Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers to questions about IUCN Academy courses, enrolment, certificates, and technical support.
Getting Started
Anyone can register and take courses — IUCN members and staff, government officials, non-governmental organisations, students, professionals looking to upskill and individuals who are passionate about conservation and sustainability.
Click the “Sign Up” button on the top right of the homepage. Fill in your details and submit the form by clicking ‘Create Account’. A confirmation email will automatically be sent to your registered email address to verify your email to activate your account.
Check your spam or junk folder. If it’s still missing, contact support (see below).
Visit the course page and click “Enrol Now.” If you’re not logged in, you’ll be prompted to sign in or create an account. Once logged in, return to the course page to complete your enrolment. You can also browse and discover more courses in the Course Library.
Courses & Content
Introductory Courses are free, self-paced overviews of IUCN’s work and key conservation topics. Specialised Courses offer deeper, self-paced learning aimed mainly at the IUCN community but open to all. Professional Certificates are hybrid programs with live sessions and assignments designed to advance your career.
Introductory Courses and Specialised courses do not have deadlines; they are entirely self-paced. Professional Certificates have set schedules, which are outlined in the course overview.
Most introductory courses have no prerequisites. Specialised courses or Professional Certificate programmes may recommend or require prior knowledge. Check the course description for details.
The majority of courses on the IUCN Academy are free and open access. Some Specialised courses and Professional Certificates may involve a fee with discounts available for IUCN Member Organisations and Commission Members, as well as a number of partial scholarships available for nationals from LDCs and developing countries. Any pricing details are clearly indicated on the course page.
Yes. All courses offer a digital certificate upon successful completion. Certificates indicate successful completion of the course. While not accredited by universities, they are backed by IUCN and valued in the global conservation community.
Certificates for Introductory and Specialised Courses are found in the “My Dashboard” section of your account. There, you will find the course you’ve completed. Click the certificate icon on the right to open the certificate verification page. From there, you can view it, download as a PDF, or share it on LinkedIn. Certificates for Professional Certificate courses are emailed to you after successful completion.
Yes. You can share your certificate on LinkedIn from the certificate verification page or via manual upload of the PDF on LinkedIn.
System Requirements & Technical Help
The IUCN Academy platform is accessible via smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers with an active internet connection. Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari tend to support best user experience on the IUCN Academy.
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