Frequently Asked Questions
The Climate Risk Certificate is put on hold in 2026 due to changes in purchase processing systems at the SOA. No additional course or bundle purchases are possible at this time. The SOA apologizes for any inconvenience this might cause.
General Questions
- What material is included in the Climate Risk Certificate?
Climate Risk Certificate features in-depth content from interdisciplinary experts, real-world case studies and stories, interactive activities, recommended reading, and pre-recorded seminars of additional content.
- What do courses in the Climate Risk Certificate look like?
Each course in the Certificate is a self-paced, online, e-learning course. All the work is done and submitted online. The course does not have to be completed in one sitting. Each course contains approximately 10 hours of content that includes interactive activities and knowledge checks. In addition, each course has an associated end of module test. Test scores are reported only to you, so you can track your progress. They are not used to determine eligibility for the certificate.
- Can I register for just one of the courses, for example Course 5a (Climate Risk for Life Insurance)?
Yes, you can. You can take any course as a stand-alone offering.
Access Questions
- I have not completed all Climate Risk courses and cannot get to them anymore. How can I gain my access back?
It is strongly advised that you pace your study to finish courses 18 months from the date of purchase. If it has been more than 18 months, your access has ended. You need to re-purchase the course/bundle to continue.
- I started working on Climate Risk courses but need more time. Can I get an extension?
It is strongly advised that you pace your study to finish courses 18 months from the date of purchase. To extend your access beyond the 18 months, you’d need to re-purchase the course/bundle.
Climate Risk Certificate Assessment Questions
- How often is there an opportunity to do the Climate Risk Certificate Assessment?
Assessments are offered three times per year: in March, July, and November.
- What does the Climate Risk Certificate Assessment look like?
The assessment contains open-ended questions about a hypothetical scenario. The scenario is related to each of the five required courses in the Climate Risk Certificate program and the optional course you have chosen. It is suggested that you write about three to five paragraphs for each of the six courses. It is estimated that the assessment will take 10-15 hours of work to be completed.
- What happens during the Climate Risk Certificate assessment window?
The assessment is made available over the course of 5 days (120-hour window) beginning at 12:01am (CST, Central Time-USA Chicago) on the start date listed on the website. It will end at 11:59pm (CST, Central Time-USA Chicago) on the end date listed on the website. Once the assessment is downloaded, you will have 96 hours to complete it and must make a submission prior to the closing of the assessment window. The assessment window cannot be extended.
- I registered for the Climate Risk Certificate Assessment but cannot take it during this time. What are my options?
It is strongly advised that you pace your study to finish all courses before the assessment window starts. Should you wish to move the assessment to the next available date, you will need to pay a retake fee of $500. E-mail certificates@soa.org to start the re-take registration process. Assessments are offered three times a year in March, July, and November.
- The question I have was not answered here. Who do I contact?
E-mail certificates@soa.org with your question and we’ll get back to you.
Other Questions
- I’m a Hong Kong Resident and would like to get reimbursed for completing the Climate Risk Certificate through the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme. How do I start the reimbursement process?
First, retain all receipts (Order Confirmation) as proof of purchase of the courses/bundle and assessment. Then, familiarize yourself with the Reimbursement Procedure on the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme website. Detailed instructions as well as a step-by-step guide to reimbursement application are provided there.
After you have completed the all the Climate Risk Certificate courses and Assessment, apply for reimbursement on the Reimbursement Procedure page. The application should be submitted within 3 months from the date of completion of the Climate Risk Certificate.
- Do I need to complete the Climate Risk Certificate Assessment to be eligible for reimbursement or can I just complete the courses?
To be eligible for reimbursement, you need to complete the five required and one specialty course and pass the Assessment. You will need to submit a certificate of completion with your supporting documents for the reimbursement.