Environmental
Professional 

The Environmental Professional Certificate training course is a basic introduction to the education and abilities professionals need to provide environmental programs and program management. The purpose of this course is to credential professionals who have successfully developed the basic knowledge and understanding related to various environmental sustainability concepts, laws and regulations, and tools available to assist them with the development and management of an environmental program.

 

At the end of this training, professionals should be able to understand environmental literacy as it relates to systems, human well-being, and sustainability, identify federal requirements from The Clean Air Act (CAA), The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Emergency Planning Community and Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA), recognize regulations and requirements in the Commonwealth of Virginia and Prince William County for businesses and be able to access tools and resources at the local level to assist in implementing and fulfilling sustainability requirements. The Environmental Professional (EP) develops programs with the overall goal of reducing negative impacts to the environment, activating behavior change and promoting sustainability.

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The Environmental Professional Certificate Training is a six-month course that includes in-classroom instruction taught, in part, by environmental specialists, subject matter experts (SMEs) from Prince William County Government, and local environmental organizations. Modules will contain online and book resources, videos and site visits and is meant to be interactive- drawing in real-world scenarios to support learning. Students will successfully complete a formal written assessment, scoring 90% or better and complete a volunteer service program of at least 20 hours to receive a certificate. 

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LEARNINGS AT A GLANCE:

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MODULE ONE: Environmental Literacy - 10%

Students will learn about environmental literacy and real-world application

          1. Definition of Environmental Literacy

          2. Importance

          3. Personal and Civic responsibility

 

MODULE TWO: Environmental Laws & Regulations - 30%

Students will learn about federal/state laws and regulations that govern environmental practices

          1.The Clean Air Act (CAA)

          2. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

          3. The Emergency Planning Community and Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

          4. The Clean Water Act (CWA)

          5. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

          6. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Laws & Regulations

 

MODULE THREE: Prince William County Regulations and Requirements - 30%

          1. Prince William County Codes

         2. Reporting

 

MODULE FOUR: Environmental Program Management -30%

Students will learn about resources for program development and management

         1. Environmental Audit

         2. Needs-based program development

         3. Program management and maintenance

         

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ASSESSMENT: Evaluation- 90% or better

Students will demonstrate course leanings on a written test.

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Dates for 2024: Second Tuesday of each month, JAN-JUN

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