What began as a vision to strengthen Canada’s environmental workforce has grown into the nation’s leading environmental certification program. As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Environmental Professional (EP®) Designation, join us in exploring the key milestones and achievements that helped shape the designation over the last two and a half decades.
What is the EP® Designation?
The EP ® Designation is a Canada-wide professional designation for environmental professionals applying consistent certification standards across provinces and territories. The designation serves as ECO Canada’s multidisciplinary national environmental certification, validating an individual’s knowledge, experience, education, skills, and commitment to ethical practice.
How did it all begin?
In the early 1990s, Canada’s environmental sector was expanding, but there was concern that the workforce infrastructure was not keeping pace. Human Resource studies at the time predicated shortages of key technical specialists as the sector grew and the technology changed.
In response, the Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry (CCHREI) was established by Grant Trump in 1993. This was an industry-initiated and industry-led organization whose mission was to ensure Canada had the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet the environmental needs of both the public and private sectors. CCHREI would eventually become what we know today as ECO Canada in 2005.
1997: CECAB and CCEP are born
In 1997, the Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB) was established specifically to develop and administer a national certification program for Canadian environmental practitioners.
The program was developed through consultation with industry and government to demonstrate practitioner competence and elevate standards of environmental practice in Canada.
This led to two credentials:
- CCEP – Canadian Certified Environmental Practitioner, intended for experienced practitioners with five or more years of relevant experience.
- CEPIT – Canadian Environmental Practitioner-in-Training, providing an entry pathway for emerging practitioners.
The significant thing about CCEP was that it was competency-based. Applicants were evaluated against the National Occupational Standards for environmental employment, their demonstrated work activities, experience, education, and competence.
2001: First CCEP certified, John Smythe
In 2001, John Smythe was certified as the first ever CCEP, marking the first of thousands environmental professionals who decided to gain national recognition of their expertise and fortify their commitment to achieving high professional standards within the environmental sector.
“You can seldom go wrong by continuing to educate yourself. Always strive to stay on the cutting edge of information connected to your field.” – John Smythe
Stay tuned for a full profile on John Smythe in the next blog post of this series.
2004: Inclusion of Environmental Auditors
In the early 2000’s, CCHREI assumed management and maintenance of environmental auditing designations from the Auditing Association of Canada:
- CEA – Compliance Environmental Auditor
- EMS(A) – Environmental Management Systems Auditor
- EMS(LA) – Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor
- CEA(SFM) – Compliance Environmental Auditor (Sustainable Forestry Management)
CCHREI/ECO Canada and the Auditing Association of Canada maintain a strong relationship today, with members of the Auditing Association of Canada executive serving on ECO Canada’s Auditing Certification Committee.
2010: CCEP Evolves into EP®
The next major change came in 2010 when the previous environmental practitioner designations were consolidated under the new Environmental Professional umbrella, with specializations used to recognize areas of environmental practice.
CCEP = Environmental Professional, EP®
CEPIT = Environmental Professional in-training, EPt
CEA = Environmental Professional – Compliance Environmental Auditor, EP®(CEA)
EMS(A)/EMS(LA)/CEA(SFM) = Environmental Professional – Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor, EP®(EMSLA) with specialization options in Environmental Management Systems and/or Sustainable Forestry Management
Over the following years, the EP® designation continued to grow alongside Canada’s environmental sector. Membership expanded across the country, and a strong network of Environmental Professionals helped foster professional development, collaboration, and industry leadership. The designation increasingly became a trusted benchmark for environmental competence, ethics, and credibility nationwide.
2026: National Recognition of Environmental Professionals
Today, the EP® community includes over 3,000 members and 15 Environmental Chapter communities across Canada, creating a national network of certified professionals, student members, and employers, dedicated to advancing environmental excellence.
With more than 16 specializations available, environmental professionals can showcase their expertise across a wide range of disciplines and contribute to solving some of Canada’s most pressing environmental challenges.
What began as a vision to strengthen Canada’s environmental workforce has grown into a nationally recognized standard of professional excellence. For 25 years, the EP® Designation has helped environmental professionals build credibility, demonstrate competence, and connect with a community committed to making a meaningful impact.
As the environmental sector continues to evolve, the need for qualified, trusted professionals has never been greater.
Are You Ready to Take Your Commitment to Environmental Excellence to the Next Level?
The next chapter of this story is still being written, and it could include you.
Join a national community of professionals who are shaping the future of Canada’s environmental sector. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner looking to gain recognition for your expertise or an emerging professional beginning your journey, the EP® Designation demonstrates your dedication to the highest standards of environmental practice.
Certify your environmental expertise. Explore the EP® Designation today and become part of the legacy: https://bit.ly/4z2LUT6
