Are you working at an operational level, pursuing a career in environmental management and sustainability? Do you want to advance your career and demonstrate your competence? If that sounds like you, you might be interested in becoming an IEMA Practitioner Member (PIEMA).
Practitioner membership is regarded as the benchmark for environmental professionals driving change and delivering on sustainability goals in their organisations, projects, products and services.
In this blog post, we explain:
All about PIEMA membership and what it means for you
The benefits of achieving PIEMA membership
How you can achieve IEMA Practitioner membership
The two routes to practitioner – the certified course route or the experience route
The membership is a globally recognised professional status that recognises your knowledge and experience as an environmental and sustainability practitioner.
Show up on LinkedIn with PIEMA alongside your name, and you’ll be powering up your career prospects by providing recognition for your knowledge and experience.
IEMA Practitioner Video
Video from IEMA – IEMA Practitioner – https://www.iema.net/membership/membership-levels/practitioner
What are the benefits of being a PIEMA member?
As a PIEMA, you will be recognised as a competent and credible professional who can apply your environment and sustainability knowledge and skills in the workplace.
Once you get your PIEMA membership, you will also have access to a range of benefits, such as:
Use of the widely recognised PIEMA suffix next to your name
A subscription to TRANSFORM magazine, which covers the latest news, insights and best practices on environment and sustainability
Exclusive discounts on training courses, events, webinars and publications
Networking opportunities with other PIEMAs and experts across sectors and regions
New opportunities to learn and progress in your career
Continuing professional development (CPD) support to help you maintain your competence, improve your ability, and keep up to date with emerging trends
The opportunity to apply for Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) designation, which is a new title that recognises your level of professional practice within the environmental sector
Image provided by IEMA – PIEMA Benefits – https://www.iema.net/membership/membership-levels/practitioner
How can you achieve Practitioner membership with IEMA?
You can take two routes: the certified course route or the direct study route.
#1. The Certified Course Route to PIEMA
The certified qualification route will involve you completing the IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management course, which covers the 13 learning outcomes in the Practitioner standard.
Take the IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management Qualification
The IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management qualification is designed for professionals who want to comprehensively understand environmental principles and sustainability issues and how they relate to their role.
The course covers topics such as:
The global trends and environmental challenges facing society today
Environmental principles, policy and legislation
The principles of environmental law at local, national, regional, and international levels
The methods and management tools used to assess environmental impacts and opportunities at different scales (including impact assessments)
The frameworks and standards used to implement effective environmental management systems within organisations
The strategies and techniques used to promote sustainable business practices across supply chains, products, services, projects, and operations
The certificate course will require you to write three knowledge-based assignments to assess your understanding and experience in key areas.
After you successfully complete the written assignments, you’ll be ready to submit your ‘Practitioner Member Assessment Form’. Your training provider will inform IEMA, and they will contact you with all the information you need to do this.
How to take the IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management
Your environmental management qualification can be taken in a classroom, virtually (live online) or e-learning, studied at your own pace.
Most learners decide to take the virtual training as it provides the flexibility to study from home or in their own organisations while having access to an expert tutor and a peer group to network and share with.
The average price of the IEMA Certificate in environmental management qualification is £2995+VAT, but prices can vary depending on the IEMA training provider you take the training with.
Most providers include your IEMA membership fee in the course cost, though some will charge a fee on top. In this case, the fee should be around £150.
Your annual renewal fee thereafter will be £187.50.
The Certified Fast Track Route
Have you completed the relevant qualification or an IEMA-approved degree within the last three years?
If so, congratulations, you are eligible to fast-track your application. You can skip the exam and hop straight into the written competence assessment.
Applying for the Certified Fast Track
To apply for fast-track, you will need to select this option during your application and upload a valid copy of your certificates.
*Certified Fast Track Cost*
To apply through the certified fast track route, you will need to pay an application fee of £308; this covers your initial application and first year as a member.
The annual renewal fee thereafter is £187.50.
#2. The Direct Study Route to PIEMA
The direct route is suitable for those who already have sufficient environmental and sustainability experience, knowledge and understanding to satisfy the Practitioner standard.
That’s right; if you can provide sufficient evidence, you can avoid having to take the training.
With this route, you will need to complete the following:
An online examination
A written assessment of competence.
The PIEMA Examination
The online examination is a one-hour multiple-choice affair. It will assess whether you are equipped with the knowledge required of a Practitioner member.
*For more info on the expected knowledge levels, download the Practitioner membership standard to see an outline of the learning outcomes and content required at this level.
There are two versions of the examination you can choose from when you apply:
The environment version is assessed on the environment-related learning outcomes in the standard.
The sustainability version is assessed on the environment and socio-economic-related learning outcomes.
You can choose the version you prefer when you apply.
The PIEMA Written Assessment of Competence
This is your opportunity to document evidence of how you implement your environmental and sustainability understanding in the workplace. You can explain how you are working to the levels required by the Practitioner standard.
In the IEMA-supplied template, you will need to provide four case studies that illustrate how, in the last 18 months, you have:
Demonstrated consistent effective performance within your organisation
Utilised your mastery and expertise in accordance with IEMA’s Code of Professional Conduct
Learned from your experience and committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Getting Your Application Verified
Once you’ve completed your form, you must identify someone to verify your version of events and the part you played in the examples you provide. Your chosen verifier will need to complete a form and send it back to IEMA.
*Direct Route Cost*
To apply through the direct route, you will need to pay an application fee of £308, which will cover your initial application and your first year as a member.
The annual subscription renewal fee thereafter is £187.50.
How to Apply Through the Direct STUDY Route
To apply for the direct route, you will need to register online and select the month in which you’d like to sit the examination element. Following this, you will have 6 months to submit your ‘Practitioner Assessment Form’.
Our Practitioner Assessors will review your assessment, and once they are happy you meet the Practitioner Standard, you’ll be able to use the PIEMA suffix.
Preparing for Your PIEMA Examination and Written Account
There are various resources and support provided by IEMA, such as:
The Practitioner membership standard, outlines the learning outcomes, assessment criteria and prescribed content for each competency.
By completing these steps successfully, you can gain PIEMA status and join a community of professionals driving positive change for business and society.
You can also apply for Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) designation to enhance your credibility and recognition in the environmental sector.
How to Apply for IEMA Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP)
In alignment with IEMA’s Practitioner level, the Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) designation recognises the professional practice of people in the environmental sector.
Across academia, government, industry, consulting, and other public and private sectors, it represents a standard of environmental expertise, practice, and skills.
If you are already a Practitioner of IEMA (PIEMA), you can apply for Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP). When you apply to PIEMA or upgrade from another level, you can apply for REnvP at the same time.
What are the other IEMA member types?
There are a number of IEMA Memberships that you can apply for depending on your experience and role. See the below table for an overview of each:
IEMA Membership Type
Suffix
Who is it for?
Ways to Achieve Membership
Application and Year 1 Fees
Annual Renewal Fee
Graduate (Entry)
GradIEMA
University graduates
Proof of graduation from an approved relevant degree or programme
£143.50
£143.50
Associate (Entry)
AIEMA
Professional people looking to make a bigger impact
Online exam or an IEMA accredited course
£245.50
£154.50
Practitioner (Operational)
PIEMA
Operational professionals
Online professional assessment - Experience or Qualification Required
Matthew is TSW Training’s Commercial Director. He writes about performance focussed learning, leadership, and management approaches that have real-world, sustainable impact.
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