The OPF Academy application process is designed to be straightforward and engaging. Here’s what you can expect:

Step 1: Start Your Application

Once you’ve completed the first part of your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email letting you know you’re on your way! 🎉

Step 2: Join Circle, Your Course Preview Space 🌐

Next, you’ll be invited to create a profile on Circle, our community platform and content hub. This step is essential, as your Circle profile is part of your application. Once inside Circle, you’ll gain access to:

• Teaser content for the upcoming program

• Special speaker sessions from industry leaders

• Inspiring alumni stories

Step 3: Complete Your Asynchronous Interview 🎥

After setting up your Circle profile, you’ll move on to a VideoAsk interview. This allows you to respond to open-ended questions in a format that works for you—video, audio, or text. It’s your chance to share your motivations and goals for joining OPF Academy.

Step 4: Application Review ⏳

Once you’ve submitted your VideoAsk interview, our team will review your full application. You’ll receive a decision within two weeks.

Step 5 (Optional): Apply for a Scholarship 🎓

If you’re interested in a scholarship, you can submit a separate scholarship application after completing your main application on VideoAsk. Please visit our 🔗scholarship page for more information about our different program and important scholarship deadlines.

Yes, OPF Academy is committed to making climate education accessible by offering scholarships to help reduce financial barriers. Scholarships are limited and awarded selectively based on specific eligibility and selection criteria for each tier, ensuring the support reaches those who can benefit most. While we do not offer full scholarships at this time, partial scholarships are available across multiple tiers.

There are two scholarship application deadlines:

• Scholarship Deadline #1: December 8

  Decisions Announced: December 16

• Scholarship Deadline #2: February 2

  Decisions Announced: February 10

We encourage applicants to apply by the early scholarship deadline since applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about each scholarship tier and detailed criteria, please visit our Scholarship Page.

All live sessions are recorded and made available for later viewing, so you can catch up at your own pace and never miss critical content.

Absolutely! The OPF Academy is designed with flexibility in mind, making it accessible for busy professionals. All live sessions are recorded, so you can catch up at your own pace if work commitments prevent you from attending live.

That said, our live sessions are held during standard working hours. If attending live sessions is important to you, we encourage you to discuss your participation with your employer and seek their support to accommodate the session schedule.

You can refer to our “Get Reimbursed” page for a sample letter to share with your employer to support your participation in the OPF Academy.

Successfully balancing the program alongside a full-time job will require thoughtful time management. The course includes self-paced modules and scheduled live sessions, so planning ahead will help you make the most of the experience.

Networking is a key part of the Academy, and we recommend setting aside time to connect with fellow participants. Whether through direct messages, engaging in the “introductions” channels, or scheduling one-on-one coffee chats, building meaningful connections within the community can significantly enrich your journey

OPF Academy is a 6-9 hour weekly commitment for 8 weeks. 6 weeks of content, plus onboarding and graduation.

We expect members to keep up to date with the course material and engage with other Fellows of the OPF Academy.

Here is the general weekly schedule for OPF Academy:

• Monday:

  💻 Asynchronous Curriculum Modules (Self-paced)

  ~2 hours of on-demand learning, featuring real-world case studies taught by OPF practitioners.

• Tuesday:

  👨🏻‍🏫 Lab Kickoff (11 AM - 12 PM EST)

  A 1-hour live session introducing the week’s Practical Lab, covering industry context, tools, and resources.

• Wednesday:

  🧪 Practical Lab (1 PM - 3 PM EST)

  A 2-hour live session to apply what you’ve learned through a mock project case study.

• Friday:

  🗣️ Expert Speaker Session (11 AM - 12 PM EST)

  A 1-hour live session featuring industry leaders sharing their expertise.

  🧑🏻‍💼 Weekly Deep Dive

  Times vary; an interactive session to explore real-world case studies and ask questions with OPFA teaching staff.

• Optional:

  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Small Group Discussions (Varies by time zone)

  ~1 hour of curated discussions with 4-5 OPFA members.
  
  

No prior experience is required to apply to the OPF Academy, but we do seek candidates with a demonstrated interest in sustainability. We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about addressing climate change and eager to contribute to the OPF Academy community. There is no "ideal" candidate—anyone excited to learn is encouraged to apply.

We especially value applicants who are motivated to acquire practical skills, move beyond theoretical knowledge, and have a clear vision for how they plan to use these skills in the future.

While many of our applicants are graduate-level or mid-career professionals, we encourage anyone with a strong interest in sustainability and climate consulting to apply.

If you are applying for a scholarship, please note that admission decisions are made independently of scholarship decisions, which are determined separately.

Yes, the OPF Academy has a limited number of spots available. We encourage you to apply early, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Scholarships are awarded in two rounds, and applying during the first scholarship wave increases your chances of securing funding.

Definitely! The standards, regulations, and frameworks we are teaching are applicable at a global level and are the ones that are most commonly used around the world. That being said, when we dive deeper into specific regulations and standards, we will be focusing on the US, the EU, and some of Asia. This is primarily driven by where these standards originate from.

We strongly suggest you watch our Info Session video above that has further information or contact us if your question is still unanswered.