EE Certification - "Why do we need it? What’s in it for me?"
Brenda G. Weiser, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Science Education
School of Education, University of Houston Clear Lake
Who is an Environmental Educator?
You’ll find environmental educators in the nonformal sector (museums, zoos, botanical gardens, parks, nature centers, and so on), while others are working in the formal Pre-K-12 education setting or in colleges. Environmental educators might be working in corporate sustainability departments or in the media.
How Does a Person Become an Environmental Educator?
Environmental educators come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Environmental education is not a field in which everyone receives the same or even similar training. Some environmental educators have a degree in education, some in natural science or resource management, and some in social studies. Some environmental educators do not have a degree but have a life-long love of learning and a passion for a specific environmental topic that has led them to develop expertise and share it with others.
Few environmental educators have training both in the content areas such as science, geography, or social studies and in the pedagogical areas such as teaching styles, learning styles, or assessment.
Within our own profession, we often wonder about the background or training that someone calling himself or herself an environmental educator brings to the table. Does this person have a strong background in environmental issues, natural resource content, and educational issues? Can the EE provider define environmental literacy? Does the EE provider know why Tbilisi is important to the field of EE or the history of environmental education? Can the EE provider write a lesson plan, talk to educators about educational issues, or explain how EE can be used to enhance their state education standards?
What does it mean to be certified?
Certification is not a new term. It has been around for a long time. If you are certified in any profession, you hold a document from a specific organization stating that you have met that organization’s requirements. However, many environmental educators are uncertain about what certification might mean for them and which organization would provide the certification credential.
EE communities throughout North America are considering how to ensure that practicing environmental educators have the knowledge and skills described in NAAEE’s Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators. One approach is through certification.
Frequently Asked Questions about Certification
EE stakeholders considering a certification program often have questions like these:
Why would any organization want to tackle the task of developing a certification program?
How would an organization get started developing a certification program?
What kind of certification program do we need?
Why would anyone want to become certified?
How long will the certification process take?
There are many reasons why an EE community might offer environmental education certification and why you would want to obtain it.
Why Develop a Certification Program?
Obtaining the credential ensures that other EE providers know that you have demonstrated what you know and are able to do, and that employers know it too. The purpose of EE certification is not to criticize those practicing EE, but to encourage individual professional growth. Having a community of certified professionals elevates respect for the profession and enhances the resumes of those who have attained it.
What Kind of Certification Program Do We Need?
An EE community can hold stakeholder meetings to establish a minimum set of knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated by people who complete the program. The community must identify a Certifying Agent that will issue the official certification credential, and then determine how candidates will attain it. There are several ways an EE community can approach certification:
Ø Experience based. Through this process, the candidate participates in workshops,
attends presentations, or visits leading environmental centers or parks. During this time, the
individual records experiences and the number of hours attended.
Ø Criteria based. With this approach, the Certifying Agent establishes specific criteria to be achieved through written assignments, tests, video recordings, or the submission of
documents such as lesson plans.
Ø Course based. The EE community designs a series of in-depth courses to provide the
background necessary for candidates to demonstrate a set of competencies.
Ø Mentor based. The candidate works with a mentor who guides the candidate
through activities designed to show expertise in EE.
A variety of approaches may be taken by an EE community to implement an EE certification program. In fact, a Certifying Agent might require a combination of the different approaches – attending workshops yet meeting established criteria while working with a mentor. Thus, obtaining certification can vary from one approach to another depending on what approach best fits a specific EE community.
Why Become Certified?
You might want to obtain your EE certification for several reasons. First is professional growth – as you go through an EE certification program, you should learn something new and challenge yourself. After you complete the process, others will recognize you as a leader in the field and respect you for your initiative and accomplishments.
Next is professional recognition. When you have completed the EE certification program, you can be distinguished from other similar professions (classroom teachers, nature interpreters, etc.). You can say with pride that you are a professional environmental educator.
hird is the professional network that you build during the certification process. As you work toward your certification, you can build professional contacts, which can lead to new and exciting opportunities. You never know who might be looking for a new employee or might know someone who is looking for one.
Finally, the EE certification process is in its infancy, and by becoming one of the first certified environmental educators in your community, you may have the opportunity to work with others not only your local area, but also on an international level – once again, providing you with new opportunities to demonstrate leadership skills.
How long will the certification process take?
This will depend on your community’s program and you. Most programs involve a series of steps that applicants pursue at their own pace over a period of time.
Remember, accountants, teachers, electricians, hairdressers, forklift operators, and financial planners all have a certification process. Shouldn’t environmental education have one too?
