CCMA Recognition of Prior Learning  Certification Pathway

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A structured, evidence-based route for practitioners whose portfolios already align with the CCMA Competency Framework and Body of Knowledge.
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The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway allows highly experienced carbon-markets professionals to earn the Certified Carbon Markets Advisor (CCMA) credential without repeating learning they have already mastered—while still meeting exactly the same examination and competence standards as all other candidates.

2.1 Baseline eligibility criteria

All RPL applicants must:

Education

  • Hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. environmental science, engineering, economics, law, finance, climate policy); or
  • Demonstrate an equivalent combination of technical diplomas plus substantial relevant professional training.

Professional experience 

Minimum 10 years of directly relevant experience across one or more of:

  • Carbon project development and methodology application
  • Verification/validation (CDM, JI, VCS, Gold Standard, ACR, ART, etc.)
  • Carbon-market policy and regulation (ETS, offset frameworks, Article 6 mechanisms)
  • Carbon trading, portfolio management or corporate carbon strategy
  • MRV, inventory and registry systems

Evidence of active involvement in carbon markets within the last 5 years (e.g. recent projects, regulatory work, trading mandates, panel appointments).

The following profiles normally do not qualify for RPL and should pursue the standard learning pathway instead:

  • Professionals with fewer than five fulltime years of relevant experience, even if highly active.
  • General climate change, ESG or sustainability consultants with limited direct exposure to carbon crediting mechanisms or markets.
  • Academics or researchers whose work is mainly theoretical and not grounded in project cycles, MRV, or transaction structures.
  • Brokers or sales representatives focused mainly on marketing carbon credits without technical or policy leadership responsibilities

Ethics and professional standing

  • No record of serious disciplinary actions, fraud, or integrity breaches in any relevant market, professional association, or regulatory body.

3.0 Application Process and Timelines

The Recognition Committee assesses portfolios against the CCMA Competency Framework, including policy, project cycle, MRV and registries, pricing and risk, finance/transactions, and integrity/safeguards domains

Step 1 – Pre-application assessment

  • Candidates review the RPL eligibility criteria and complete an online Pre-Assessment Test. Candidates must attain the minimum score (65%) to proceed to Step 2 below.

Step 2 – Online application submission

Curriculum Vitae (max. 6 pages)
  • Career timeline, roles, responsibilities and reporting lines.
  • Clear indication of carbon-market related responsibilities in each role.
  • Table summarising key assignments: project name, host country, standard/ mechanism, role, project type, status, and dates.

Training and credentials
  • Certificates from relevant carbon-market, MRV, or climate-finance training.
  • Other professional certifications (e.g. ISO auditor credentials) where relevant.

Publications and thought leadership (optional but strong)
  • Peer-reviewed articles, guidance notes, methodologies, or technical papers authored or co-authored by the applicant.

References and declarations
At least two professional referees able to confirm the applicant’s responsibilities and integrity.

Step 3 – Eligibility screening 

The CCMA Secretariat performs a completeness and reference checks. Incomplete applications are returned for revision.

Step 4 – Recognition Committee review (10–15 working days)

A multi-member Recognition Committee reviews the application against CCMA competencies and RPL criteria. Possible outcomes:

Approved (full RPL) – all prerequisite training waived.
Approved with conditions – partial RPL granted; candidate must complete specified online micro-modules before exam.
Deferred – additional information required.
Not approved – candidate directed to standard pathway.

4.0 Fees and Fee Exemptions

4.1 Standard RPL fees

  • RPL administrative fee: USD 100 per candidate (payable upon acceptance of the RPL application). No additional RPL review fees are charged. 

4.2 Fee-exempt categories

To recognise significant service to the global carbon-governance system, the RPL administrative fee is waived for candidates who are currently serving—or have recently served—in the following capacities (subject to documented proof):

UNFCCC and mechanism governance roles
  • Members (current or within the last 10 years) of: CDM Executive Board, Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, CDM Methodologies Panel, Accreditation Panel, Registration and Issuance Team.
    Other officially appointed UNFCCC technical expert panels directly related to carbon mechanisms.

Government Authorities
  • Designated National Authorities and equivalent Article 6 or ETS competent authorities with formal responsibility for carbon-market governance.

Technical methodology panels of recognised standards
  • Members of methodology or integrity panels for major crediting standards (e.g. Verra VCS, Gold Standard, ACR, CAR, ART TREES, Plan Vivo, GCC) or integrity bodies (e.g. ICVCM assessment panels)

Other exceptional service role
At the discretion of the Certification Board, fee waivers may extend to individuals who have provided exceptional, documented contributions to global carbon-market standards or governance (e.g. lead authors of widely used methodologies or rulebooks)

Important: Fee exemptions relate only to the RPL administrative fee. All candidates—including those in fee-exempt categories—must satisfy eligibility criteria; no status-based automatic certification is granted.
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