Everything You Need to Know About IASE Board Exams
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Get detailed information about IASE certification exams, including formats, scheduling, and preparation tips. Equip yourself with the knowledge to confidently achieve your ESG certification.

Quick Overview - The IASE Board Exams: Your Final Step Toward ESG Certification

The IASE Board Exams are the final gateway to earning your internationally respected ESG designation under the ISB® (International Sustainable Business) or ISF® (International Sustainable Finance) certification schemes.

Exams are conducted exclusively online, using remote proctoring technology enhanced with AI-driven facial recognition to ensure the highest standards of identity verification and academic integrity. Candidates must meet IASE’s technical and environmental requirements, including sitting alone in a quiet space, with a webcam and a mirror setup to monitor the exam room.

Only candidates who have completed the official registration process and paid the exam fee are permitted to sit the exam. While employers may cover exam fees, registration must be completed by the candidate themselves.

Once the exam is submitted — either by the candidate or automatically at the end of the allotted time — it is electronically marked and reviewed by the Board of Examiners. No access to exam questions or answers is granted after submission.

With strict protocols, global accessibility, and a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct, IASE ensures that your certification is backed by integrity, credibility, and trust.

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ISB® – International Sustainable Business

  • FOR NON-FINANCE PROFESSIONALS

ISF® – International Sustainable Finance

  • FOR FINANCE PROFESSIONALS

The IASE Board Exams are your final step to becoming a globally certified ESG professional under the ISB® or ISF® framework. Delivered exclusively online and secured by AI-powered facial recognition and remote proctoring, these exams ensure integrity, accessibility, and credibility.

Only registered and paid-up candidates are permitted to write. Once submitted, exams are marked electronically and verified by the IASE Board of Examiners — no retakes, no reviews without formal request, and no access to questions afterward.

Earn the credential that proves you’re ready to lead in ESG — anywhere in the world.

  • View Technical Requirements
  • Download Exam Day Checklist

The Online Remote Proctored Exam Experience

Take your IASE Board Exam from the comfort of your home or any quiet, private space — no travel, no test centers, and full peace of mind. IASE’s online remote proctored exams are designed to provide secure, convenient, and globally accessible testing for candidates across all certification levels.

With round-the-clock scheduling, you can choose the exam time that best suits your availability. A straightforward check-in process, government-issued ID verification, and real-time monitoring by trained proctors ensure that your exam is conducted under the highest standards of security and fairness — all while respecting your privacy.

To ensure the best possible experience:

  • Use a personal computer (not a work-issued device)

  • Ensure a stable internet connection

  • Take the exam in a quiet, well-lit room free from interruptions

We strongly recommend reviewing our exam day checklist and technical requirements ahead of time to avoid surprises.

Note: All IASE Board Exams are delivered exclusively through online remote proctoring to support candidates in every corner of the world.
  • View Technical Requirements
  • Download Exam Day Checklist

Registration Deadlines and Fees

  1. You can see our Fees and Registration Deadlines here.
  2. Only registered and paid-up candidates are allowed to right the exam. Although other 3rd parties (e.g. employers) are allowed to pay the exam fee on for candidates, only the candidates themselves can complete the board exam registration process.

What to expect before exam day

  1. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is aware of the date, time and place of his/her examination.

Exam Deferrals

  1. A candidate may withdraw from an exam before starting the exam. In such cases their examination fee will be carried forward to a future date. However please note that the aspirant may be required to submit proof that a withdrawal notification was sent prior to his/her exam start time, otherwise it will be regarded as a no-show thus no exam fee transferable or refundable.
  2. Arrangements relating to special needs or illness during an exam can be made by contacting us. IASE Examination Terms & Conditions section here for more information.

 

What to expect on exam day

  1. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that he/she has received a confirmation of exam registration from IASE before the exam date.
  2. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is aware of the date, time, place and condition of his/her examination.
  3. All IASE Board Examinations are delivered online only. Candidates must therefore ensure that the computers they intend using to take the board exam meets IASE’s minimum computer requirements.
  4. IASE retains the right to refuse entry to the IASE examinations without needing to provide reasons for such refusal.
  5. Candidates are allowed a 10-minute grace period to log in and start each examination. Access to the exam will be blocked should the aspirant attempt to log in more than 10 minutes after the official start time of the examination
  6. If a candidate starts the examination late, s/he forfeits that time and will not be allowed any additional time to complete the examination.
  7. Should a candidate have any books, paper, cell phones, smart watches or any other electronic means of communication in their possession, such articles should, where relevant, be switched off and placed in a handbag, book bag etc. underneath their chairs. Such items should not be handled by the aspirants during the examination.
  8. The use of calculators is prohibited for the ISF® and ISB® examinations since they do not contain any questions requiring calculations to be made.
  9. It remains the aspirant’s responsibility to ensure, prior to the commencement of an examination, that none of the aforementioned items are in his/her possession.
  10. During the examination no communication of any nature whatsoever may take place between candidates and anybody else.
  11. Candidates may not act in a dishonest way regarding any examination assessment. No aspirant may assist or attempt to assist other aspirants or obtain help or attempt to obtain help from another person during an examination.
  12. Rough work: No pieces of paper is allowed, which includes paper used for rough work.
  13. Candidates are generally not allowed to temporarily leave the examination room for breaks, such as going to the bathroom or taking smoking breaks, during examinations. Only in exceptional/emergency circumstances may an aspirant leave the examination venue temporarily and return later to complete the examination. In such instances, prior to releasing the aspirant’s exam result, IASE may request a written explanation or declaration from the aspirant as to the reason/s for leaving during the examination.
  14. Candidates are not allowed to copy, duplicate, or record the examination questions.
  15. In the rare event that it is impossible to mark an examination, the IASE reserves the right to contact the affected candidate and arrange for them to re-write such an examination with no examination fee being charged.
  16. Under no circumstances will aspirants have further access to their question papers and/or answer sheets once they have submitted such.
  17. All answers must be answered online and submitted.
  18. Once the candidate has completed all questions to his/her satisfaction, s/he may submit the answers for assessment. Alternatively, if the allotted time expires, the examination system shall automatically close the examination session and then submit their answers as recorded at that point.
  19. No extra time will be allowed.

 

Clothing & head gear:

 

  • Candidates are reminded that to provide the flexibility to take the exams from anywhere, facial recognition technology is used prior to and during the examinations, thus candidates should consider this when wearing glasses, head wear that might overhanging faces, and/or other items covering faces.

Exam Room setup

  • Candidates must agree to identified at the start, and during the process, of writing an examination by means of online Artificial Intelligence facial recognition technology through their computer/tablet webcams. See our full IT specifications required for aspirants to be able to sit for any IASE examination.
  • Candidates must position themselves so that there is a mirror behind them reflecting forward.
  • At all times during the examination, the candidate must ensure that there are no other people present in the examination room.

Interruptions in power and internet connection during the examination:

  • It is the candidate’s responsibility to take every measure to ensure that they will have power and a good internet connection throughout the examination.
  • Should a candidate’s power or internet connection be interrupted during an examination, power, or a connection, must be restored within 3 minutes in order to prevent the IASE exam system from permanently shorting down the candidate’s exam session.
  • If an aspirant is unable to log back into the exam session within 3 minutes, the system will automatically close the candidate’s exam.
  • The aspirant will then be allowed to sit a future exam at no charge, but this carryover option can be exercised only once.
  • An aspirant who experiences an interruption in internet connection, and who manages to reconnect within 3 minutes will not be allowed any additional time to complete the exam.
  • The IASE Exam system will automatically close the exam session of any candidate experiencing multiple (more than once) interruptions in internet connection upon the second connection failure;
  • Such candidates with multiple connection failures will be allowed to sit a future exam at no charge, but this carryover option can be exercised once only.

Breaching the Exam Rules

 

  • Any breaches of the rules or misconduct during the examination is viewed in a very serious light by the IASE. Where a candidate is guilty of any misconduct during the examination or any non-compliance with the rules, the Board of Examiners will then decide on disciplinary proceedings. Its decisions shall be final. The decisions may include:
    • Reducing a candidate’s marks.
    • Failing the candidate.
    • Prohibiting a candidate from sitting any IASE examination for a stated period.
    • Requiring a candidate to attend additional or other lectures or courses or undertake additional study and assessment.

What to expect after the exam day

  1. Marking of examinations are done electronically prior to being sent to a Board of Examiners for final approval.
  2. Results will be formally communicated via an online basis directly to individual aspirants only. Results will only be communicated to third parties if proof of consent from individual aspirants can be produced.
  3. Within a period of 10 working days after results are issued, aspirants will have the opportunity to request a Remark/Review, or Appeal question/s. See IASE Examination Terms & Conditions section for more information.
  4. Verifications of identity, qualification criteria, payments etc. will be done through a blend of facial recognition technology and the local IASE Member/affiliate in the aspirant’s geographical area prior to being allowed entrance to the Board Exams.
  5. Aspirants have the flexibility to take the Board Exam from anywhere in the world.
  6. Level Advisor I Exam format: Closed book; 40 multiple-choice questions (MCQ); 4 options per question, with only one correct answer; 60 minutes allowed to complete all Advisory Level Board Exams; Pass mark 60% (24 correct answers, or more).
  7. Level Specialist II Exam format: Closed book; 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQ); 4 options per question, with only one correct answer; 90 minutes allowed to complete all Specialist Level Board Exams; Pass mark 70% (35 correct answers, or more).

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