GPM Certification · Reinstate & Upgrade
Welcome Back to the Movement!You were ahead of the curve. Now the world has caught up — and it needs practitioners like you.
When you earned your Certified Green Project Manager – Basic (GPM-b), sustainability in project management was still treated as a niche — a reporting obligation, a specialty concern, something that lived in someone else’s department. You saw it differently. You learned to assess and manage environmental, social, and economic impact across the full project lifecycle. You were early.
Certifications lapse. Movements don’t. If your GPM-b has expired, your seat in the GPM family is still here — and getting back is straightforward. Take the refresher course, sit a short exam, and upgrade to the Certified Sustainable Project Professional (CSPP™), the certification that succeeds the GPM-b and is jointly administered with the Project Management Institute.
What was once a forward-looking choice is now a baseline expectation. Sustainability has moved from the margins of strategy to the center of how organizations compete, manage risk, and create long-term value — and the data leaves little room for doubt.
That last number is the opportunity. Belief is running well ahead of capability, and the shortfall is most acute exactly where the work gets done. In PMI’s 2026 research, confidence that the organization can hit its sustainability goals falls from 85% among executives to 43% among PMO leaders and just 20% among project professionals.
In other words: organizations have the ambition. What they lack is people who can translate it into delivery — into project decisions, controls, measures, and outcomes. That is precisely the competence your GPM-b was built on, and precisely what the CSPP now formalizes. The skills you developed early are the ones the market is short of today.
The organizations that win treat sustainability not as a goal to announce, but as a decision system to build — and that depends on practitioners who can carry strategy all the way through to delivery.
Reinstating and upgrading is designed to be quick for someone who has already done the work. Three steps:
📎 Providing Evidence Is Easy
When you’re asked to verify your prior certification, there’s no need to dig through old files. Just open your entry in the PMI registry, print it out, and upload it. Done.
You didn’t wait for sustainability to become a priority — you treated it as one before the rest of the world did. Reclaim your place, upgrade to the CSPP, and keep being the change you wish to see in the world — because there is still no Planet B.
The CSPP™ is jointly administered by the Project Management Institute and GPM.
Questions? Email
GPM Certification · PMI-GPM Joint Venture
CSPP™The credential matures with the profession · Formerly the GPM-b™
Effective June 5
The Green Project Manager – Basic (GPM-b™) becomes the Certified Sustainable Project Professional (CSPP™). Established in 2013 as the first sustainability certification for project professionals, the credential now matures with the profession it helped create.
The CSPP™ reflects how the profession has matured. Sustainability is now embedded across governance, planning, decision-making, and delivery. It operates as a knowledge area that intersects with cost, risk, schedule, quality, and value realization — spanning labor and working conditions, community impact, emissions, resource use, compliance, ethics, and adaptive governance.
Built for today’s project landscape, the CSPP™ equips project leaders with the lens and toolkit to uncover hidden value, mitigate risk, and build resilience into delivery. Grounded in the globally recognized P5™ Standard and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it is built for professionals responsible for turning sustainability priorities into resilient, real-world project outcomes — projects that deliver measurable value for people, planet, and prosperity.
Sustainability is now a strategic priority for most organizations — but the ability to deliver on it has not kept pace. PMI’s global research, Executing Sustainability Strategy: When Ambition Meets Reality, surveyed nearly 1,600 project professionals across 35 countries and found the gap is not one of intent. It is one of knowledge and capability — and it widens the closer you get to delivery.
These are not motivational problems; they are execution problems. Closing them takes professionals who can translate sustainability objectives into project decisions, controls, and measurable outcomes — exactly the capability the CSPP™ validates.
Already earned the GPM-b™? You don’t start over — your credential carries forward to the CSPP™. The path depends on your status.
Which describes you?
| 1 — Complete the short registry-merge form so we can match your record. |
| 2 — GPM sends weekly batch updates to PMI, and your GPM-b™ is added to your PMI profile. |
| 3 — Once it appears on your profile, click the no-cost opt-in at PMI to receive your CSPP™ — no exam, no additional training. |
Your certificate still counts. Keep your GPM-b™ certificate on hand and email our certification board — we’ll facilitate a renewal exam to bring you current and issue your CSPP™.
Prefer to keep the GPM-b™? You may retain the designation through its current validity period (five years, no maintenance). New applicants may also sit the GPM-b™ exam through 31 December 2026. See the transition FAQ.
| Navigate project delivery where sustainability, resilience, and reporting expectations increasingly shape outcomes. |
| Embed sustainability into governance, planning, decision-making, and delivery — without building parallel systems or separate processes. |
| Connect project decisions to measurable impacts, data, and recognized standards. |
| Deliver value for people, planet, and prosperity alongside scope, schedule, and budget. |
| Demonstrate validated, business-led sustainability capability backed by two global leaders. |
The CSPP™ is designed to meet you where you are in your career. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner expanding your expertise or pursuing your first certification, choose the path that fits.
The CSPP™ is a knowledge-based examination aligned with the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management. Two formats are available, matched to your pathway.
📌 Delivered in person at a Pearson VUE test center or online with remote proctoring. Up to three attempts within a one-year eligibility period.
📌 In line with the PMI Gold Standard format, the CSPP™ is maintained on a three-year renewal cycle (30 PDUs).
High-performing organizations don’t rely on intent or visibility. They close the strategy-delivery gap deliberately, through four connected levers — and the certified professional is the translation layer that makes each one work.
PMI’s research is clear: portfolio and project professionals are the essential translation layer — routing strategic intent downward and delivery reality upward. The CSPP™ builds exactly that capability.
Projects are the point of execution for strategy, policy, and investment. Embedding sustainability at that level is how organizations move from stated intent to measurable outcomes — the golden thread, not two teams across the hall. The CSPP™ is how the profession makes that commitment operational.
For more information, email
PRiSM™, the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management, the PMI® GPM® Practice Guide for Sustainability in Project Management, and CSPP™ (formerly GPM-b™) are trademarks of GPM Global and the PMI-GPM Joint Venture as applicable.
GPM-b™ to CSPP™ · Transition FAQ
GPM and PMI are transitioning the GPM-b™ credential to the CSPP™ (Certified Sustainable Project Professional) as part of the PMI-GPM joint venture. The PMI-GPM Practice Guide for Sustainability in Project Management and the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard are both moving to version 4.0. The questions below cover what changes, what does not, and what each group of learners, holders, and training partners should do during the transition window.
GPM and PMI are transitioning the GPM-b™ certification to the CSPP™ (Certified Sustainable Project Professional. As part of this change, the PMI-GPM Practice Guide for Sustainability in Project Management and the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management are both moving to version 4.0.
The CSPP™ is the successor to the GPM-b™. It builds on the same foundation, with updates to terminology, clarity, and supporting materials. The core structure and concepts remain largely the same.
The transition reflects the continued evolution of sustainable project management practices, including updates to the PMI-GPM Practice Guide and the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard at version 4.0. These updates keep the credential aligned with current industry expectations and global sustainability priorities.
No. The transition is designed to be smooth and minimally disruptive. Existing certification holders and new candidates can expect continuity, with improvements that enhance the overall experience.
The official timeline will be confirmed and communicated by PMI in an upcoming announcement.
Version 4.0 includes updated terminology, more concise language, and targeted refinements to improve clarity and consistency.
Version 4.0 maintains the overall structure, with selected updates to improve usability and alignment with current practice. Key updates include refined elements, impact analysis questions, improved scoring guidance, and a crosswalk aligned to the PMBOK® Guide Version 8.
Yes. The updates are designed to remain backward compatible.
Always use the current, most recent versions of the assigned materials. Older materials may still be useful as reference, but preparation should be based on the latest versions.
Yes. Candidates should prepare using the most current materials, as these align with the exam content.
CSPP™ training is available online through PMI.org and through accredited training partners worldwide.
Training may be offered online, in person, or virtually, depending on the accredited training partner.
During the transition period, individuals currently enrolled in the GPM e-learning course, or those who have not yet completed the course, have until December 31 to complete their training through GPM. After this date, all training is delivered through PMI and accredited partners.
Training must be delivered through PMI or an accredited training partner.
The exam is administered by PMI and delivered through Pearson VUE test centers.
All candidates take the exam through PMI via Pearson VUE, regardless of training pathway.
Yes. Both pathways remain available and are administered through PMI.
Yes. There is a short path (RPL) for eligible candidates and a regular path for others. Both are administered through PMI.
Yes. The exam has been updated to align with the revised materials, with improvements to terminology, clarity, and alignment, while maintaining core concepts.
If you purchased the GPM-b™ version, you have until December 31, 2026, to complete the exam. Continue your current path, complete your course by December 31, and follow PMI guidance for exam processing.
You will lose access to the course and will need to follow the CSPP™ pathway and requirements.
Follow the current PMI exam process and transition guidance.
Yes. You remain eligible but must follow the current PMI exam process.
Yes, as reference. Prepare for the exam using the most current materials.
Nothing is required. Your certification remains valid for five years. PMI offers a free upgrade to CSPP™ with no exam required if you opt in.
Opt in through PMI and agree to the maintenance requirements. You will receive a new certificate and badge at no cost.
No. You may keep your GPM-b™ until it expires.
No. No exam or additional training is required.
Yes. It remains valid until expiration. After expiration, you must purchase and pass the CSPP™ exam.
Once expired, you must purchase the CSPP™ and pass the exam to regain certification.
You must purchase the CSPP™ and pass the exam. Expired certifications are not eligible for the free upgrade.
If your certification was issued through GPM, complete the registry merge approval form at https://gpm.org/registry-merge.
No. It is valid for five years and then expires.
You must purchase the CSPP™ and pass the exam. If your certification is still active, it is best to opt in and upgrade at no cost.
Trainers will use updated terminology and version 4.0 materials. The structure remains largely the same.
No. The update is evolutionary.
Always use the most current versions. Older materials may be used as reference.
Yes. During the transition, use “CSPP™ (formerly GPM-b™)” for clarity.
All application and exam processes are managed through PMI.
Follow official guidance published by PMI.
Yes. Learners in GPM courses have until December 31 to complete them.
Enroll now and follow the current pathway.
Whether your certification is active, expired, or in progress.
Yes, if your certification is active.
No. You must complete the opt-in process.
Updated: April 2026
Update June 4th, 2026
The CSPP launches on June 5th and we have sent the records recieved as of June 3rd to PMI. We will continue sending batches on Friday's every week.
PMI will list your certification on their registry on June 5th if you have submitted by the 3rd. You will be able to go to the PMI website, login and opt-in to the CSPP via your GPM-b listing. They will send an email out on June 8th also to opt-in
Note: GPM will continue to maintain our certification registry, the certificates and digital badges for certifications earned via GPM. If your certification is about to expire, see this page for more.
GPM Certification · Competence-Based
Certified SustainabilityProve Your Competence in Sustainability Fundamentals
Sustainability is now a critical business priority, and organizations need professionals who understand its core principles. The CSF certification validates your competence in sustainability by assessing your actual, on-the-job results against five core units of competence and over 60 performance criteria.
This globally recognized credential demonstrates that you can support sustainability initiatives, navigate key regulations, and contribute to long-term environmental, social, and economic impact.
Sustainability competence is in demand. CSF certification proves you have the skills to meet that demand.
The CSF certification is designed for professionals who:
| Need to demonstrate foundational competence in sustainability. |
| Support or contribute to sustainability initiatives within their organization. |
| Want to strengthen their professional qualifications with a recognized sustainability credential. |
| Work in roles across business, government, education, healthcare, finance, and more. |
Validate your expertise. Lead the transition to a sustainable future.
Updated: April 2026
GPM Certification · Competence-Based
Certified SustainabilityProve Your Expertise. Lead Sustainability Strategy.
The Certified Sustainability Professional (CSP) certification is a globally recognized credential that validates your expertise in sustainability leadership, strategy, and implementation. In a world where sustainability is no longer optional but essential, this certification proves your ability to drive business transformation, ensure regulatory compliance, and create long-term organizational value.
Sustainability is now a key driver of business success, and organizations need qualified professionals who can lead this transition. The demand for sustainability expertise has never been higher, and professionals with proven competence are commanding higher salaries and leadership opportunities.
The CSP certification is designed for professionals who:
| Have experience in sustainability and want to validate their expertise. |
| Lead or contribute to sustainability initiatives within their organization. |
| Integrate sustainability into business strategy, operations, and decision-making. |
| Work in roles such as corporate leadership, ESG compliance, and sustainability consulting. |
This certification is applicable across industries, including finance, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, government, and more.
Sustainability professionals are seeing unprecedented salary growth as organizations invest heavily in sustainability leadership roles.
Sustainability professionals with validated expertise are in high demand. CSP certification gives you a competitive edge in this fast-growing field.
With the rise of sustainability certifications, it is essential to choose one that is credible, competence-based, and globally recognized.
Validate your expertise. Lead the transition to a sustainable future.
Updated: March 13, 2025
GPM Certifications · Why It Matters
With sustainability certifications flooding the market, it’s crucial to separate meaningful credentials from marketing gimmicks. Not all certifications are created equal, and choosing the right one can make the difference between recognition of real expertise and just another badge.
IPMA Fellow Stacy Goff, in his article Comparing PM Certifications: Which is Best for You?, identified three essential dimensions for evaluating certifications: prerequisites, breadth of coverage, and rigor of assessment. When it comes to sustainability, there isn’t an organization in the world with an approach that can equal what we have established as a world-class certification body.
2025 Update
In 2025, GPM’s certifications became part of the Project Management Institute (PMI) certification family through the PMI-GPM joint venture — extending their global reach, governance infrastructure, and distribution through the world’s largest project management professional body.
IACET Accredited
GPM is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) — independent confirmation that our educational systems, assessments, governance, and learner support meet international quality standards. GPM’s CEUs are recognized by employers, universities, licensing bodies, and professional associations worldwide.
Others may sell badges. GPM certifies competence.
Goff emphasized that strong prerequisites are the foundation of a credible certification — ensuring it is open to those with real experience, not just those willing to pay a fee.
Why GPM? GPM sets a high bar, demanding real-world experience and demonstrated capability through evidence-based assessments. Our process goes beyond exams to verify that professionals have applied sustainability principles in their work.
| Evidence-based assessments requiring real project and sustainability experience. |
| Structured evidence submissions that demonstrate competence. |
| No “certifications for life” — ongoing competence is required for certification renewal. |
Goff noted that certifications should cover more than methodologies and knowledge — they should evaluate competence, behavior, and impact.
Why GPM? GPM’s certifications are built on globally recognized sustainability standards, ensuring professionals don’t just know about sustainability — they know how to implement it. We provide a complete sustainability ecosystem with clear implementation guidance:
Sustainability is more than a concept. It’s a discipline. We help you master it.
Goff made it clear: rigorous assessment is what separates meaningful certifications from marketing gimmicks.
Why GPM? GPM’s assessment process, aligned with ISO 17024, sets the global standard for competence-based sustainability certifications. Assessments require real-world evidence of competence and are conducted by experienced professionals with deep expertise in both sustainability and project management.
| ISO 17024-aligned processes — the global gold standard for certification of persons. |
| Competency-based assessments — you must demonstrate real expertise, not just knowledge. |
| Expert assessors — experienced sustainability practitioners and project managers, not generalists. |
| Global leadership — the head of GPM’s assessor pool sits on the ISO committee that governs ISO 17024, meaning we help shape the standards, not just follow them. |
A certification is only as valuable as its reputation. Is it recognized and respected by employers, governments, and global organizations?
Why GPM? GPM certifications are trusted and recognized by governments, Fortune 500 companies, universities, and NGOs worldwide. We have set the global standard for sustainable project management since 2011 — and in 2025, our certifications entered the PMI ecosystem, the world’s largest professional body for project management.
| Internationally recognized and adopted by leading global organizations. |
| Trusted by governments and Fortune 500 companies for their sustainability initiatives. |
| Endorsed and taught by major universities and professional institutions worldwide. |
| Now part of the PMI certification family through the PMI-GPM joint venture. |
A certification is only as strong as the education behind it. IACET accreditation is the internationally recognized mark of quality in continuing education and training.
Why GPM? GPM is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) — independent, third-party confirmation that our educational systems, assessments, governance, and learner support meet rigorous international quality standards.
| CEUs recognized globally — GPM’s Continuing Education Units are accepted by employers, universities, licensing bodies, and professional associations worldwide. |
| Consistent learning quality — IACET accreditation applies across GPM, PMI, IMA, and all delivery partners, ensuring every learner receives education built to the same standard. |
| Measurable learning outcomes — grounded in proven instructional design principles, not self-reported training hours or attendance records. |
If a certification provider can’t demonstrate their own sustainability commitments, why should you trust them?
Why GPM? At GPM, we practice what we preach. Our commitment to sustainability is transparent and measurable.
| We are carbon neutral and report our emissions in line with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). |
| We publish a bi-annual Communication on Progress (COP) Sustainability Report, available on the UN Global Compact website. |
| Our policies and procedures align with the highest standards of professional integrity and sustainability reporting. |
Goff’s framework for evaluating certifications remains the right lens. GPM now sets the standard that others fail to meet across every dimension.
Don’t settle for marketing gimmicks. Choose the certification that sets the standard.
And if you’re just getting started, we also have an exam-based certification for you.
Updated: April 2026
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GPM®, Green Project Management®, and Sustainable Project Management® are registered trademarks of GPM Ltd. PRiSM™, the PMI-GPM P5™ Standard for Sustainability in Project Management, the PMI-GPM Practice Guide for Sustainability in Project Management, CSPP™ (formerly GPM-b™), CSPMs™, CSPMx™, CSP™, CSF™, Certified Sustainable Project Manager (Expert)™, GPM360°™, GPM360°™, and PSM3™ are trademarks of GPM Global and the PMI-GPM Joint Venture as applicable. Use requires written consent.