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Professional Certifications

There are many employers in both the private and public sectors specifically looking for graduates with environmental science degrees because of the breadth and depth in environmental training. To supplement their versatile science degree, ERM students can enhance their marketability in the environmental arena by carefully selecting the appropriate courses to qualify for Professional Licensure.

In addition to the educational requirements, most professional certifications have experience requirements--a few years of "practice" and skill development on the job is needed to qualify for the actual "professional" title. ERM students can easily obtain the following certifications to become professionals in training:

OSHA HAZWOPER Certification (Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response)

This 40 hour training course is required by the Occupational Health & Safety Administration for personnel who are assigned to work on hazardous waste sites. The course includes lecture, desk-top exercises and hands-on workshops.

Students seeking work in the environmental field should find that the credential of participation in this program will increase their employment marketability.

Upon completing the 3 credit course (offered Spring & Fall semesters at University Park), students receive a certificate of participation to document their having met the classroom training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120. A comprehensive reference manual for each student is also provided with the course. See the ERM office for more information.

Professional Wetland Scientist Certification

Certification as Wetland Professional In Training (WPIT) is considered a preliminary step for persons who have completed the educational requirements but do not meet the experience requirements. Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification is awarded to those meeting both educational and experience requirements. Professional Wetland Scientists can have a broad range of technical specialities. Currently, there is a high interest in and need for qualified professionals to consistently and accurately identify and delineate wetlands and wetland boundaries; evaluate types, nature, and function of wetlands; and/or propose plans for wetland restoration, createion and/or mitigation. The WPIT certification requires:

B.A. or B.S. degree with the following courses:

  • 15 semester credits in Biological Sciences including courses such as general biology (BIOL 110, 220W), botany, zoology, general ecology, plant/animal/aquatic/wetlands ecology (Ecology selection), invertebrate zoology; taxonomy; marine science; fisheries biology; plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology (ERM 430), plant morphology; and relevant environmental sciences (ERM 413W)
  • 15 semester credits in Physical Sciences including soils (SOILS 101), chemistry (CHEM 12, 13, 14 (1), 34), physics (PHYS 201/215), geology, hydrology, sedimentology, oceanography, coastal processes, environmental engineering, and similar courses (GEOSC 303)
  • 6 semester credits of Quantitative Sciences including math (MATH 110/140, 111/141), computer sciences, basic statistics (STAT 240), population dynamics, experimental statistics, and similar courses (ERM 300, 412).
  • You must provide a list of 5 references, and have 3 references fill out a reference form: three must be Society of Wetland Scientist (SWS) members, two must be certified Professional Wetland Scientists. (ERM Coordinator Dr. Shannon is both!)

These three educational categories above and the references are the requirements for WPIT. Most ERM students will satisfy the educational requirements. The application cost is $100 for SWS members, $200 for nonmembers.

To qualify for Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) Certification, you need (in addition to the above educational requirements) 15 semester credits in Wetland Related Coursework including wetland plant taxonomy; wetland hydrology; general hydrology; soil morphology, classification, and mapping; hydric soil identifcation; wetland restoration and creation; applied wetland ecology and management; wetland delineation/evaluation/classification (ERM 435, 450, SOILS 100, 401, 415, 416, 497C, GEOSC 452).

Professional Soil Scientist Certification

Depending on your focus of interest (soil description & mapping, soil chemistry, waste disposal/reclamation, and/or wetland-watershed resources) you can take various courses that provide you with the best combination of skills in those areas. Penn State offers the following courses:

  • ASM 457 Land Waste Disposal
  • Soils 415 Soil Morph, Mapping & Land Use
  • FOR 470 Watershed Management
  • Soils 416 Soil Genesis & Classification
  • GEOSC 452 Intro to Hydrogeology
  • Soils 418 Nutrient Management in Ag Systems
  • ERM 433 Transformation of Pollutants in Soils Soils 419 Soil Environmental Chemistry
  • Soils 100 Soil Judging
  • Soils 420 Remediation of Contaminated Soils
  • Soils 401 Soil Composition & Physical Prop.
  • Soils 422 Conserv. of Soil & Water Resources
  • Soils 402 Chemistry of Soils & Fertilizers
  • Soils 450 Environ. Geographic Info. Systems
  • Soils 412W Soil Ecology
  • Soils 497C Hydropedology

Most soil certifications require 15 semester credits of soils courses, so be sure to check the requirements before choosing what classes you want to take. However, most certifcation programs will also recognize courses that study soil resources, but are not officially named a soil course. Based on experience, the following are course suggestions according to specific areas:

  • Soil Description & Mapping
    ( SOILS 100, 401, 415, 416, 419, 450, 497C )
  • Soil Chemistry and/or Soil Reclamation
    ( ASM 457, GEOSC 452, ERM 433, SOILS 401, 402, 419, 420, 422 )
  • Wetlands/Watershed Resources
    ( FOR 470, GEOSC 452, SOILS 100, 401, 412W, 415, 416, 422, 450, 497C)

CSSE (Council of Soil Science Examiners) Soil Science Examination Information - SSSA National Certification

Certification as a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSSc) requires passing both the Fundamentals of Soil Science and Professional Practice Examinations. Complete requirements for certification for both CPSSc and Associate Professional Soil Scientist (APSSc) can be found on the SSSA website. The Associate status is targeted for soil scientists in training after graduation who have not gained the required work experience.

Pennsylvania Association of Professional Soil Scientists (PAPSS) www.papss.org.

Qualifications for Professional Membership:

  • A full 4-year course of study in an accredited college/university leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher) with major study in soil science plus five (5) years of professional experience (defined in Section 2.1) beyond the baccalaureate degree in soil mapping, soil classification, and/or soil interpretations and approval by majority vote of the Board. The course of study must have included at least 30 semester credits in soils in such subjects as soil genesis and pedology, soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology, soil fertility, soil & water management and conservation, forest soils, soil & plant analysis for nutrient management, soil mineralogy, wetland soils, and soil & environmental quality as defined by the current divisions in the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), OR
  • A full 4-year course of study in an accredited college/university leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher) with major study in a related biological, physical, or earth science field plus six (6) years of post academic professional experience (Section 2.1) and approval by majority vote of the Board. The course of study must have included at least 30 semester credits in courses in biological, physical, and earth sciences and 15 semester credits in soils in such subjects as soil genesis and pedology, soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology, soil fertility, soil & water management and conservation, forest soils, soil & plant analysis for nutrient management, soil mineralogy, wetland soils, and soil & environmental quality as defined by the current divisions in the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), OR
  • ARCPACS certification as a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSSc), Certified Professional Soil Specialist (CPSS), or Certified Professional Classifier (CPSC), OR
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) "Soil Scientist GS-5" rating and five (5) years of professional experience, OR
  • National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists (NSCSS) registration as a Registered Professional Soil Scientist (RPSS), OR
  • In unique circumstatnces where the minimum academic requirements are not met fully, an individual may be granted Professional membership by majority vote of the Board is he or she can document a cumulative total of at least ten (10) years of professional experience in soil mapping, soil classification, and/or soil interpretations and has passed the ARCPACS soil science examinations.

PAPSS also offers a $500 scholarship for soil & environmental undergraduate college students in Pennsylvania.

Professional Hydrologist Certification

American Institue of Hydrology (AIH) certifies individuals whose credentials are evaluated by a panel of nationally recognized and respected scientists and professionals. The evaluation involves a review of the applicant's education, the quality and extent of professional experience, professional conduct, and an examination. The applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • Graduate from an accredited college/university with a bachelor's degree in hydrology, hydrogeology, physical or natural sciences (ERM), or engineering, including 5 semester credits each in chemistry (CHEM 012, 013, 014), physics (PHYS 201/215, 4cr), and calculus (MATH 110/140, 111/141) and 25 semester credits in hydrology/hydrogeology related courses (Category I: ERM 435, SOILS 497C, GEOSC 452, CE 475, etc; Category II: CHEM 034, GEOSC 303, SOILS 422, FOR 470, SOILS 450/GEOSC 352, ERM 413W?; Category III: ERM 411, ERM 431, SOILS 419 and more, ERM 300/412, ERRE)
  • Five years of experience in professional hydrological or hydrogeological work after the completion of a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree. See the AIH website for more details and non-educational requirements.

Associate Membership/Hydrologist-In-Training

Individuals who meet the educational requirements but do not meet the experience and/or publications requirements, may become an Associate member until they qualify for certification. Individuals who are eligible to become an Associate member may choose to take the Fundamentals Examination and become a Hydrologist-In-Training until they meet the experience requirements and then qualify by taking and passing the Principles and Practice Examination. Students who are enrolled full time and are pursuing a degree in hydrology, hydrogeology, the natural or physical sciences, or engineering may become a Student member.

Professional Membership

Professional members are individuals who meet the educational, professional experience, publications, and professional conduct requirements, and have passed a professional examination, as prescribed by the Board of Registration. Applicants approved by the Board are certified as a Professional Hydrologist-Surface Water, Hydrologist-Groundwater, and Hydrologist-Water Quality. Retired professional members may continue their membership as an emeritus member.

The Fundamentals of Hydrology Examination tests the understanding of basic principles - going beyond empirical formulas used in the analysis of complicated situations of surface water, ground water, and water quality hydrology. The examination tests the breadth of understanding rather than depth in a particular specialty. To be eligible to sit for the fundamentals examination, an applicant must be of not less than second semester senior standing in an approved B.S. program or have completed at least 25 semester hours or 37 quarter hours of course credits in hydrology, or have at least 5 years of hydrology experience approved by the AIH registration board. The fundamentals examination must be passed to be eligible to take the principles and practice examinations.