By Jessica Reynen, Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine
Sept/Oct 2010
With recent events such as the BP oil spill, environmental professionals and employers alike are beginning to realize how past and current practices affecting the environment have the potential to put the public at risk.
Additionally, industry personnel have become acutely aware of the need for specific competencies, skills, and training within the workforce. In a sector where the range of specializations is vast, understandably the development of certification with strong regulatory support takes time.
For over a decade, ECO Canada (Environmental Careers Organization) has offered professional certification through seven designations that formally recognize the unique skills and knowledge of environmental practitioners. To date this is a voluntary certification program; it will only be able to wean out those who simply claim to environmental professionals once it has full backing from the environment industry in its entirety.
At the 2010 GLOBE Conference, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between ECO Canada and the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). The document demonstrates a mutual understanding of the growing need for professional standards and certification that are recognized both locally and internationally.
In May, the project lead for the Nova Scotia Ministry of Environment announced his support for the proposed Licensed Environmental Site Practitioners (LESP) Program, stating that the province of Nova Scotia would recognize ECO Canada’s certification, among others, as qualified to sign reports related to contaminated sites.
In August ECO Canada’s seven designations merged to form what is now the Environmental Professional (EP) designation. The EP designation demonstrates an environmental professional’s commitment to accountability and career development, as well as their desire to remain on top of current practices. It also offers third party validation of an individual’s environmental competencies; as certified members are measured against industry-verified National Occupational Standards for environmental employment.
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