Become a REnvP with these top tips from REnvPs and Assessors
Some aspiring Registered Environmental Practitioners might worry that the application process will be complex and lengthy. To put to rest these concerns, in this article we bring together advice from a group of registered REnvPs and assessors who assess REnvP applications to share their top tips for succeeding in your application…
What is the Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) registration?
The REnvP registration demonstrates that you have been judged by your peers to be consistently implementing, developing and advocating good environmental practices. REnvP registrants across the world have committed to continuous professionalism at a high standard and join a collective journey towards a more sustainable future. Verification of your professionalism and competence is vital to reach this goal.
REnvP can also offer a progression route to Chartership. Whilst working towards the additional knowledge and experience required for Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) registration, you can demonstrate your ambition with REnvP registration. Alternatively, REnvP can be the perfect fit for you and your career aims, enhancing your employability, influence and credibility.
1. Understand the Requirements and Standard
Read the REnvP standard e.g. IEMA Practitioner Membership standard. Be familiar with all the competencies. The verbs are important e.g. demonstrating explanation.
Helen Woolston CEnv
IEMA REnvP Assessor
Familiarise yourself with the specific criteria for REnvP registration. Make sure you meet the educational and professional experience requirements before starting your application.
Binoj Thankachan REnvP
An example of an requirement for REnvP application:
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.
2. Track your experiences, CPD and industry knowledge
Record your CPD as soon as you can – it’s always harder to do this retrospectively. Make sure your CPD is balanced in terms of breadth and depth, and is pro-active in terms of thinking ahead.
Laura Jones CEnv
IoM3 REnvP Assessor
Keep a log of your relevant experience and CDP. This can include work from your current role, previous roles and voluntary work. This will really help you when applying for REnvP, as you can refer back to it when writing the application.
Jo Cerejeira REnvP
Demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning. Highlight any additional training, workshops, or certifications that underscore your dedication to the field.
Binoj Thankachan REnvP
I would say that whilst the application part is about experience, there should be some brief linkages made to overarching background sustainability knowledge (SDGs, principles, policy and law etc) to demonstrate the linkages between knowledge and practical work.
Dipvandana Mehta CEnv
IEMA REnvP Assessor
3. Make your application easy to read
As an assessor my main piece of advice would be to make it easy for us! It’s difficult when applications have multiple competencies listed against only a line or two of evidence (I think my record is someone listing 10 competencies against 2 sentences describing their work).
Assessors are generally very good at interpreting meaning from your role description, but it’s helpful for candidates to ask themselves whether someone who knows nothing about your organisation would understand what you do on a day to day basis. Be as explicit as you can; taking D3 as an example (‘Identify and work to resolve environmental ethical conflicts’) can you explain how you’ve done this through a specific example, rather than just assuming we’ll know it’s part of your role?
Laura Jones CEnv
IoM3 REnvP Assessor
4. Don’t underestimate your ability
I think my top tip would probably be "don't underestimate your ability" coming from a more corporate background I felt like what I did wasn't important enough yet it was through putting my application and case studies together that I realised I can make a difference in my environment even working in an office.
Josh Stodel REnvP
5. Talk to others and embrace opportunities available
Learn and gain as many experiences as you can to build up your skills base, so that you have lots of examples to provide and are confident in your knowledge.
Find colleagues or contacts through SocEnv or professional institute who have been through the process and can talk with you about what to expect. You can also gauge what type of work other REnvP’s are doing.
Helen Woolston CEnv
IEMA REnvP Assessor
Take advantage of the opportunities provided by Society for the Environment and your professional body, this includes networking, attending events, and accessing resources that can help you meet the REnvP standards.
Jo Cerejeira REnvP
6. Stay informed
Keep yourself updated on the latest developments in environmental practices and regulations. This knowledge can enhance your application and demonstrate your engagement with the profession.
Binoj Thankachan REnvP
I’d recommend that people read the guides! For example, at IoM3 we have an excellent guide covering IEng, REnvP and RSci together. The REnvP section provides examples of the types of evidence that would be appropriate against each competency, as well as providing an example as to how an application can be presented. This is a guide; you can use other examples and absolutely don’t have to include every type of indicative evidence. I’ve always found them helpful in trying to work out which part of my role fits against which competency.
Laura Jones CEnv
IoM3 REnvP Assessor
7. Show not tell
When writing your case studies you need to demonstrate all 13 competencies across the application. The most effective way of doing this is by describing work you have done using the STAR format. What was the situation, what are the underlying global trends and principles. How did it fit in with the sustainability strategy? What was your task? What action did you take. Talk about the data, tools, policy, tactics innovation and communication you used. What were the results? By describing it like this you are showing how you meet the competencies, not just telling that you do.
Helen Woolston CEnv
IEMA REnvP Assessor
8. Just write the REnvP application!
As you collate evidence put it into your draft professional review report (PRR). It’s much easier to tidy things up and remove excess information than trying to write it all in one go retrospectively. Many people find the hardest thing with PRRs is just putting pen to paper in the first instance. You may find the proposed template doesn’t work for you – consider different approaches such as grouping evidence by project, or chronologically in your role. It’s your career so up to you how you shape the provision of evidence to best demonstrate your competence.
Laura Jones CEnv
IoM3 REnvP Assessor
Additional helpful points from REnvP Assessors:
Laura Jones CEnv:
To anyone that is already Chartered, perhaps as a CEng or CSci, I would ask them to seriously consider REnvP as a way to demonstrate your commitment to the environment and to sustainability. As professionals we are all acutely aware of the need to play our part in a more sustainable future, so why not consider applying for REnvP as a peer-reviewed validation of your role in working towards this?
Dipvandana Mehta CEnv:
A lot of the points made in the CEnv article is also relevant to REnvP in terms of how to write the application such as – ‘I’ not ‘we’ in the application; it is ok to not achieve all goals or environmental outcomes as long as there is learning from it; keep acronyms to a minimum; varied case studies showcasing different scenarios or work (even where a candidate works on one tool/topic area the case studies can reflect different challenges or aspects of the tools).
Benefits of REnvP registration – in their own words
Feeling inspired by all those top tips? A quick reminder of the benefits of being an REnvP – find out what our REnvPs are saying:
The availability of ample free resources, really supported me through the successful REnvP application process, which has now allowed me to be part of a great community.
Jo Cerejeira REnvP
REnvP provides both recognition within the industry, and confidence in one's skills and knowledge.
Alex Fintoni REnvP
{REnvP registration] allows me to be part of a growing network of environmental professionals – whose goal is to contribute to a sustainable resilient future – and benefit from their knowledge, experience and support.
Anastasia Kireeva REnvP
Useful Resources
How to apply for REnvP Webinar
This informative webinar details how you can apply for Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) registration. This includes the prerequisites for applying, the application process and information relating to the competences required for registration. An ideal opportunity for aspiring environmental professionals to find out more about applying for this environmental registration.
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Green Leaders in Action | A Video Interview Series
Registered environmental professionals share their experiences & offer advice to aspiring individuals interested in starting their own green career.
REnvP register goes from strength to strength with record quarter
In Q1 of 2023, more new Registered Environmental Practitioners were confirmed compared to any previous period - an REnvP record quarter.
Registered Environmental Practitioner
External verification of up to date competence and experience, setting REnvP professionals apart from other practitioners working in their field.
Our Licensed Members
The first prerequisite to apply for CEnv, REnvP or REnvTech registration is to become a member of one of our Licensed Members.
