Environmental Professional Certificate Program (EPCP)

For more information, download our EPCP flyer here!

NOTE: The EPCP will not be scheduled during 2010-11.

Overview

Are you looking to acquire high-quality, ‘hands on’ skills that are in demand in today’s environmental sector?

The Environmental Professional Certificate Program (EPCP) is a 6-month professional-level certificate program offered by the Natural Resources Extension Program (NREP), Vancouver Island University. The EPCP will provide environmental practitioners with leading-edge, practical environmental, fisheries, aquatic, safety and communication skills. The EPCP is highly-applied, focusing on field skills training and applications.

Agenda and Format

The EPCP is comprised of ‘streams’:

Fisheries inventory, assessment & rehabilitation: 25 days of classroom/field
Aquatic inventory and monitoring: 11 days of classroom/field training
Environmental assessment, monitoring &rehabilitation: 70 days of classroom/field
Safety awareness, planning and certification: 15 days of classroom/field
Communications skills: 15 days of classroom training

The EPCP consists of approximately 134 days of instruction to be delivered over a 6-month period. The EPCP will consist of training that is highly relevant and applicable in industry, and will include in-depth classroom lectures, demonstrations and case studies, and numerous field training sessions. Approximately ½ of the program will be field-based, and will provide focused, realistic field scenarios and skills training.

To maximize student development, class size will be limited to 16 full-time students; with 1 full-time classroom instructor and 2 full-time field instructors.

Objectives

EPCP graduates will be capable of designing, managing and implementing diverse and multi-faceted environmental initiatives and projects, including:

Fish, fish habitat, wildlife, vegetation assessment and restoration projects
Qualitative and quantitative fish population estimation
Water quality sampling programs
Aquatic (Invertebrate, water quality, aquatic plants) sampling and monitoring
Mapping/GPS/GIS and orienteering
Plant, Fish and Wildlife identification
Stream Crossing Design, installation, assessment and restoration
Erosion & Sediment Control (introductory to advanced)
Environmental Monitoring, including field techniques and site assessment
Impact assessment
Site restoration
Safety initiatives (ATV, Swift Water Rescue, Wilderness First Aid, boat safety)
Communications (report writing, reporting, statistics, field communications).

Schedule

NOTE: The EPCP will not be scheduled during 2010-11.

Registration

Registration Information

Certification

EPCP is an accredited post-secondary certification program that will serve as credit towards completion of further education at select post-secondary institutes in Canada. Further, NREP is currently negotiating EPCP certification with several professional associations, and will announce those agreements as they are finalized.

Evaluation

The EPCP places a high emphasis on maximizing practical skills training. For that reason, the EPCP is not designed to be a rigorous academic program with in-depth examinations. Evaluation will include field checklists, individual and group assignments, attendance records, field journaling, and short, in-class or take-home exams.

Transfer Credit

To another program or institute

NREP staff is currently negotiating transfer credit with several other natural resource-related post-secondary institutes. Ideally, EPCP graduates will be able to transfer most if not all of their academic achievement to a given college or university should they wish to further their education.

Applied to the EPCP

Transfer credit for successful completion of any traditional NREP short course offering will not be eligible.

Admission

General admission requirements apply:

Canadian citizens and those with permanent residence status in Canada are eligible for admission to University and Career/Technical programs if they meet one of the following conditions:

graduation from a Canadian secondary school, or equivalent, with a minimum “C” grade in English 11;
previous degree from a recognized university;
visiting student from a college or university (a “Letter of Permission” from the home institution is required);
mature student—at least 21 years of age (or will turn 21 during the program delivery) and has a minimum “C” grade in English 11.

General Admission Requirements for Trades & Applied Technology Programs

Graduation from BC secondary school, or equivalent from another school system,
OR
Mature Student Category: at least 19 years of age (or turning 19 during the first two months of the program);
AND the following:

Minimum 17 years of age, unless stated otherwise.
Math and/or reading and/or trades aptitude test may be required.
Physically fit and able to adapt to working conditions.
Good hand/eye coordination.
Good health, free of vision, hearing or respiratory ailments.
Valid driver’s license will be required for vehicle and equipment operation.

EPCP Admission Requirements

English 11 with min. “C” grade, or equivalent.
Principles of Math 11 with min. “C” grade, or Applications of Math 11 with min. “C+” grade, or equivalent.
Biology 11 with min. “C” grade, or equivalent.
Resume.
Interview (in-person or phone).

Prospective students will be required to submit an application package to the NREP Program Manager. That package is to include:

Official transcripts, showing successful completion of English 11, Principles of Math, Biology 11 (or equivalent for each).
Current resume with mailing address and contact information (email, cell phone, alternative phone number)
Letter of Permission (for foreign students)

Please mail application package to:

Natural Resources Extension Program

Bldg 380 - 900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5

Attention: ‘EPCP Admission’

NREP will conduct phone interviews with each candidate following submission of each application package.

A good fitness level is critical to success. Students should be prepared to participate in a physically-demanding environment (frequent stream wading, bending, lifting, exposure to outdoors).

For more information, please contact the NREP Manager.

Once your application package is approved, you will be able to register for the course. Registration for the course can be done several ways. Please refer to the registration link above.

Prerequisites

Work Safe BC First Aid training is a co-requisite for Electrofishing certification. Participants are required to complete this one-day training program prior to attending an EPCP delivery.

Personal Equipment Requirements

NREP will provide all relevant field and classroom equipment, while course participants will be required to provide the following:

Appropriate field work clothing (note: Please avoid tight-fitting jeans and always provide extra socks, pants and shirt)
Leak-free chest waders with non-slip footwear. Waders should be rubber, nylon or neoprene – please do not purchase or bring Gore-Tex waders.
Wading belt
Polarized sunglasses
Field cruisers vest
Sturdy footwear (heavy soled work boots and waterproof boots, steel shank in sole desirable but not required)
Sturdy rain gear (pants and jacket)
Hat with a brim
Sunscreen and insect repellent
Work gloves (leather is preferable)
Safety glasses
Hi-vis vest
Flagging tape
Calculator
Classroom pens, notepads, pencils and straightedge

To purchase most equipment, participants are advised to contact sporting goods stores and specialty outfitters, such as fly fishing stores or outdoor equipment suppliers. NREP staff will provide all field and classroom-related supplies and equipment, including; course manuals, reference material and associated field equipment.

Course Fees

Student tuition will vary by course location. Please refer to specific delivery locations on our Schedule. Course tuition is a one-time fee, and will include all associated manuals and reference materials. Students will be required to provide their own accommodation, transportation and out-of-pocket living expenses.

Student Loans

The EPCP is pending eligibility for student funding. For more information, please refer here: Financial Aid & Awards | Vancouver Island University (VIU)

Who enrolls in the EPCP?

The EPCP target audience would include:

Graduates of natural resource-related diploma and degree programs.
Current environmental practitioners wishing to upgrade/expand skills and abilities.
Individuals desiring a career in environmental assessment, monitoring & rehabilitation, fish & wildlife biology, aquatic and terrestrial biology.

Employment Opportunities

NREP Needs Assessment surveys and Canada-wide labour market surveys indicate a very strong interest and demand for environmental practitioners. Further, Labour Market surveys indicate that on average approximately 6,000 environmental practitioner job vacancies happen each year in Canada (data: 1998-2005).

The EPCP is specifically designed to meet that need – by providing highly-applied, in-demand practical skills training. The significant growth within the environmental sector, as well as impending retirements for existing environmental practitioners, will create a significant demand for a skilled environmental workforce.

At no charge, NREP staff will work with each student to identify their areas of interest and preferences for future development and employment. NREP will assist with resume development or review, provide employment contacts or leads, and identify potential opportunities for development or employment.

Program Completion Options

The EPCP is designed to be completed as a full-time student. At this time, we are not able to accommodate part-time student applications.

Arranging a Delivery in Your Community

The EPCP is available for delivery in any community in North America. The EPCP will require lead time of one year, and prospective hosting organizations will need to contact us well in advance of any proposed delivery timeframe.

Community groups or organizations are advised to contact the NREP Manager, for more information.