Frequently Asked Questions

No. The requirements listed are for the In-Training Certification only. This allows the applicant an option to earn the In-Training Certification until the requirements for the Full Certification have been met.

No.

Yes.

Education credits show that you have earned a degree or professional license. ECI believes that post secondary education is valuable and that even if it is not in the erosion and sediment control, stormwater, environmental, science, planning, or construction management field it has provided valuable training.

Create a profile on the Certification Management System (CMS) portal, answer a series of background questions and provide references. After these are completed an application is created and the application fee is paid.

The job descriptions need to provide detailed descriptions of your work in the erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and environmental fields. Providing a job title only is not descriptive enough.

Application review can take up to 30 days. An incomplete application may take longer.

Application review can take up to 30 days. An incomplete application may take longer. Once the application is approved, you will need to schedule and pass the exam. A credentials packet is mailed within two (2) weeks of a passing score.

Complimentary copies of the General Principles Review Manual and General Principles Presentation Manual are emailed to you within two (2) business days upon payment of the application fee.

In order to treat all applicants equally, ECI requires that each individual complete the current certification application.

All college degrees are accepted for education credit and receive education per the tables found on the web page.

No. The application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

A large majority of jurisdictions, municipalities, states or over 30 countries accept or require our certification. You will need to check with your specific jurisdiction, municipality, state or country to verify acceptance.

ECI certifications show an elevated knowledge and competency in erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and environmental areas associated with the particular certification. Many jurisdictions are accepting or requiring professional certifications for qualified persons within their permits and ordinances.

ECI’s In-Training program was developed to mimic the Professional Engineering EIT or FE program. In-Training shows you have the background knowledge but not the professional experience to practice the profession individually. As with the engineering EIT or FE program you may assist a fully certified professional in their work but you may not sign or stamp reports or plans. This work will enable you to aquire in-field/on-site experience from an experienced professional. More information can be found in the Understanding In-Training Certifications PDF.

Retired status is available, but must be requested. It has no professional development requirements, and a minimal yearly renewal fee of $25.00. Once you have entered into retired status you add “retired” after your certification, i.e. CPESC, Retired. Please note that you may no longer use your certification for any business or consulting purposes.

No.

No, certifications are not reciprocal or transferable to another certification. You need to create a separate application for each certification.

All certifications require a high school education or GED certificate. CPESC, CPSWQ and CPISM require a minimum of seven years of professional experience or professional experience and education credits combined. CPMSM requires a minimum of five years of professional experience or professional experience and education credits combined. CESSWI requires a minimum of three years of professional experience or professional experience and education credits combined. Currently CPESC, CESSWI, and CPSWQ offer an In-Training program with lesser requirements and the remaining programs will offer an In-Training program in the near future. Requirements for the In-Training program for CPESC is two years of professional experience or professional experience and education credits combined and CESSWI is one year of professional experience or professional experience and education credits combined.

You can find your certification number on the ECI website within the directory or in your portal.

Fully certified professionals can practice with the full rights and privileges of the certification. As an In-Training certified professional you may assist a fully certified professional in their work but you may not sign or stamp reports or plans.

Many jurisdictions accept or require ECI certifications. You will need to check with specific jurisdiction you are working in to verify acceptance.

Many jurisdictions accept or require ECI certifications. You will need to check with specific jurisdiction you are working in to verify acceptance.

The directory only shows those certified professionals that are current with their certifications. If you are current and your name does not appear, please contact a Program Associate.

The Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) is a program administered by the State of California and is a Certificate of Training for that state only. CPESC and other programs administered by ECI are Professional Certifications that are recognized in over thirty-five (35) states in the US and over twenty (20) countries. *Note CPESC meets the underlying certification requirement (if you are not a PE) to become a QSD in California.

No.

Description on the ECI Website under the “How To” section.

Varies by certification. Paper CPESC, CPSWQ, and CPISM full exams are five hours, CESSWI full exam is four hours, and CPMSM full is three hours.

You will be awarded your certification within 48 hrs of passing your PSI exam. Your certificate and credentials packet will arrive by mail within two (2) weeks.

Written exam results will be posted within thirty (30) days. PSI exam results will be posted the same day you take the test.

No. ECI suggest and encourages that you sit for the exam as quickly as possible once you are approved.

For a paper exam you will need to check the calendar on the ECI website. For online exams, CPESC, CESSWI, CPMSM and CPSWQ are offered at PSI testing centers.

You need to submit a request found on the ECI website calendar page. PSI will send an email confirmation with the required number.

You may not sit for the review of the certification(s) you hold to earn PDHs. However if you do not have the certification you are attendig the review for you may use it towards PDHs the first time only.

Description on the ECI Website under the “How To” section.

You may carry over one years PDH requirement.

One.

To have PDHs carryover you must request in writing (emails are acceptable) that available PDHs be carried over to the next PDH/renewal cycle.

PDHs are earned after you become certified. The exception is that you may receive, upon request, one renewal cycle equivalent of PDHs for passing the exam.

One PDH is equivalent to one contact hour. Typically but not always a CEU is equivalent to a tenth of a contact hour. When entering your PDHs into the portal, base the number of PDHs earned on contact hours.

PDHs are earned whenever there is an increase in knowledge of the environmental industry as it relates to the specific certification. This includes, but is not limited to, formal training, workshops, webinars, in-house training, presentations, reading articles, books, or study material. This also includes if you are instructing or developing the learning material.

Your old PDHs are still in the portal. Only those for the current renewal cycle appear when you open My PDH Portfolio. To see your old PDHs click on the “All” toggle in the upper right of the My PDH Credits screen.

These forms can be found on our Learning Resources page under the “Professional Development Hours – Tools & Information” drop down menu.

ECI is a certifying organization and not a training organization. To be an accredited certification organization training is not allowed.

Typically any course with an environmental emphasis is accepted as a PDH. As a certified professional, ECI expects you to use your professional judgement as to if a course is applicable.

Log into the portal, click profile, click update profile. Further directions can be found under the “How To” section of our website.

Be sure to select the grey box located directly below your certification on the renewal page. Please refer to step 10 in How to Renew Certification for more information.

This is on a case by case basis and must be approved by the Assistant Executive Director.

This is on a case by case basis and must be approved by the Assistant Executive Director.

If you are less than 30 days past due you renew and pay a late fee. If you are past due more than 30 days you will need to go through the reinstatement program.

The reinstatement program allows those whose certifications are past due more than thirty days to bring their certifications current again. To enter the program you will need to submit a written request (email is acceptable) to enter the program and explain why you let your certification lapse and if you have been using it during the time it has been expired. Once entered you will need to update your portal showing all the PDHs you earned since your last renewal and update your professional experience for the time since your last renewal. Upon completion of the entries you need to notify the Technical Manager who will review your data and either request additional information or send a reinstatement approval email with the fee. Upon payment of the fee your certification will be reinstated and made current.

Receipts are mailed along with your new Certification card.

Receipts are mailed or emailed. If you need a receipt immediately login, click on store, account details, order history, then order #, and print page.

Description on the ECI Website under the “How To” section.

This varies per certification and between Full and In-Training (IT) status. CPESC, CPSWQ, CPMSM, and CPISM all require eight (8) PDHs per year for Full and four (4) PDHs per year for IT Status. CESSWI requires six (6) PDHs per year for Full and three (3) for IT Status.

Every year from your current certification date.

To ESCA, the ECI Canadian International Affiliate.

You need to earn the amount of PDHs for the certification requiring the most.

Within two (2) business weeks.

No. If you need a replacement certificate you may order one from the Store on the ECI website.

To sign up for an on demand review:

1. Visit the ECI Store and select the review you want to schedule. Currently we offer CPESC and CESSWI reviews.
2. Add the course(s) to cart and then complete the checkout and payment process.
3. When you purchase a course you will be prompted for an email and password if you have not yet registered. This will become your login for the site and when you register you will receive an email reminder of your username.
4. All purchased courses can be found at My Purchased Reviews which is in the main menu in the dropdown under On Demand Reviews.

Contact ECI offices at 828-655-1600 or email courses@envirocert.org with any questions.

You will need to check the calendar on the ECI website. Additionally ECI offers these review courses online (see above).

Only ECI.