Welsh 
Royal Meteorological Society Chartered Environmentalist
Specifications & Procedures of the Society for the Environment for Assessment of Applicants for Registration of Chartered Environmentalist
1. Introduction
This document defines the processes by which individual members of Constituent Bodies of the Society for the Environment can qualify to become registered as a Chartered Environmentalist. It also defines the conduct required of registered persons. The criteria for 'Chartered Environmentalist' are based on education, training, experience and professional and ethical conduct.
2. Qualifying Standards for Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv)
2.1 A Chartered Environmentalist shall be a person who:
• Is a full voting member of a Constituent Body;
• Has to satisfy defined pre-qualifying criteria. The suitability of
the Applicant shall be judged against 12 units of knowledge. These units can
be accrued from successful and relevant academic study and experience;
• Has at least four years of relevant experience as part of the required
12 units;
• Has demonstrated competence, knowledge and engagement in sustainable
environmental management and development in a submitted portfolio of relevant
training, education and experience and at a Professional Interview; and
• Has signed to comply with the Society’s Code of Ethics and a
programme of Continuing Professional Development.
2.2 Successful Applicants will:
On payment of an entrance fee together with subsequent annual fees, be entitled to use Chartered Environmentalist and designatory letters CEnv after their names.
2. 3 Attributes
In order to qualify for registration as a Chartered Environmentalist, an individual must demonstrate the attributes of knowledge & understanding, competence and engagement in sustainable environmental management and development. The Applicant will have been engaged in relevant prior experience, for at least 4 years before their application and be expected to demonstrate these attributes in the submitted portfolio and at a Professional Review Interview. The Applicant must be able to demonstrate the following attributes:
2.4. Knowledge (and Understanding)
• Have an extensive and forward looking knowledge and understanding of fundamental sustainable development principles and in particular the environmental management and development component;• See beyond strict legislative compliance and, through a broad understanding of environmental principles and environmental effects, anticipate environmental trends;
• Explain the critical importance of maintaining and enhancing natural cycles and biodiversity in achieving sustainability;
• Identify and analyse short, medium and longer term environmental threats and opportunities in terms of the goal of sustainability;
2.5. Competences
• Demonstrate his or her ability to develop and communicate the environmental
case in a competent manner;
• Demonstrate a willingness and persistence in addressing difficult
environmental issues;
• Demonstrate an ability to evaluate the nature of a problem from an
environmental perspective and develop and communicate practical sustainable
solutions;
• Possess leadership and motivational skills to ensure that good environmental
practice is effectively communicated and integrated into decisions and actions;
• Identify, engage with and respond to an appropriate range of stakeholders;
• Develop effective means with which to liaise with and advise others;
• Promote a positive environmental culture and move towards sustainability;
2.6 Engagement
• Demonstrate an understanding of why the global environmental threats
are of importance at the local level;
• Identify opportunities for environmental improvement or mitigation
and recognise their dynamic nature;
• Recognise the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues;
• Put environmental issues into his/her working context;
• Demonstrate that he or she approaches work in a competent manner and
work towards and secure change and improvements for a sustainable future;
• Demonstrate his or her ability to contribute to sustainable development
through their application of knowledge and understanding;
• Have the necessary skills to liaise with and positively advise and
influence others with respect to environmental issues, effects and sustainable
development;
• Identify measures to ensure that individuals and organisations are
accountable and understand their responsibilities for both environmental damage
and improvement;
• Influence others to improve their understanding of environmental and
sustainability issues.
3. Route to Chartered Environmentalist
3.1 Each Applicant shall complete an initial application form. The Constituent Body shall assess the Applicant for suitability to progress to the Professional Review. At that time the Applicant will pay an Application Fee to cover the associated costs of the Constituent Body as may be set by that Body from time to time.
3.2 The Applicant has to satisfy defined pre-qualifying criteria. The suitability of the Applicant shall be judged against 12 units of knowledge. These units can be accrued from successful and relevant academic study and experience.
• Each year of successful and relevant academic study, as approved
by the Registration Authority of the society will count for 2 units up to
a maximum of 8 units; and
• Each year of relevant experience will count for 1 unit with a minimum
of 4 units to be obtained from experience.
3.4 Where an Applicant is judged as not having the requisite number of units, the Constituent Body shall advise the Applicant how they might be achieved before reapplication.
3.5 If, after initial assessment, an Applicant is deemed to have met the initial qualifying criteria, then they will be invited to submit a portfolio of information on sustainable environmental management and development to the Constituent Body to which they belong. This will include the relevance of qualifications and experience. This will be assessed by a Panel established by the Constituent Body in accordance with procedures defined by the Registration Authority of the Society and the Applicant will be called to a Professional Review Interview (PRI) by the Panel (see section 6).
3.6 On successful completion of the PRI the Applicant shall be requested by the Constituent Body to pay an entry fee which shall include the first annual subscription and to sign a commitment to the Code of Ethics in a format to be prescribed by the Registration Authority of the Society (see section 9). On receipt of these, the Constituent Body shall forward to the Society for the Environment their name and details for inclusion on the Register held by the Society’s Registration Authority.
3.7 If an Applicant is unsuccessful at PRI the Constituent Body shall advise them with relevant advice being proffered for their re-application.
3.8 An unsuccessful Applicant may appeal against the decision of the Panel through procedures defined by the Registration Authority of the Society.
3.9 For potential Applicants who are obvious candidates for the Professional Review Interview, it may well be expeditious for the initial application form and portfolio to be submitted together.
4. Educational Component for CEnv
4.1 Each Constituent Body has its unique and diverse requirements for qualifying an individual as voting member, therefore the framework for the scoring of the educational component for an Applicant to pre- qualify for Chartered. Environmentalist is given in the matrix (see appendix 1). This addresses commonly encountered types of qualification and each Constituent Body will be responsible for judging relevance. Guidance should be sought from the Society’s Registration Authority on types of qualifications not defined in this framework. Each Constituent Body will need to appraise the academic qualifications of Applicants on an individual basis and demonstrate to the Registration Authority of the Society that the individual has accrued up to a maximum of 8 units of successful academic study.
4 .2 Overseas qualifications shall be assessed for their equivalence against UK qualifications with guidance from the Registration Authority of the Society.
4.3 For Vocational Qualifications, only a S/NVQ at level 4 or 5 will be accepted as credit towards the 8 units. Part of these qualifications may also count towards the 4 units of experience where relevant to the entry criteria.
4.4 At the second stage of the evaluation process the qualifications and experience will be further assessed in the submitted portfolio by the Constituent Body to determine the contribution that these may make in determining the Applicant’s virtuosity in knowledge, competence and engagement in sustainable environmental management and development as defined in section 2. As defined in para 3.9 the two stages of assessing qualifications may be combined for efficiency.
5 Prior Experience
5.1 The other component of learning in the assessment of virtuosity in the professional attributes required for registration as a Chartered. Environmentalist in a particular field of work is experience. The opportunities for structured prior experience may range from formally accredited and monitored structured training schemes to individually managed training for those Applicants whose employment does not offer them access to a formal scheme. Prior experience can only be achieved in the context of a real employment role, although this may cover a range of options from that of sandwich placement students to research assistant posts. No amount of pre-employment full-time education can meet all of the needs of prior experience, as this is the development of competence by learning as much as possible from work experience.
5.2 Each Applicant for registration shall have a minimum of four years of prior experience relevant to his or her own constituent body and area of work.
5.3 The period of experience shall include the development of skills, specialist knowledge and competence needed to practise.
5.4 At the conclusion of the period of prior experience an Applicant shall be in a position to demonstrate virtuosity in the 20 elements given under 'Attributes', (see section 2 above).
5.5 There shall be a clear record of progress during the 4 years endorsed by a supervisor or mentor in a format to be prescribed by the Registration Authority.
6. Professional Review Interview
6.1 The Professional Review Interview is the final assessment of an Applicant for registration as a Chartered. Environmentalist. It may be conducted concurrently with an application for full voting membership of a Constituent Body, but can equally be a stand alone Review.
6.2 The Professional Interview will enable a Constituent Body to assess a wide variety of Applicants to determine if they meet the criteria to register as Chartered Environmentalists.
6.3 Before being invited to Professional Interview the Constituent Body will have assessed the Applicant’s academic qualifications and prior experience. The interview is for the Applicant to further demonstrate under critical examination knowledge & understanding, competence and engagement in sustainable environmental management and development.
6.4 The Constituent Body shall convene an Interview Panel of at least two
Chartered
Environmentalists. It may invite one other person as a technical advisor.
A Constituent Body may invite a Chartered Environmentalist from another Constituent
Body to be a member of the Panel .
6.5 The Panel shall reach a unanimous decision on both membership of the Constituent Body, if required and suitability for registration as Chartered. Environmentalist.
6.6 An Applicant for Registration shall submit the portfolio within two months from the invitation to do so. Four copies of the submission are required and each copy shall be simply bound.
6.7 The first part of the portfolio will be a career report and should demonstrate how the total work experience and career of the Applicant to date have led to a level of all-round professional competence. It should be written in the first person be between 1500 and 2000 words and contain:
• Discussion of previous and present posts in chronological order;
• Demonstration of how the competencies have been achieved, breadth
of knowledge has developed and how the Applicant is engaged in sustainable
environmental management and development; and
• Evidence of academic qualification with details of specific training
courses attended.
6.8 The second part of the portfolio will be a report on projects or specified activities and should relate to actual work in which the Applicant has been personally responsible and can be taken from more than one project or activity. The report must be:
• Between 2500 and 4000 words long;
• Written in the first person; and
• Cross referenced against the achievement of the 20 elements of knowledge,
competence, and engagement.
The competencies are at the heart of the process and have been designed to measure vocational training, experience and care.
6.9 All reports within the portfolio for Professional Review Interview shall be validated by at least one mentor, sponsor or supervisor confirming that they represent the Applicant's own work.
6.10 The interview will last for between 40 and 60 minutes. This is a two way process, where the Applicant demonstrates virtuosity against the 20 criteria of the assessment form and / or the interviewers seek evidence of virtuosity.
6.11 The interview will therefore consist of the following:
• Greeting, introduction
• Career Report review
• Introductory presentation on Projects Reports or Activities
• Achievement of 20 elements
• Summing up questions
6.12 The assessment by the Panel will be recorded on an Assessment Score
Sheet prescribed by the Registration Authority of the Society (see appendix
2).
• Each of the 20 elements shall be judged and given a score
• Scores range from, 3 = very strong, 2 = acceptable, 1 = weak and 0
= little or no evidence
6.13 To gain Chartered Environmentalist qualification an Applicant must score a total of 30 or more with no section average less than 1.5. There can be no more than one zero score for any of the 20 elements.
6.14 Each Constituent Body shall advise an Applicant in writing of success
or failure within two months of the interview. Such notification will be in
a standard format prescribed by the Registration Authority of the Society.
6.15 A successful Applicant shall be asked for the entry fee, which includes
the first year’s subscription and shall sign the Society for the Environment
Code of Ethics (see section 9). The name and details of the Applicant shall
be put forward by the Constituent Body to the Registration Authority of the
Society for the Environment for inclusion on the Register of Chartered Environmentalists.
6.16 The Registration Authority of the Society will notify the Applicant
of successful entry onto the Register and will award a certificate of registration.
6.17 Unsuccessful Applicants shall be advised and given feedback and guidance
based on the information provided by the interview Panel.
6.18 An unsuccessful Applicant may appeal against the decision of the Panel through procedures defined by the Registration Authority of the Society.
7. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
7. 1 CPD is defined as 'the systematic maintenance improvement and broadening of knowledge and skill, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional duties throughout working life'.
7.2 Throughout a professional career personal development is essential to achieve and enhance virtuosity. Individuals registering as Chartered Environmentalists must build on prior experience and will be responsible for managing their CPD and taking appropriate action to update skills relevant to their job and career interests.
7.3 Evidence of CPD provides a demonstration of commitment to professional practice.
7.4 A person registered, as a Chartered Environmentalist will demonstrate
commitment to continually enhancing professional competence through self managed
CPD. They will be aware of:
• Professional, commercial and legal requirement for evidence of CPD;
• The ways of providing evidence of commitment to CPD; and
• The requirement to provide suitable evidence of commitment to CPD.
7.5 A Chartered Environmentalist shall take responsibility for the management
of their CPD by:
• Identifying and prioritising their development needs and opportunities;
• Using appropriate guidelines from their constituent body together
with competence benchmark/standards;
• Planning and carrying out development action using a range of appropriate
learning opportunities;
• Recording development achievements; and
• Evaluating achievements and reviewing against needs.
7.6 A Chartered Environmentalist shall offer support for the learning and
development of others by:
• Acting as a mentor;
• Encouraging employers to support professional development;
• Sharing professional expertise and knowledge; and
• Contributing to the activities of others.
8. Grandparent Rights
8 .1 When a Constituent Body enters the Society it shall offer a simplified version of the assessment processes for Chartered Environmentalist to existing individual members satisfying the criteria for registration as Chartered Environmentalist. These are known as Grandparent Rights.
8.2 An Applicant at that time shall complete an Application Form prescribed
by the Registration Authority of the Society. This Form shall provide evidence
that the Applicant has:
- At least the required minimum total of 12 learning units as defined in section
2;
- At least 4 years relevant experience (4 units); and
- Complied with the CPD requirements of the Constituent Body and signed to
confirm participation.
The form will include a personal statement illustrating the principles of
Knowledge, Competence and Engagement and include a CV with recent employment
history.
8.3 At this time the Applicant shall pay such application fees as may be
determined by the Constituent Body from time to time.
8.4 The offer of Grandparent Rights to eligible members is time limited. The
Applications of eligible members should only be considered if they are completed
and returned within a 12-month period from the vesting day. Consideration
may be given to evaluating those cases, which are deemed to be borderline
by the Constituent Body subject to notification to the Registration Authority
of the Society
8.5 The Registration Authority shall convene a review panel of two Chartered Environmentalists in order to register sufficient Chartered Environmentalists within the Constituent Body to sustain further reviews. Thereafter the Constituent Body shall convene an initial Review Panel of at least two Chartered Environmentalists. It may invite one other Chartered Environmentalist from another Constituent Body to be a member of the Panel.
8.6 The assessment of the Application will be recorded on a form prescribed by the Registration Authority of the Society.
8.7 If the Review Panel is in any doubt about experience or the evidence
presented by the Applicant it may reserve the right to invite the Applicant
to a Professional Review Interview and an appropriate fee may be levied to
make up the application fee to that being levied by Applicants being assessed
by the full procedures.
8.8 The Constituent Body shall advise an Applicant in writing of success or
failure within two months of the assessment. Such notification will be in
a standard format prescribed by the Registration Authority of the Society.
8.9 A successful Applicant shall be asked for the entry fee, which shall include the first year’s subscription and shall sign the Society for the Environment Code of Ethics (see section 9). The name and details of the Applicant shall be put forward by the Constituent Body to the Registration Authority of the Society for the Environment for inclusion on the Register of Chartered Environmentalists.
8.10 The Registration Authority will notify the Applicant of successful entry
onto the Register and will award a certificate of registration.
8.11 Unsuccessful Applicants shall be advised and given feedback and guidance
based on the information provided by the Review Panel. Unsuccessful Applicants
may only re-apply through the full application process.
8.12 At this time they are advised of the appeal procedure, which is defined
by the Registration Authority of the Society.
Code of Ethics
Every successful Applicant for Chartered Environmentalist status will be asked to sign the code of ethics laid down by the Society for the Environment as follows:
As a Chartered Environmentalist I will:
• Incorporate the best principles of the environmental sciences for
the mitigation of environmental harm and the enhancement of environmental
quality;
• Strive to ensure that the uses of natural resources are fair and sustainable
taking account of the needs of a diverse society;
• Use my skills and experience to serve the needs of the environment
and society;
• Serve as an example to others for responsible environmental behaviour;
• Not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
or discrimination; and
• Commit to maintaining my personal professional competence and strive
to maintain the integrity and competence of my profession.