Chartered Environmentalist Registration | CEnv

As the prominence and reputation of CEnv professionals continue to grow, chartered status is increasingly seen internationally as a highly desirable demonstration of an individual’s high level of competence. Registration as a CEnv demonstrates that an individual has been judged by their peers to be working at the highest standards in the environmental aspects of their work. A CEnv must be able to demonstrate:

• A high level of theoretical knowledge of sustainability and environmental issues
• Successful application of this knowledge to lead sustainable management of the environment
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• A personal commitment to maintain professional standards, and to recognise obligations to society, the profession and the environment

Using the post-nominal letters “CEnv” after your name provides a clear way for environmental professionals to signal this knowledge and expertise to employers, stakeholders, decision makers and clients.

Decisions impacting the environment should be made by those with proven, up to date competence. CEnv registrants are perfectly placed to do this. They are leading the way – others will follow.

A CEnv has committed to following a Code of Professional Conduct and undertaking Continued Professional Development (CPD). These two valuable commitments showcase to employers, stakeholders, decision makers and clients that the individual remains consistently at the high standard they expect of a CEnv. Registrants are highly trusted due to the external verification of their up to date abilities.

An environmental degree is a fantastic step to gaining knowledge of environmental matters, but how do you show that you have kept this knowledge up to date as innovations, legal requirements and best practices change? Chartership is the answer. Continuous learning is embedded into the requirements for retaining your CEnv registration (similar to all charterships).

The environmental agenda is only growing with the climate and environmental emergencies we now face. CEnv registrants can lead the way in tackling these challenges in a sustainable way. The positive impacts of a highly professional, global environmental workforce are huge.

Environmental professionals exists in all sectors – from finance to engineering, science to agriculture, materials management to transport. The opportunities to make a difference as a core environmental professional or an environmental specialist within another discipline are growing and increasingly valued.

Having CEnv professionals leading, innovating and making decisions helps to enhance public trust in environmental services, laws and targets and those responsible for environmental related decisions.

No matter what discipline their work covers, each CEnv registrant is committed to the same high standards of environmental professionalism. You will be part of a global community of professionals who have committed to use their expertise to address environmental challenges and progress opportunities. The CEnv registration brings you together. And we think that is hugely important to creating a more sustainable world.

You can connect with CEnv peers on our dedicated CEnv, REnvP and REnvTech LinkedIn group.

Explore #iamCEnv

The CEnv community came together in 2020 to tell the world about their vital work. For those aspiring to become a CEnv or an environmental professional more widely, #iamCEnv is the place for some serious insight and inspiration from across sectors, disciplines and experience levels!

To check out what they said, search for #iamCEnv on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. You will find inspiring video clips, interviews, webinars, wise words of advice and more.

Registering as a CEnv provides a wealth of opportunities and benefits:

• Increased pay: A recent survey of IES members found that CEnv members earned on average 33% more than non-CEnv members
• Numerous employers (especially consultancies) now require CEnv registration for higher grades
• You become eligible to enter the annual SocEnv Awards
• Contribute to special SocEnv programmes and reports
• Invitations to speak at events hosted by SocEnv, its Licensed Members and partner organisations
• Discounted access to a variety of events, conferences and networking opportunities
• Showcase your good practice case studies, blogs and thought pieces via SocEnv’s platforms.

To apply for and to retain CEnv registration you must be a member of a professional body licensed by SocEnv (a “Licensed Member”) at an appropriate membership grade. All Licensed Members make CEnv registration available to their members who meet the eligibility criteria and CEnv competences.

The requirements of the appropriate grade of membership within each Licensed Member will vary. If you do not already hold membership of a Licensed Member, it’s worth exploring the options available to match your area of knowledge and career goals.

SocEnv’s Licensed Members cover a vast range of sectors, specialisms and disciplines. Click here for details.

Your CEnv application will be co-ordinated and conducted by your chosen Licensed Member. Contact their membership team to discuss your eligibility for CEnv registration. We would then recommend exploring the the next steps in the application process, the support available to you, any timelines / deadlines involved and the applicable application and annual renewal fees. Peer mentoring, registration workshops and application guidance packs can be highly valuable.

The Licensed Member will provide your CEnv application documents for you to complete and return to them.

This submission comprises of a completed application form evidencing how you meet the 11 CEnv competences (see “CEnv competences” section below). Additional supporting information may also be requested by the Licensed Member, which could include a CV, CPD record, report examples and/or qualification certificates.

To accompany your application, you must supply details of two sponsors to verify the details you have provided. Further details of who can be a sponsor will be provided by the Licensed Member.

The format of the CEnv application form differs between Licensed Members, but all assess applications to the same standards using the 11 CEnv competences.

Following the written application, CEnv applicants will be invited to complete a Professional Review Interview (PRI) with the Licensed Member. Generally informal in nature, the interview panel will include at least one current CEnv registrant and will take the format of a discussion about your application and how you have achieved each competence.

Interviews tend to be completed in one hour and could include a presentation from the applicant.

The prevalence of video conferencing facilities now simplifies the logistics of the CEnv interview, increasing accessibility to more isolated areas around the world and to those who experience accessibility challenges.

If successful in your application submission and Professional Review Interview, your final step is to sign SocEnv’s Code of Professional Conduct and agree to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Once complete, an official CEnv registration certificate will be in the post very shortly. You can then add “CEnv” after your name on email signatures, LinkedIn profiles, CVs, tender applications and more.

SocEnv’s Code of Professional Conduct:

• Act in accordance with the best principles 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, misrepresentation or discrimination; and
• Commit to maintaining my personal professional competence and strive to uphold the integrity and competence of my profession.

Application of knowledge and understanding of the environment to further the aims of sustainability:

A1 Understand the sustainability principles applicable to the management of the environment.

1. Critically analyse complex environmental information, concepts and theories to determine sustainable courses of action.
2. Understand the environmental impact of the area of study or work.
3. Understand the importance of natural cycles and biodiversity in sustainability and identify strategies for their maintenance and enhancement.

A2 Apply environmental knowledge and principles in pursuit of sustainable environmental management.

1. Develop strategies to address complex situations that involve many interacting environmental factors.
2. Determine measures to deliver continuous improvement in sustainable environmental management.
3. Negotiate contracts and arrangements with relevant stakeholders.

A3 Identify, analyse, and anticipate the impact of problems and environmental trends to develop practical sustainable solutions.

1. Identify and assess the impact of complex problems working sometimes with incomplete data.
2. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and addressing problems.
3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of current environmental matters and trends and trends reflecting relevant heritage where appropriate and anticipate and assess future impacts.
4. Critically analyse and embrace new environmental information and advance knowledge, skills, and competence in the environmental field to develop practical sustainable solutions.

Leading Sustainable Management of the Environment

B1 Promote behavioural and cultural change by influencing others to secure environmental improvements that go beyond statutory requirements.

1. Develop good practices that go beyond statutory requirements by learning from results.
2. Lead, advise and support others to improve their understanding of the wider environmental context.
3. Advocate sustainable management of the environment by identifying issues, potential risks, benefits and opportunities and influence others, in particular from other disciplines, to contribute to environmental protection and improvement.

B2 Develop and maintain a strategic environmental approach.

1. Develop innovative strategies for sustainable development and environmental improvement.
2. Promote inclusion and diversity and engage and collaborate with others to promote inter-disciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.
3. Evaluate constraints and exploit opportunities for the development and transfer of environmentally appropriate techniques, skills, methods, processes, and behaviours.
4. Identify and manage risks to the environment encompassing health and safety, technologies, business, and reputation.

B3 Demonstrate leadership and management skills.

1. Demonstrate autonomy and judgement in managing complex environmental and sustainability issues.
2. Lead, motivate and convince others to agree and deliver environmental and sustainability objectives.
3. Specify the objectives of a task, implement it and critically evaluate the outcome.
4. Plan and manage continuous environmental improvement.

Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills

C1 Communicate the environmental case, confidently, clearly, autonomously and competently.

1. Deliver presentations to a diverse range of audiences.
2. Chair, lead and contribute to debates, meetings, and discussions.
3. Lead and promote stakeholder engagement.

C2 Ability to liaise with, negotiate with, handle conflict and advise others, in individual and/or group environments (either as a leader or member).

1. Build relationships to capture and incorporate the opinions and contributions of others.
2. Understand the motives and attitudes of others to reach agreement.
3. Lead decision-making and champion group decisions.
4. Resolve conflict to achieve common goals within groups, and tasks.

Personal Commitment to Professional Standards, Recognising Obligations to Society, the Profession and the Environment

D1 Plan, undertake and evaluate CPD activities to maintain and enhance competence in area of practice.

1. Plan, undertake, reflect on, and evaluate CPD activities.

D2 Assess and resolve environmental ethical issues.

1. Identify, assess, and resolve, and encourage others to resolve, environmental ethical issues.
2. Improve environmental practice by addressing complex ethical issues.

D3 Understand demonstrate and advocate compliance with relevant codes of conduct and practice.

1. Understand, comply, and advocate compliance with relevant codes of conduct and practice.

CEnv initial registration and ongoing annual renewal fees will be charge by, and paid to, your chosen Licensed Member.

Fees charged vary between each Licensed Member. This is because SocEnv charges each Licensed Member a set amount for each CEnv registrant they have – the Licensed Member then has the option to add appropriate administration and processing fees to meet their financial needs.

Fees charged can typically be found through the Licensed Member website. Most are also available to view in the Licensed Member section of our website.

Initial registration fees start from £100.80 (includes first year of registration), with annual renewals fees starting at £50.40.

In short – no, you do not need a master’s degree to apply for CEnv registration.

An applicant is required to have master’s degree level thinking (level 7 on the qualification scale), demonstrated either through achievement of a relevant master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) or through the submission of written work deemed to be at an equivalent level by the registration assessors.

If you do not have a master’s degree, you are not alone. Hundreds of CEnv registrants do not have a qualification at this level. They were able to demonstrate their level of knowledge through their CEnv application using examples of their work.

Education levels explained

Visit the UK Government website, here.

This is a question with a lot of answers! We have provided some examples below, but this is just a very small selection.

A CEnv can be in a core environmental role, such as:

• Energy & Environment Manager
• Environmental Scientist
• Ecologist
• Environmental Consultant
• Head of Sustainability
• Air Quality Specialist
• Environmental Policy Manager
• Carbon Reduction Advisor
• Environmental Impact Assessor
• Professor of Environmental Sciences
• Biodiversity Lead
• Climate Emergency Programme Manager

Plus, they can be environmental specialists within another core area, such as:

• Catchment Management Scientist
• Civil Engineer
• Business Development Manager
• Head of Operations
• Mechanical Efficiency Engineer
• Principal Engineer
• Waste & Resource Consultant
• Sustainable Finance Manager
• Senior Architectural Technologist
• Rural Surveyor
• Director of Innovation
• Water Services Manager
• Project Manager
• Rail Transport Technical Lead
• Flood Risk Manager
• Materials Engineer
• Hydrologist

Not forgetting organisational leadership roles, such as:

• Managing Director
• CEO
• Partner
• Non-Executive Board Member

Inspiration

To find out more about what current CEnv registrants do, please check out our registrant profiles and the EnvCast podcast – environmental professionals in conversation.

Two main options are available to you:

1. Check out our current Licensed Members to find a suitable professional body to join as a secondary membership. You will then be able to apply for CEnv registration via the chosen professional body.
2. Explore the concept of your current professional body becoming a new Licensed Member with SocEnv. We would be happy to support you with this process, so please do contact us to get the ball rolling.

Generally, yes.

With the prevalence of virtual / web based video conferencing facilities, most Licensed Members can now conduct the Professional Review Interview (PRI) using these platforms. This makes it much easier for CEnv applicants from all corners of the world.

Yes. CEnv is a globally recognised achievement and you can apply from anywhere in the world.

15% of current registrants are based outside of the UK. You will be joining a global community of professionals tackling environmental challenges and moving towards a more sustainable future.

Generally, yes.

You can transfer your CEnv registration to another Licensed Member at no cost, but you must meet the new member’s requirements. Contact your current Licensed Member to request the transfer.

Reinstatement

Were you registered as a CEnv in past years, let your registration lapse, but would like to register to become a CEnv again? It might be easier to reinstate your CEnv registration than you think!

If you have been unable to continue as a CEnv registrant in recent years, you may still be able to reinstate as a registrant again without the need to complete the full application process.

To be able to do this without the need to complete the full application process again, you must;

• still be a member of one of our Licensed Members at an appropriate level
• be able to provide CPD records as evidence of maintained competence for the lapsed period, with an up to date CV to also be provided
• apply for reinstatement within three years of your last year as a registrant.

If you intend to apply for reinstatement beyond three years, you are required to complete the CEnv application process again, in full, to establish to the satisfaction of the Licensed Member that the competences are still met.

To begin the reinstatement process, please contact the membership team at the Licensed Member that you previously held your registration with. If we can assist in any way or provide further information, please do contact us.