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Chartered
Environmentalist
Specification
CEnv Spec
“Sustainability through
Environmental Professionalism”

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Our Mission Statement
SocEnv aspires to be the leading and
co-ordinating professional body in
environmental matters and a pre-eminent
champion of a sustainable environment.
It will achieve this by nurturing and
harnessing the combined resources,
knowledge, expertise and achievements
of its licensed Constituent Bodies and their
members.

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Introduction
Never before has the link between the natural world and the health,
CEnv status offers practitioners recognition beyond their specific sector,
wellbeing and prosperity of human society been so tangible. Climate
denoting competence in and commitment to sustainability and
change, global food supply, energy and water security, and biodiversity are
environmental best practice. Over time, it is raising standards across
daily headline topics; as we come to better understand the relationship
sectors, and enabling diverse but interconnected disciplines to see
between man and nature we are also becoming aware of its complexity
themselves as part of a wider environmental profession.
and increasing fragility.
Chartered Environmentalists come from no one profession. Academics,
The environmental challenges we face today cannot be solved by experts
consultants, utilities managers, engineers, scientists, builders, lawyers,
from any one sector, or by those from core environmental specialisms
designers, accountants, public or private sector managers, land, water and
alone. Collaborative, cross-disciplinary action is needed, encompassing our
waste managers, and individuals from many other professions may all be
public services, private industries, educational and professional institutions,
eligible for CEnv status.
as well as community initiatives.
All Chartered Environmentalists share the ability to apply knowledge and
In recognition of this, a group of leading professional bodies founded the
understanding of environmental best practice to further the aims of
Society for the Environment (SocEnv). Their objective was to develop a
sustainable development and to put them at the forefront of their
respected and well organised profession of environmentalists. Their mission:
professional practice.
to nurture interdisciplinary environmental skills and disseminate the
Practitioners need to be aware of the significant global environmental
knowledge and application of environmental best practice for the public
challenges we face. Public expectation and demands on their knowledge
benefit.
and experience will continue to increase. They will need to demonstrate
Now, in its ninth year since achieving a Royal Charter, SocEnv has a
their professionalism with ever greater rigour and
committed and growing membership of 23 licensed Constituent Bodies
clarity. There is no better way to do so than through
through which over 7000 individuals have achieved ‘Chartered
the leading independently regulated qualification
Environmentalist’ (CEnv) status.
that cuts across all professional disciplines –
Chartered Environmentalist.

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Section 1
Why become a Chartered Environmentalist?
Chartered Environmentalist embraces a wide range of disciplines and is an
Registration sets Chartered Environmentalists apart from those who are
excellent way of recognising virtuosity in environmental management and
unregistered. It establishes their proven knowledge, understanding and
sustainability. The designation benefits all concerned with the environment:
competence. In particular, registration demonstrates a commitment to
• The Public, who can be confident in the knowledge and competence of
an environmental practitioner;
• Practitioners by identification as a professionally qualified environmentalist
that puts them at the forefront of their profession;
• Employers, with confirmation of the professional ability and competence
of employees and applicants;
• Governments and governmental bodies seeking to appoint advisers or
professional standards and enhancing competence. Chartered status gives
a proven edge to candidates applying for posts, whether or not this is a
requirement in the job specification.
Employers of Chartered Environmentalists have the assurance of knowing
their employees have had their competence assessed and their
commitment to continuing professional development established to
consistent and rigorous standards.
consultants will be assured about an individual competence;
• Professional Bodies, who will be able to benchmark the qualification for
membership purposes;
• Higher Education, in setting and monitoring benchmarks for
environmental courses, and promoting study programmes;
• Regulatory Bodies, who could be confident in specifying the CEnv
designation in Acts of Parliament and regulations;
• Legal credibility, enabling expert witness participation at a defined
standard; and
• Professional standing, recognising equality of excellence across a wide
range of environment disciplines.
Recognition of Chartered Environmentalist
The Chartered Environmentalist status establishes professional
environmentalists on a par with other professionals such as Chartered
Engineers and Chartered Scientists. It serves the needs of a broad range of
environmental professionals and it is expected that as numbers of CEnvs
increase, both in the UK and overseas, it will become the international
benchmark for environmental professionalism.

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Section 1
Knowledge and Experience
To be eligible for consideration as a Chartered Environmentalist,
Once Chartered status is achieved, retention will also require continued
candidates must:
membership of one of the Society for the Environment’s licensed
• have individual membership of a professional body licensed by
SocEnv (see website for details www.socenv.org.uk);
• have a relevant Master ’s level degree or be able to demonstrate an
equivalent level of knowledge. The equivalent level of knowledge will
be determined by the licensed Body.
• have sufficient relevant and responsible practical experience to be
able to demonstrate CEnv Competences. Ordinarily, this would be
four or more years. The sufficiency of experience will be determined
by the licensed Body.
• demonstrate underpinning environmental knowledge and an ability to
apply it in practice; and
• be willing to comply with the Society ’s Code of Ethics and the
requirements of their licensed Body relating to continuing professional
development.
Constituent Bodies and payment of the annual fee. Chartered
Environmentalists may transfer their registration, which is always through a
licensed Constituent Body, to another licensed Constituent Body during their
career.
Chartered Environmentalist status is open to everyone who can
demonstrate competence to perform work as a professional to the
necessary standards and commit themselves to:
• Maintain their competence
• Work within the professional code of ethics
• Participate actively within the profession

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Section 2
What is Competence and how is it assessed?
Key Competences
Section 2 of this booklet sets out the thresholds for generic competence for
The competences are grouped into 4 key areas:
registration as a Chartered Environmentalist. These standards have been
developed with the support of all our Constituent Bodies and approved by
A. Application of knowledge and understanding of the environment to
further the aims of sustainability.
our Registration Authority. Competence includes the knowledge,
understanding and skills which underpin performance. Professional
Environmentalists become competent through a mixture of education and
experience. This enables them to develop as professionals to a level of
competence which can be assessed to be of Chartered status.
B. Leading Sustainable Management of the Environment.
C. Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills.
D. Personal commitment to professional standards, recognising
obligations to society, the profession and the environment.
It is recognised that each candidate will have a unique engagement with
Assessment of Competence
To become Chartered Environmentalists candidates must have
the environment, dependent upon his or her job role, sector specific
experience, and/or qualifications
their competence assessed by a professional review process. This
The specification is therefore, a generic standard against which each
process is undertaken by licensed Constituent Bodies of the Society for the
candidate can be assessed with respect to their current levels of
Environment. The assessment is undertaken by two practising
competencies that will tend to be sector specific. Applicants will need to
environmental professionals, who themselves are Chartered
demonstrate how they meet each of the following competences.
Environmentalists, trained in the professional assessment process.
Candidates are assessed against the areas of competence outlined in
Section 2 of this booklet. The assessment process will take into account the
CV and written reports provided by the candidate, as well as evidence
provided during the Professional Review Interview.

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Section 2
Key Competences in Detail
A Application of knowledge and understanding of the environment to
further the aims of sustainability:
A1 Have underpinning knowledge of sustainable development principles in
the management of the environment.
• Critically evaluate actions, methods and results and their short and
long-term implications.
• Actively learn from results to improve future environmental solutions
and approaches, and build best practice.
• Negotiate the necessary contractual and agreed arrangements with
This normally includes the ability to:
other stakeholders.
• Critically analyse, interpret and evaluate complex environmental
information to determine sustainable courses of action.
• Understand the wider environmental context in which the area of
study or work is being undertaken.
A3 Analyse and evaluate problems from an environmental perspective,
develop practical sustainable solutions and anticipate environmental
trends to develop practical solutions.
• Understand the importance of maintaining and enhancing natural
cycles and biodiversity in achieving sustainability.
• Reformulate and use practical, conceptual or technological
understanding of environmental management to develop ways
forward in complex situations.
This normally includes the ability to
• Analyse and evaluate problems, some complex, from an
environmental perspective working sometimes with incomplete data.
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and addressing
problems.
A2 Apply environmental knowledge and principles in pursuit of sustainable
environmental management in professional practice.
This normally includes the ability to:
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of current environmental problems
and anticipate the impact of future environmental trends.
• Critically analyse and embrace new environmental information and
seek new knowledge, skills and competences in the field of
• Conceptualise and address problematic situations that involve many
interacting environmental factors.
• Determine and use appropriate methodologies and approaches.
environment based on the most recent scientific, social, economic,
cultural and technical developments and understanding.

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Section 2
B
Leading Sustainable Management of the Environment.
B1 Promote behavioural and cultural change by influencing others in order
to secure environmental improvements that go beyond minimum
B3 Demonstrate leadership and management skills.
This normally includes the ability to:
statutory requirements.
• Exercise autonomy and judgement across environmental and
This normally includes the ability to:
• Develop good practices [best practice] by actively learning from
results to improve future environmental solutions and approaches.
• Help, mentor and support others to understand the wider
environmental picture
• Advocate sustainability concerns and environmental issues,
encourage others to actively contribute to environmental protection
and sustainability
B2 Promote a strategic environmental approach.
This normally includes the ability to:
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in developing strategies for
sustainable development and environmental improvement.
• Actively collaborate and engage with other disciplines and
stakeholders and encourage multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches
to environmental challenges
• Identify constraints and exploit opportunities for the development
and transfer of environmentally appropriate technology.
• Identify areas of uncertainty and risk including health and safety,
environmental, technical, business and reputational.
sustainability issues.
• Motivate and influence others to agree and deliver environmental
objectives.
• Identify individual needs, plan for their development, assess individual
performance and provide feedback.
• Reflect on outcomes, identify and pursue improvements on previous
practice.

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Section 2
C Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills.
C1 Communicate the environmental case, confidently, clearly,
C2 Ability to liaise with, negotiate with, handle conflict and advise others, in
autonomously and competently.
individual and/or group environments (either as a leader or member).
This normally includes the ability to:
This normally includes the ability to:
• Deliver presentations to a wide spectrum of audiences.
• Understand the motives and attitudes of others and be aware of
• Lead and sustain debates.
different roles.
• Contribute to and chair meetings and discussions.
• Influence decision-making.
• Identify, engage with and respond to a range of stakeholders.
• Seek the opinions and contributions of others
• Promote development opportunities and activities.
• Champion group decisions and manage conflict for the
achievement of common goals and objectives.

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Section 2
D Personal commitment to professional standards, recognising
obligations to society, the profession and the environment
D1 Encourage others to promote and advance a sustainable and resilient
approach by understanding their responsibility for environmental
D3 Demonstrate an understanding of environmental ethical dilemmas.
This normally includes the ability to:
damage and improvement.
• Understand the nature of professional responsibility.
This normally includes the ability to:
• Inform and encourage others to consider environmental sustainability
issues and the consequence of their decisions and actions.
D2 Take responsibility for personal development and work towards and
secure change and improvements for a sustainable future.
This normally includes the ability to:
• Recognise the value of CPD to the profession.
• Have a strong desire to learn.
• Value and actively pursue personal professional development.
• Identify the environmental ethical elements in decisions.
• Address and resolve problems arising from questionable
environmental practice.
D4 Comply with relevant codes of conduct and practice.

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Section 3
Professional Behaviours
Maintaining Competence
In addition to the requirements of the licensed Body through which an
Chartered Environmentalists are expected to undertake appropriate
application is made, candidates will also be required to comply with the
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by:
following SocEnv Code of Ethics.
• Identifying and prioritising their development needs and opportunities.
• Using appropriate guidelines from their licensed body together with
SocEnv Code of Ethics
As a Chartered Environmentalist I will:
competence benchmark standards.
• Pursuing a development action plan using a range of appropriate
learning opportunities.
• Act in accordance with the best principles for the
mitigation of environmental harm and the enhancement
• Recording development achievements.
• Evaluating achievements and reviewing against needs.
of environmental quality;
• Strive to ensure that the uses of natural resources are fair
Revalidation of CEnv
and sustainable taking account of the needs of a diverse
Formal revalidation of professional registration is not required once
society;
registered. Chartered Environmentalists are encouraged to ensure that they
• Use my skills and experience to serve the needs of the
environment and society;
• Serve as an example to others for responsible
effectively maintain their professional competences up to date. They may
be removed or suspended if they are found not to have maintained such
competences.
environmental behaviour;
• Not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit
or misrepresentation or discrimination; and,
• Commit to maintaining my personal professional
For further information
All applications and assessments for the Chartered Environmentalist
(CEnv) process are conducted by a Constituent Body under license to
competence and strive to maintain the integrity and
SocEnv. All enquiries should be directed to one of them. A list of all
competence of my profession.
licensed Constituent Bodies may be found on the SocEnv website:
www.socenv.org.uk

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Denham House, 120 Long Street,
Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 1AF
Tel: 0845 337 2951 | Fax: 01827 718232
C This document has been printed on recycled stock in accordance with the Society’s Environmental Policy
Email: enquiries@socenv.org.uk