Frequently Asked Questions

The NGICP covers the following GI types:

• Bioretention (includes rain gardens, curb cuts/curb extension, stormwater planters/tree boxes, tree trenches, and bioswales/vegetated swales)
• Permeable pavements (porous asphalt, pervious concrete, pervious pavers)
• Rainwater harvesting (rain barrels and cisterns)
• Rooftop detention practices (green roofs and blue roofs)
• Dry wells
• Stormwater wetlands

The NGICP was created to promote skilled individuals who will install, inspect, and maintain green infrastructure (GI) systems and also support community-based job creation, and establish national standards for individuals seeking to work on GI projects. The driver for this joint effort was DC Water’s amended federal consent decree (2005 consent decree, amended in 2016) to construct large-scale GI to manage combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the District of Columbia, and the Green Jobs Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DC Water and the District of Columbia. The consent decree is a legal agreement between DC Water, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Additionally, demand has been growing for a national program to provide credentialed green infrastructure construction and maintenance professionals.

The NGICP certification is a green infrastructure-specific credential that will signify that you possess the foundational knowledge needed to properly perform construction, inspection, and maintenance tasks for GI.

The credential helps you to stand out among other GI job seekers. Employers will know that you have a solid background knowledge of GI and that you are ready to apply that on a job site. GI project owners will be assured that having certified workers install, inspect, and maintain their GI practices will improve the efficiency, performance, and longevity of their GI investment.

The certification process involves the following steps:

•  Meeting the eligibility criteria
• Attending a GI training course in your region
• Submitting a certification application form and fees
• Taking the exam and receiving a passing grade

For more information, please read the Certification Policies and Procedures Handbook.

The following times are allotted to complete each exam:

Part A – open book no time limit

All full certification exams (part 1 & 2) – 180 minutes

Individual Section 1 Exams

CPESC, CPESC-SI, CPSWQ, CPSWQ, CPSQW-SI, and CPISM – 60 minutes

CESSWI, CESSWI-SI, CPMSM, CPSWI, and CPWPC – 90 minutes

Individual Section 2 Exams

CPESC, CPESC-SI, CPSWQ, CPESC-SI, and CPISM– 120 minutes

CESSWI, CESSWI-SI, CPMSM, CPSWI, and CPWPC– 90 minutes

QSM - There are quizzes at the conclusion of each module, excepting Module 1 and the applicant has 90 minutes to complete each quiz.

NGICP - There is one section with a 180-minute time limit.

This varies per certification. For full CPESC $175.00 and CPESC-IT $95.00. For CPSWQ $175.00 and once the CPSWQ-IT program becomes active $95.00. For full CESSWI $145.00 and for CESSWI-IT $95.00. For CPMSM $155.00 and when the CPMSM-IT program becomes active $95.00. For NGICP $135 and for QSM $100.

No, the additional review and training acquired through individual states provides you with the necessary authority.

A good example is the California QSP program.  The program accepts ECI certifications to qualify for the QSP/QSD program, and a candidate then undergoes additional training and receives an additional certificate to practice.  Another example is New York where CPESC is written into the regulations.

Therefore, if you don’t have a state certificate or another qualifying certificate, then you are welcome to avail yourself of this offer, otherwise, no further action is needed.

The questions are from previous CESSWI exams or are variations of new questions that ECI is benchmarking.  The questions probe basic principles of inspections and observations.  There are no rules and regulation questions, but you can expect pictures of field conditions and you will be prompted to deduce a very common sense (objective) answer to demonstrate your knowledge of the particular subject.

ECI will provide copies of the current manual and presentation (currently being re-written).  We believe most CPESCs can take and pass the exam based on acquired professional knowledge, but ECI will provide access for thirty (30) days to the online on-demand CESSWI review at no charge, per request if you feel you need it.  Email requests to wecare@envirocert.org .

No.  ECI is a certification body.  If we start certifying and advocating for practices that are not vigorously supported by the policies, history of the curriculum, examination, as well as the standard of practice in the planning and design of erosion and sediment control related sectors, we basically water down and the program.  It becomes a disingenuous promotion of an industry and promotes substandard practices.  Further, a person who has been practicing for x number of years does not translate and ensure they possess the minimum competency and expertise.   We are trying to maintain and ensure the stature and integrity of the program.

A professional raised an issue about older CPESC exams possessing field inspection content.  In response, ECI staff are researching decades old exams to assess if those prior exams possessed the necessary technical content.

The “now” timing of the component is the termination of over two (2) years of evaluating this question with a variety of different groups, which has included evaluating the scope (and limitations) of the CPESC and CESSWI authority (as well as CPSWQ).  We also believe that the industry has continued to evolve and become increasingly specialized, requiring greater depth and breadth of skillsets.

ECI has concluded that the CPESC program is based on planning and design concepts in erosion and sediment control.  This is a certification program and not all parties come to the table with a standardized education and program of training.  CESSWI was created to provide individuals with the authority to perform inspections.

ECI is a certification body.  If ECI starts certifying and advocating for practices that are not vigorously supported by the policies, history of the curriculum, examination content, as well as the standard of practice, we basically begin to invalidate the program.  It becomes a disingenuous promotion within the industry and promotes substandard practices.  ECI continues to maintain and ensure the stature and integrity of the CPESC program, and hence this very difficult process that we need to overcome.