Certificate Programs
SET ET Environmental Technician Certificate Program (course overview description)
This course does not allow online registration. Please contact the NREP office for more information.
nrep@viu.ca; 250-740-6372
Course Description
The Environmental Technician Certificate Program (ETCP) is a five-week, 200-hour accredited training program that prepares graduates to work as certified environmental monitors in natural resource sectors. The ETCP program consists of highly applied training sessions, with field training taking place most days. The program is suitable for current and aspiring environmental technicians wishing to update and expand their skills and abilities. Participants that commonly enroll include existing field technicians, resource workers, First Nations, individuals new to the industry and graduates of other post-secondary environmental programs.
The ETCP is accredited through the College of Applied Biology and meets criteria for an Applied Biology Technician designation.
Format
The delivery format for this course will vary. Approximately 3/4's of each course is field-based, 'hands on' training (weather dependent).
Prerequisites
The ETCP has no formal prerequisites, but an appropriate first aid course (1 day) with a CPR component is a co-requisite to the ‘Fish and Fish Habitat Monitoring Skills’ module.
You Supply
Students are responsible for supplying their own personal field equipment, as follows:
General Requirements:
- appropriate field work clothing (avoid tight-fitting jeans and consider bringing extra socks and a second pair of pants)
- sturdy footwear
- raingear
- clinometer
- work gloves
- field vest / hi-vis vest
- bag lunch and beverage for each day
Fish and Fish Habitat Assessment and/or Water Monitoring Skills Module Requirements:
- leak-proof chest waders (rubber, nylon or neoprene) with non-slip footwear (ie. felt or cleated soles)
- brimmed hat (ie. baseball hat)
- Wading belt and polarized sunglasses
All other field and classroom supplies will be provided for you, including course manuals, electrofisher units and accessories, dipnets, linesman gloves, biological sampling / fish inventory equipment and associated field equipment.