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Post-Secondary Environmental Program Accreditation

Showcase Your Institution’s Commitment to Educational Excellence By Becoming Accredited.

ECO Canada works closely with industry professionals and conducts Labour Market Research, to provide relevant employment information that fosters positive competency outcomes for students enrolled accredited environmental programs. The goal is to facilitate a national environmental committee and administer current and relevant information, which will support post-secondary environmental education across Canada.

The Canadian Environmental Accreditation Commission (CEAC) accredits science degrees, studies degrees, diplomas and post-graduate certificates offered through nationally recognized post-secondary institutions. A requirement for post-secondary environmental programs seeking accreditation is to demonstrate environmental competency outcome for students. Institutions undergo a thorough assessment of the environmentally focused curriculum. The goal is to work with academic institutions to provide learning opportunities to students that allow them to gain competencies relevant for employment or to further education within industry, government, or academia.

Program Eligibility

To be eligible to have an application accepted for consideration by the Canadian Environmental Accreditation Commission, a full-time environmental program must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • The program is located at a recognized institution that has authorization from the appropriate provincial/territorial/national agency to grant education credentials
  • Program must be sponsored by a post-secondary institution that has a formally constituted and effective governing board. The governing board responsibilities must include:

      • – The quality and integrity of the institution.
      • – The adequacy of financial resources supporting the institution. Approval of strategic and financial plans, annual budgets, and fiscal audits.

  • Applicants must be a Dean, Academic Director, Academic Chair, or Department Head. Environmental Programs must have an administrative or academic position whose full-time or major responsibility is to manage the program.
  • The full-time program must be located at an educational institution that has its financial records audited annually by an external and independent certified public or chartered accountant or by an authorized provincial auditing agency. The audit report must include an opinion on the financial statement as to the fiscal integrity of the institution.

Accreditation Standards

The Canadian Environmental Accreditation Commission (CEAC) serves as a neutral third party to oversee the accreditation program, featuring balanced representation from universities, colleges and environmental industry experts. The CEAC has approved the National Standard for Environmental Programs, developed and administered by ECO Canada. The National Standard defines the minimum requirements for Environmental Programs to be accredited.

In addition to general requirements, definitions, and principles, the National Standard consists of eight areas to be assessed and validated through the accreditation process:

  1. Environmental Program Development and Maintenance
  2. Environmental Program Curriculum
  3. Faculty Complement
  4. Admissions
  5. Student Services
  6. Institution Facilities and Learning Resources
  7. Program Financial Resources
  8. Research & Scholarly Activity

The environment profession, inclusive of industry, government and academia, expects its members to be competent within their area of specialization, but also in understanding the impacts of environment on society. Accredited programs must prepare students in their area of specialization and contribute to their development as a responsible Environmental Professional.

1. Application:

Get started by submitting your Expression of Interest. The Registrar will evaluate in conjunction with the CEAC and upon receiving Pre-Approval status, you will receive an invitation to submit an application.

2. Self Study:

This is a 3-step process that culminates in a site visit by a team comprised of academic reps, an Environmental Professional and an accreditation rep.

3. Program Assessment:

There are two decision-meetings that occur annually in which applicants are reviewed. If a favourable decision has been made, the Registrar will notify you and grant a term of up to 7 years.

Next Steps

Once your program undergoes this initial review and becomes accredited, you’ll have ongoing, annual reporting requirements throughout the term of your accreditation.

Through the final year of your accreditation term, the program will undergo a re-accreditation review to ensure the ongoing conformance of the program with the National Standard. If successful, your accreditation term will be renewed and the maintenance process will begin anew.

Download Accreditation Brochure

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Contact Accreditation Registrar

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Hear From Others

It’s clear that King’s students have a remarkable education experience as a result of very close interaction with the faculty. This is an institution where faculty members even know all of their first-year students by name. – Site Visit Team


1-800-890-1924 // info@eco.ca