Certificate in Whole Life Carbon Assessment Training Programme

Course information

Course start date

• 29/10/2025 - Certificate in Whole Life Carbon Assessment Training Programme - Instance 3 - 2025
• New 2026 dates coming soon

Course overview

Whole life carbon assessment is key to achieving global sustainability, especially as there is an estimated 40% of carbon emissions originating from the construction sector. This standard sets out a RICS-approved technical methodology for assessing the carbon impact from buildings and related infrastructure assets throughout their lifecycle.

This training programme provides you with the tools to carry out carbon assessments in line with the requirements of the whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) standard 2nd edition. It offers many examples and case studies that will enable practitioners and industry stakeholders to apply the new standard in practical situations. 

Course structure

There are seven modules in this course:

• Preconstruction  
• Product stage  
• Construction stage  
• Use stage  
• Deconstruction (end-of-life stage) 
• Beyond the asset  (building lifecycle) 
• Production of the WLCA report 

This online training programme is designed to be completed within a 11-month period, which includes the time allotted for final assessments. Modules are released every 4 weeks to ensure a steady progression through the curriculum.

To make the most of your learning journey, we recommend dedicating a minimum of 11 hours to each module and ensuring completion of the final assessments before the course expires. In total, the programme is estimated to take at least 140 hours of commitment to achieve comprehensive learning outcomes.

Each module provides a blend of learning experiences, combining introductory videos, interactive, self-paced eLearning modules with plenty of practical examples and professional tips, reading materials, case study practices, live Q&A and consolidation sessions, quizzes and a final assessment at the end of the course which consists of a case study assignment and an online exam. Additionally, there is a discussion forum available to encourage peer interaction and enable direct communication with the course tutor for any questions or concerns.

Note: you will be asked to conduct a full whole life carbon assessment at the end of this course. We recommend that participants have experience of using or preparing bills of quantities in order to complete the full assessment.

Learning outcomes

Course Prerequisites and Recommendations

1. Quantum measurement skills are not required; however, learners must be comfortable interpreting fully-developed quantum documentation, such as cost plans and Bills of Quantities.
   (For example, NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works – Appendix B-E, Templates for preliminaries pricing schedule, Templates for pricing summary for elemental bill of quantities).
2. An enhanced understanding of construction systems and technologies is advantageous.
   (For example, understanding the full design lifecycle, compliance with the national regulations, integration of building systems, post-construction operation and maintenance, modern methods like prefabrication and tailored solutions for diverse building types and functional requirements).
3. Proficiency in MS Excel (or equivalent) to at least an intermediate level, including the routine use of logical functions.
   (For example IF and OR functions described in Using IF with AND, OR, and NOT functions in Excel).
4. Learners do not need to have access to, or an understanding of, OneClick or similar, but they will need to have access to the ICE (carbon database) which is free and available for downloading from here.
5. A multi-monitor workstation is recommended; and ideally PDF utility capable of merging files is desirable (such as Adobe/Bluebeam or other online file merging tools).
    

RICS keeps a record of those that have completed and passed the assessment for the Certificate in Whole Life Carbon Assessment Training programme.  Please email onlineacademy@rics.org if you would like to check that an individual has completed the training.

Please be aware that this is a professional training course designed to provide you with the practical knowledge you need to succeed in your career. It is not an accreditation and does not lead directly to RICS membership. If you are interested in becoming RICS qualified, please visit this page to find out more.

Download the course guide

Please be aware that this is a professional training course designed to provide you with the practical knowledge you need to succeed in your career. It is not an accreditation and does not lead directly to RICS membership. If you are interested in becoming RICS qualified, please visit this page to find out more.

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