Environmental Technician Certificate Program

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 educational criteria for an Applied Biology Technician designation.

Objectives

The ETCP is designed to address the nation-wide need for certified, skilled environmental field technicians. The ETCP will train practitioners on in-demand environmental monitoring skills and abilities required to assist biologists, environmental technicians, engineers, hydrologists, and site restoration and environmental monitoring professionals.

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.

Evaluation

While there is no formal exam, participants will need to meet or exceed the following program standards in order to pass the course: 

• 90% attendance for the program
• demonstration of practical field skills
• completion of field journal assignments

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.

Upcoming Deliveries and Registration Information

See our program schedule for a list of all upcoming NREP course deliveries. If this course is not currently noted in the schedule, please contact NREP@viu.ca to enquire about future opportunities. Prior to registering for any NREP course, please review the program's registration guidelines, including important cancellation and refund policy information.