Module C — AA1000 Associate Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner Certificate (ACSAP)

Module C is available! Achieve your ACSAP Professional status by completing all three modules.

Become the professional who gives sustainability information its credibility — trained on the world's leading sustainability assurance standard.

As sustainability claims come under ever-greater scrutiny, independent assurance has become the dividing line between reporting that is trusted and reporting that is questioned. This practitioner-level course provides comprehensive training on the AA1000 Assurance Standard v3 (AA1000AS v3) — the internationally recognised, industry-independent framework for assuring sustainability disclosures — and completes your journey to the Associate Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner (ACSAP) professional status.

Learners follow the assurance process from end to end: the three preconditions for accepting an engagement (independence and impartiality, competence, and the engagement agreement), the Code of Practice, planning and risk assessment, gathering and evaluating evidence, assessing adherence to the four AccountAbility Principles, and issuing a compliant Assurance Statement. The course also covers AccountAbility's mandatory licensing and e-licensing regime, and the 2024 Guidance on Assuring GHG Emissions with AA1000AS v3 — including Scopes 1, 2, and 3 and the assurance limitations that apply to proxy-based Scope 3 data.

Who it's for Auditors, verifiers, and assurance professionals moving into sustainability assurance; sustainability practitioners who commission or manage assurance engagements; and consultants supporting clients through verification. Successful completion entitles learners to the ACSAP credential (renewable yearly) and contributes toward progression to higher CSAP levels (Practitioner and Lead).

N.B. Please note: The Module B Sustainability Practitioner Certificate course must be completed in order to proceed with Module C Associate Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner Certificate. Modules cannot be skipped and must be completed consecutively (Module A → Module B → Module C). Upon completion of all three courses, an official Practitioner Certificate will be issued.

What learners will be able to do By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

• Explain the purpose and scope of the AA1000AS v3 and how it complements frameworks such as GRI
• Apply the three preconditions for engagement acceptance, including the Code of Practice and the Statements of Independence and Impartiality
• Distinguish Type 1 from Type 2 engagements and High from Moderate levels of assurance — and select the right combination
• Plan an engagement: scope and reporting boundary, suitable criteria, disclosures covered, resources, and risk assessment
• Gather and evaluate evidence with due care, assessing information quality for clarity, balance, completeness, and timeliness
• Assess an organisation's adherence to Inclusivity, Materiality, Responsiveness, and Impact
• Draft an Assurance Statement containing all required elements, plus the optional Report to Management
• Operate within AccountAbility's mandatory licensing and e-licensing requirements, including use of the Assurance Statement Marking
• Approach GHG assurance engagements with confidence, applying the correct assurance levels across Scopes 1, 2, and 3

Course structure The course progresses through: an introduction to assurance and the AA1000 Series; the three preconditions and the Code of Practice; types and levels of assurance; planning and conducting the engagement; assessing the AccountAbility Principles; issuing the Assurance Statement and Report to Management; licensing and e-licensing; and assuring GHG emissions. Three real-world case studies — including a full DQS Type 2 assurance statement — let learners test their judgement against genuine engagement scenarios. Learning is confirmed with a final quiz (75% pass mark).

How learners engage Requirement texts are presented alongside plain-language discussion, key terms are reinforced with flashcards and knowledge checks, and case studies challenge learners to classify engagement types and levels exactly as a practitioner would — building the professional judgement that assurance work demands.

Why it matters for your organisation Assurance capability is what turns your sustainability reporting from a claim into a credential. ACSAP-trained professionals help your organisation deliver — or intelligently commission — assurance that stands up to stakeholder, client, and regulatory scrutiny. Module C completes the three-module pathway: upon completion of all three courses, an official Practitioner Certificate is issued, confirming your ACSAP professional status and opening the route to higher CSAP levels.