EP® DESIGNATION
EP® Designation Frequently
Asked Questions
Questions About the EP Designation?
Explore the FAQs below:
Why Become an EP?
Top benefits include:
- Establishes your professional credibility with a nationwide credential
- Formally recognizes and verifies environmental skills and knowledge
- Enhances marketability and mobility
- Networking opportunities with our growing community of environmental professionals, including the ECO Impact annual conference
- Valuable discounts and prequalification on liability insurance
- Mentorship and Coaching opportunities with other members
- Free Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
- Access to lifelong learning resources to support career growth
ECO Canada’s EPt/EP/EP Auditor designations are the only nationally recognized credentials for the environmental sector in Canada. As public trust becomes more and more important, and Canadians demand businesses, corporations, industries and professionals be held accountable for sustainability practice, this designation can provide that level of trust and assurance that the competencies you possess for the work you are conducting has been validated.
These designations provide formal recognition of your environmental expertise and professional integrity in one or more of 14 specializations of the environmental sector. Other designations are complimentary, but they do not specifically validate for the breadth of environmental competencies that our designations provide.
The EP designation does not have any influence with Immigration Canada or its services.
ECO Canada’s EPt/EP/EP Auditor designations provide formal recognition of your environmental expertise and professional integrity. Particularly for entry-level and emerging practitioners that are still honing their career journey, the EPt designation provides you with a wealth of tools and resources to be successful in your career.
Eligibility Requirements
Yes, there are no stipulations on citizenship to obtain the EPt/EP/EP Auditor designations. But you are required to have Canadian work experience for EP and EP Auditor eligibility.
The only education requirement for EP and EPt applicants is that they have obtained a degree/diploma. It is not discipline-specific. EP Auditor applicants must have a degree/diploma in one of the following areas: engineering, natural science, environmental science or technology, law, business administration or accounting.
At this time there are no courses or training included in the EP/EPt application process; however, all new EPs must pass a Body of Knowledge and Ethics exam. A study guide and practice exam are provided as part of the application.
You will not be eligible for member benefits until your application is complete, and you have become fully certified as an EPt, EP or EP Auditor.
It is not necessary to pass all specializations to become an EP. Applicants may choose not to specialize or apply for specialization at a later date. However, all EP applicants must pass the exam to be approved as a practicing member. Once you are certified, either a general designation status or successfully completed specializations will be included on your profile in the member roster.
No, you are required to have at least 1 year of Canadian environmental work experience, along with 5 years of international work experience (or a combination of both Canadian and international work experience for a total of 6 years) to qualify for the EP designation.
With international experience, you qualify for the EPt designation and can upgrade once you obtain the required Canadian work experience.
No. All applicants must have a Canadian diploma or degree to apply (or equivalent), but are not required to be graduates of an ECO Canada accredited post-secondary program.
Applicants are encouraged to apply after they have obtained a minimum of 7 audits within a 5-year period and have completed the required 35-hour Lead Auditor training.
Fee & Member Costs
- EPt Fees: $200 Application Fee, $130 Membership Fee
- EP Fees: $300 Application Fee, $230 Membership Fee
- EP Auditor Fees: $450 Application Fee, $230 Membership Fee
All membership fees are due upon receiving membership approval and then annually in April.
Download the application guides for all the information on application and membership fees.
ECO Canada has various payment options. Please reach out to us at EP@eco.ca to discuss these further.
As a graduate of an accredited program, only the EPt application fee of $200+ GST is waived. You are still required to pay the annual membership fee of $130 + GST. The first payment is due upon being granted the EPt designation.
As per our website, all application fees are non-refundable. If you have questions or special circumstances, please reach out to us at EP@eco.ca to discuss further.
Application & Exam Preparation
Yes. Our preferred provider is World Education Services (WES), but you can also use IQAS, ICES, or ICAS. These must be sent to ECO Canada directly from the organization verifying your education. We cannot accept a copy directly from you.
For the EPt application, you can choose up to 2 specializations and for the EP application, you can choose up to 5 specializations. EP applicants are not required to select a specialization and can become certified with a General status and choose to specialize later. But we recommend working toward a specialization to help focus an area of expertise for career recognition.
You can review the EP Specializations Guide [link to specializations landing page] on our website to learn the types of careers under each specialization.
For EPt applicants, if you do not yet have experience in the environmental sector, we encourage you to choose the specialization(s) that interest you or are likely to become a focus of your future employment. Once you are officially certified and your circumstances change, you have the option to apply for a general designation with no specialized status. You may also change your specialization once per year, while completing the requisite experience to become an EP.
At the EPt level, we only assessing character. You can list any former professors or employers as your references. We will only conduct references for EPt’s on an audit basis and you will be contacted prior to this process.
Please send in your completed Ethics Agreement via e-mail at EP@eco.ca
There is no pass/fail for the EPt self-assessment. It is designed as a training tool for junior environmental professionals to help guide their career development. EP applicants must pass the Self Assessment, however.
The EP General Knowledge exam is based on the content within the EP Body of Knowledge, specifically the Ethics and Core Knowledge sections. You can prepare by reviewing this document, along with completing the online practice exam.
The Auditor Certification exams consist of 3 parts:
- Part One: Auditing Principles, Concepts and Skills
- Part Two: Environmental Science & Technology, and Management System Practices
- Part Three: Compliance – Regulations, Standards and Guidelines
EP(EMSLA) applicants will write parts 1 and 2, while EP(CEA) applicants will write parts 1 and 3. Applicants should have a sound knowledge of the content within the document and must also review the Exam Guidelines for Applicants and Proctors document to learn more about how to best prepare.
You are required to have a proctor that can sit with you for the entire 2.5-hour online exam. A proctor can be anyone with a professional designation. NOTE: If you have special circumstances (e.g., COVID 19), please contact us at EP@eco.ca.
Member Benefits
You will not be eligible for member benefits until your application is complete, and you have become fully certified as an EPt, EP or EP Auditor.
To access your member benefits, follow these steps:
- Login to your ECO Canada account
- Click “My Certification”.
Click “EP Member Discounts”
To access your insurance benefits, follow these steps:
- Login to your ECO Canada account
- Click “My Certification”.
Click “EP Member Discounts”
To join the EP Mentorship Program, please go to the Mentorship page on the ECO Canada website to sign-up.
EP Community Connections is ECO Canada’s exclusive LinkedIn group for members and provides networking opportunities to connect with other environmental professionals. To join, please contact us at EP@eco.ca.
Specializations
For the EPt application, you can choose up to 2 specializations and for the EP application, you can choose up to 5 specializations. EP applicants have the option not to specialize and become certified with a General status.
You can review the EP Specializations Guide on our website to learn the types of careers under each specialization.
For EPt applicants, if you do not yet have experience in the environmental sector, we encourage you to choose the specialization(s) that interest you or are likely to become a focus of your future employment. Once you are officially certified and your circumstances change, you have the option to apply for a general designation with no specialized status. You may also change your specialization once per year, while completing the requisite experience to become an EP.
It is not necessary to pass all specializations to become an EP. Applicants may choose not to specialize or apply for specialization at a later date. However, all EP applicants must pass the exam to be approved as a practicing member. Once you are certified, either a general designation status or successfully completed specializations will be included on your profile in the member roster.
Using Your Membership
You may start using your EPt, EP, EP(EMSLA) or EP(CEA) designation once you receive final notice that the Approvals Board (CECAB) has formally approved your application, you have paid the prorated membership fee, and submitted your completed ethics agreement (this is only a requirement for EPt’s).
To join the EP Mentorship Program, please go to the Mentorship page on the ECO Canada website to sign-up.
EP Community Connections is ECO Canada’s exclusive LinkedIn group for members and provides networking opportunities to connect with other environmental professionals. To join, please contact us at EP@eco.ca.
Professional development should be uploaded into your account on an ongoing basis. ECO Canada does send out an annual reminder in February to assist members with keeping their professional development up to date. These records are a requirement to keep your membership in good standing.
To upload your professional development, follow these steps:
- Login to your ECO Canada account
- Click “My Certification”.
- Click “Access your member account”.
Click the “Background” tab
Membership Maintenance
To be eligible to upgrade to the full EP designation, you must have 5 years/60 months of full-time paid environmental work experience. For graduates from accredited programs, this standard is reduced to four years. Our International members are required to have a total of 6 years/72 months of full-time, paid environmental work experience, with at least 1 year in Canada.
Your EPt designation must also be in good standing. If eligible, an ‘Upgrade to EP’ link will be available in your member account. A $200 fee is required and applicants will be required to undergo successful Self-Assessment and Peer Validation (should they choose to specialize) and pass the EP Examination.
You renew your EPt/EP/EP Auditor designation on an annual basis, on April 1st. An invoice will be added to your account at the end of March every year.
Before you begin your maternity leave, you must apply to become non-practicing. As a non-practicing member, you are not required to provide any professional development. Please contact EP@eco.ca to initiate the status change process.
As an EPt, you can change your specialization, for free, once per year. As an EP, the cost to change your specialization is $100+ tax. Please contact us at EP@eco.ca for assistance in changing your specialization.
To cancel your designation, please send us an email to EP@eco.ca with your reason for cancelling.
To cancel your designation, please send us an email to EP@eco.ca with your reason for cancelling.
