Registered Environmental Practitioner Registration | REnvP

fBecoming a REnvP demonstrates that you been judged by your peers to be working at a professional standard, implementing and championing good environmental practices. This high standard incorporates not only knowledge and awareness, but skills and application of knowledge in practice. This external verification sets you apart from others in your sector.

A REnvP must be able to demonstrate:

• An underpinning knowledge of sustainability and environmental principles.
• Successful application of this knowledge to consistently implement good practice.
• 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 “REnvP” after your name provides a clear way for environmental professionals to signal this knowledge and expertise to employers, stakeholders, colleagues and clients.

All REnvP registrants have committed to following a Code of Professional Conduct and the undertaking of Continued Professional Development (CPD). These two commitments showcase to employers, stakeholders, decision makers and clients that you remain consistently at the standard they expect of a competent environmental practitioner. Registrants are highly trusted due to the external verification of their up to date abilities and continuous high level of professionalism.

Having confirmation of your broader professional skills, alongside your technical knowledge is key. This includes effective communication, strong leadership qualities, sound ethics and excellent team work.

An environmental qualification 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? Professional registration is the answer. Continuous learning is embedded into the requirements for retaining your registration.

Registered environmental professionals (CEnv, REnvP and REnvTech) cite increased confidence and professional credibility as the biggest benefits of their registration (2021 registrant survey). REnvP is an achievement that verifies competence in the environmental aspects of your work and overall professionalism. The internal and external recognition that this provides is highly valuable.

Martin Baxter CEnv, Board Member at the Society for the Environment, sets out the need for REnvP registrants:

“Translating policy and regulation into real-world change is critical in making the transition to a sustainable future. Gaining REnvP status demonstrates an individual’s skills and capability in the field of environmental protection and improvement. REnvP registrants will play a key role in implementing transformative actions to tackle significant challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution.”

Environmental professionals with proven competence are needed more than ever before. As we face huge environmental challenges, including tackling the climate and environmental emergencies, we need those with the expertise, skills and commitment to thrive in their work. Plus, having competent and dedicated environmental professionals helps to enhance public trust, respect and buy-in.

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.

The positive impacts of a professional, global environmental workforce are huge.

Through consultations conducted in 2020, employers frequently noted professional registrations as a step within their internal progression frameworks. For example, to become a Senior Consultant, you are expected to hold CEnv registration. REnvP is used by employers in a similar way and in many instances will be viewed as a signal of your intent to progress to Chartership in the coming months/years.

Gaining REnvP registration could result in more influence, securing that illusive promotion, being able to co-ordinate bigger projects, trust to sign off reports and an increased wage.

As part of your career goals, you may wish to use REnvP as a clear pathway to environmental Chartership. The competence requirements of REnvP and Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) registration are directly linked, offering a progressionary route to your goal.

Whilst working towards the additional knowledge and experience required to achieve CEnv registration, you can demonstrate your ambition and commitment with REnvP registration – a route increasingly encouraged by employers.

As an added benefit, your experience of applying for and achieving REnvP can only benefit your future CEnv application. You will gain an understanding of the process in general, the level of detail assessors expect, the application formats and many Licensed Members can advise on the missing elements to achieve CEnv.

No matter what discipline their work covers, each REnvP registrant is committed to the same standards of environmental professionalism. You will be part of a global community of professionals who have committed to address environmental challenges and progress opportunities. The CEnv, REnvP and REnvTech registrations bring you together with over 7,500 professionals. And we think that is hugely important to creating a more sustainable world.

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

To apply for and to retain REnvP registration you must be a member of a professional body licensed by SocEnv (a “Licensed Member”) at an appropriate membership grade. A selection of our Licensed Members hold a REnvP licence, allowing them to offer REnvP registration to their members who meet the eligibility criteria and competence requirements.

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 of which SocEnv Licensed Members offer REnvP registration.

Your REnvP application will be co-ordinated and conducted by your chosen Licensed Member. Contact their membership team to discuss your eligibility for REnvP 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 REnvP application documents for you to complete and return to them.

This submission comprises of a completed application form evidencing how you meet the 11 REnvP competences (see “REnvP 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 will need to 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 REnvP application form differs between Licensed Members, but all assess applications to the same standards using the 11 REnvP competences.

Following the written application, REnvP applicants might* 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 or REnvP 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 PRI, increasing accessibility to more isolated areas around the world and to those who experience accessibility challenges.

*Not all Licensed Members request or offer a PRI with REnvP applicants as standard. This generally depends on the alignment with the processes involved in the application for their equivalent level of membership. A Licensed Member may also request or offer a PRI if:

• they believe it could allow you to expand on certain elements of your application to benefit your aim of meeting all competence requirements
• they believe it would be appropriate
• a reasonable adjustment is appropriate to support the candidate’s accessibility needs.

If successful in your application submission and Professional Review Interview (if applicable), your final step is to sign SocEnv’s Code of Professional Conduct and agree to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Once complete, an official REnvP registration certificate will be in the post very shortly. You can then add “REnvP” 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. Analyse environmental information, concepts, and theories.
2. Be aware of the environmental impact of the area of study or work.
3. Understand the importance of maintaining and enhancing natural cycles and biodiversity.

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

1. Use a range of skills and concepts to address situations that involve many interacting environmental factors.
2. Apply and, where necessary, contribute to the design of relevant methodologies for sustainable environmental management.
3. Understand and implement 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 problems.
2. Address problems and find solutions with minimal supervision.
3. Demonstrate an awareness of current environmental matters and trends reflecting relevant heritage where appropriate.
4. Identify and apply new environmental information, knowledge, skills and competence 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. Implement and review good practices that go beyond statutory requirements.
2. Advise and support others to understand the wider environmental context.
3. Support sustainable management of the environment by raising issues, potential risks, benefits, and opportunities, and encourage others to contribute to environmental protection and improvement.

B2 Develop and maintain a strategic environmental approach

1. Identify and plan potential strategies for sustainable development and environmental improvement.
2. Promote inclusion and diversity and collaborate with others to address environmental challenges.
3. Identify constraints and opportunities for the development and transfer of environmentally appropriate techniques, skills, methods, processes, and behaviours.
4. Implement measures to assess and manage risks to the environment encompassing health and safety, technologies, business, and reputation.

B3 Demonstrate leadership and management skills

1. Exercise judgement in undertaking and allocating tasks to address environmental and sustainability issues.
2. Motivate and influence others to deliver environmental and sustainability objectives.
3. Manage the identification of a task and plan for its development and implementation.
4. Implement continuous environmental improvement.

Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills

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

1. Deliver presentations.
2. Contribute to and help promote debates, meetings, and discussions.
3. Identify, engage with, and respond to a range of stakeholders.

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. Seek the opinions and contributions of others.
2. Understand the motives and attitudes of others and be aware of different roles.
3. Manage decision-making and support group decisions.
4. Manage 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, work to and support others to resolve environmental ethical issues.
2. Improve environmental practice by addressing ethical issues.

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

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

REnvP 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 REnvP 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, here.

Initial registration fees start from £67.20 (includes first year of registration), with annual renewals fees starting at £33.60.

In short – no, you do not need a degree to achieve REnvP registration.

An applicant is required to have knowledge equivalent to a level 5 qualification (e.g. a foundation degree, higher national diploma [HND] or a level 5 NVQ), demonstrated either through achievement of a relevant level 5 qualification (or above) or through the submission of work deemed to be at an equivalent level by the registration assessors.

If you do not have a degree, you are not alone. Other REnvP registrants were able to demonstrate their level of knowledge through their REnvP 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 REnvP can be in a core environmental role, such as:

• Environment Officer
• Biodiversity Officer
• Environmental Consultant
• Graduate Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Scientist
• Low Carbon and Sustainability Assessor
• Sustainability Manager
• Air Quality Specialist
• Carbon Reduction Advisor
• Environmental Impact Assessor
• EIA Consultant

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

• Engineer
• CSR Officer
• SHEQ Manager
• Water Quality Technical Advisor
• Fisheries Officer
• Catchment Management Scientist
• Civil Engineer
• Compliance Manager
• Regulatory Officer
• Business Development Manager
• Energy Analyst
• Waste & Resource Consultant
• Sustainable Finance Manager
• Rural Surveyor
• Water Services Manager
• Flood Risk Manager
• Materials Engineer
• Hydrologist

Not forgetting organisational leadership roles, such as:

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

Remember, you don’t have to be at Chartered level in everything when you’re a CEO. You might be a finance and business development expert, but also have a good level of competence in environmental matters that you would like to demonstrate through professional registration (e.g. REnvP).

Inspiration

To find out more about what current 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, making sure they offer REnvP to members. You will then be able to apply for REnvP registration via the chosen professional body.
2. Explore the concept of your current professional body becoming a new Licensed Member with SocEnv (or adding REnvP to their SocEnv licenses). 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 and REnvP applicants from all corners of the world.

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

If you have been unable to continue as a REnvP 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 REnvP 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.