

Global Reporting Initiative Certified Training
GRI has learning partners around the world that certify in the international recognized standards of sustainability reporting.

ISIS Academy
The ISIS Academy is run by the AtKisson Group and offers trainings in the ISIS Method developed by sustainability expert, Alan AtKisson. Trainings provide information on how to guide companies, organizations and communities through the change process of sustainability.

International Society of Sustainability Professionals
This organization is the leading organization for sustainability consultants and practioners. They offer a professional certificate program that is online based and can be done at a person’s own pace.

LEAD Canada is a not-for-profit corporation, dedicated to furthering the goals of environmental, social and economic sustainability through training, projects and networking. LEAD Canada is part of the global network set up by LEAD International, which was originally funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. They offer an 18 month leadership program for sustainability practitioners.

Presidio's Executive Sustainable Management Program
Presidio is based in San Francisco and offers an executive masters degree program in sustainable management.

Strategic Sustainability Consulting
Offers online one-hour webinars for aspiring sustainability consultants.

SCORE
Offers consultants to become a licensed in the business assessment tool called Sustainability Competency & Opportunity Rating & Evaluation (SCORE).

University of California- Irvine
Offering a Sustainability Leadership certificate program for senior executives, managers, directors in functional areas who are charged with implementing sustainability initiatives.