SCR

It is an 80-question multiple-choice exam that also includes one multi-part case study question, designed to test mastery of climate risk management. You have four hours to complete it, and it is graded on a pass/fail basis rather than with a numeric score.

GARP offers the SCR exam in April and October. Appointments are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, so booking early protects your preferred date and time. GARP directs candidates to its Exam Logistics page for the scheduling process.

GARP recommends an estimated 100–150 hours of preparation, while noting that study time varies by candidate. GARP also advises registering early so you can spread those hours over a comfortable pace instead of compressing them into the final weeks before the exam window.

Registration includes complimentary access to the full curriculum and other study resources through GARP's online GARP Learning platform, plus a full-length SCR Practice Exam. A printed version of the curriculum is available for purchase separately if you prefer paper. Use the practice exam to rehearse the four-hour format.

GARP does not publish a pass rate, so treat difficulty claims with caution. The most common self-inflicted problems are underestimating the 100–150 hour recommendation, skipping the practice exam, and neglecting quantitative material such as risk measurement and scenario analysis in favour of policy and governance topics that read more easily.

GARP's public SCR pages do not state a retake policy, so confirm the current rules with GARP directly before you rely on any assumption. Practically, the exam is offered twice a year, in April and October, which bounds how quickly a retake can be scheduled after an unsuccessful attempt.

Start with the foundations of climate change and sustainability climate risk so later material has context, then move through policy and governance, green and sustainable finance, risk measurement and management, and climate models and scenario analysis. Finish with net zero, climate and nature risk assessment, and transition planning and carbon reporting.

Passing makes you an SCR Certificate Holder. GARP strongly encourages holders to participate in its Continuing Professional Development program to stay current with evolving standards and practices in sustainability and climate risk management. GARP's public pages do not state a validity period, so verify any renewal requirements with GARP.

Registration includes six months of complimentary GARP Individual Membership for SCR candidates who have not previously received it from a different GARP program. Program cost varies depending on whether you register during the early or standard registration window, so check GARP's Fees and Payments page for the current breakdown.