For the purposes of certification, Geomorphology is defined as the study of landforms and landscapes, and the physical processes that create and shape them at or near the Earth’s surface. Geomorphologists study and interpret landscape form, distribution, process and evolution. They analyse landscapes using a combination of field observations, physical experiments and modelling. The Geomorphology Specialist certification under the CEnvP Scheme is designed to promote and embed sound practice by recognising ethical and professionally competent practitioners across Australia and New Zealand.
The certification is specifically designed for practitioners who undertake (do) geomorphic analyses, assessments and interpretation, and then apply (use) this geomorphology in their work. A Specialist Geomorphologist must demonstrate that they are undertaking (doing) geomorphology and that this is at a suitable standard that could be defended, for example, in a court of law. Certification is not awarded to those who only apply (use) geomorphology in their work, where the geomorphology has been undertaken by others, or where the geomorphology contribution of the applicant to team-based work is unclear.
CEnvP Geomorphologists preferenced for Victorian catchment management authorities (CMA) tender.
Since 01 July 2024, any Victorian waterway project tenders likely to need fluvial geomorphological expertise funded by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Waterway Programs funds (either commissioned directly by DEECA or by catchment management authorities [CMAs]) gives preference to tenders for projects with CEnvP Geomorphologist specialists. This demonstrate to CMAs and DEECA that the projects are being undertaken by practitioners suitably qualified in fluvial geomorphology.
Applications will not be accepted from candidates with no ANZ practice experience; applicants with overseas experience must also demonstrate at least two years of environmental practice in Australia and/or New Zealand.
Overview
To qualify for CEnvP Geomorphology certification you need:
• Educational Qualifications: A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. physical geography, environmental science, geology), and evidence thereof. (Not required for current CEnvPs).
• Work experience in lieu of educational qualifications: At the discretion of the Certification Board, ten and a half (10.5) years of full-time equivalence in the functional areas of geomorphology practice may be assessed for equivalence with educational qualifications.
• Work Experience: Ten (10) years of full-time experience in the functional areas of environmental practice gained during the last seventeen (17) years, with a minimum of seven (7) recent years in Geomorphology practice.
• A Curriculum Vitae: Containing as much detail as possible (experience, roles and responsibilities, skills, outcomes, project list etc.) to evidence you are a respected, competent, ethical and active member of the profession.
Please avoid marketing-style CVs or promotional documents. CVs that are overly generic, visually stylised for sales or branding purposes, or lacking in technical substance may not meet assessment requirements.
• Referees: Nomination of three (3) experienced environmental professionals who are willing to act as Referees with at least one (1) being a current CEnvP-GEO or eligible to be a CEnvP-GEO and one (1) being external to your current place of employment.
• Areas of Practice: Nomination of one to three (1 – 3) areas of practice that you currently or have been working in.
• Key Proficiencies and Professional Competency: Through written demonstration and documentary evidence:
1- A detailed written statement describing how you believe you achieve the six (6) Key Proficiencies listed below.
2- At least three (3) documents where you have been a key contributor that demonstrate professional competency in the required key proficiencies.
• Past CPD: Detailing previous undertaken training and professional development is highly recommended. (Not required for current CEnvPs).
• Future CPD: Demonstration of ongoing commitment to training and professional development via a CPD plan that will meet the minimum one hundred (100) CPD points biennially once certified. (Not required for current CEnvPs).
• Commitment to ethics and professional practice: Including acceptance of the EIANZ Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. (Not required for current CEnvPs).
• Statement of Claim: A signed and witnessed statutory declaration confirming the accuracy of the materials provided to the Certification Board.
• Optional additional documentation: Such as reports, publications, presentations, awards etc.
Application Process
Application Process
To be certified as a Geomorphology Specialist, practitioners must also hold CEnvP General certification.
Practitioners who do not already hold General certification can apply for both CEnvP General and Geomorphology Specialist certification simultaneously.
Applications can be submitted online anytime during the year and a non-refundable application fee applies.
Applications are usually processed within 3 to 6 months. However, incomplete or flawed applications will be delayed until all missing documentation is received.
As part of the application process, you will be required to attend an online interview with a panel of three certified practitioners. During the interview, you will be asked a series of questions related to training, skills, knowledge, experience, contribution to and understanding of environmental practice, ethical behaviour, and other professional attitudes.
For example, you will:
1. Be asked about how you applied your skills in an ethical and professional environmental practice context.
2. Be provided with one (1) or more Ethical Scenarios to respond to.
3. Need to elaborate on your work experience and comment on specific roles in the context of being a competent professional within your nominated areas of environmental practice.
4. Be expected to discuss your understanding of sustainability and how your work has contributed to sustainability, environmental protection and practice excellence.
5. Need to comment on your capacity to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) while certified.
Successful applicants will receive an official CEnvP certificate, a personalised CEnvP seal to use and will be entitled to use the title ‘Certified Environmental Practitioner’ and the post-nominal letters ‘CEnvP-GEO’ as follows: Mr/s Alex Doe BSc CEnvP-GEO.
To maintain your CEnvP status renewal fees must be paid annually and evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) must be provided on a two-year basis. The certification fee for the first year is calculated on a pro-rata basis from the month a practitioner was certified.
Unsuccessful applications can be either deferred for a period no longer than twelve (12) months or rejected and will receive an outcome letter from the Certification Board addressing their decision and shortcomings identified during the application process. Deferred applicants may re-apply within the deferral period without charge when the conditions of the deferral have been met.
Eligibility and Evidence
Educational Qualifications
A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. physical geography, environmental science, geology).
Evidence of your qualifications is required in the form of certified copies (refer to the FAQs on our website for a list of authorised signatories in Australia, and in New Zealand). These must be uploaded and submitted together with the online application. Alternatively, direct access via My eQuals is also accepted. Where necessary, transcript or academic record of your degree may be requested to verify its relevance.
Evidence of Name Change will be required if your current name differs from the name on the educational qualifications.
Work Experience
The minimum requirement is ten (10) years of full-time equivalent professional experience in the functional areas of environmental practice gained during the last seventeen (17) years, with a minimum of seven (7) recent years in the functional areas of Geomorphology practice.
Only experience gained after obtaining the lowest level of eligible educational qualifications can be counted towards the experience required.
Work experience timeframe: The seventeen (17) year window allows part-time workers as well as those returning to the workforce from a long leave period associated with caring, illness or parental leave, to meet the required full-time equivalence work experience.
For the purpose of calculating full-time equivalent (FTE) work experience, no more than thirty-five (35) hours per week will be recognised (even if working for more than one (1) employer at the time) and the following metrics are used:
• Full-time / 1.0 (35 hrs / week),
• 4 days / 0.8 (28 hrs / week),
• 3 days / 0.6 (21 hrs / week),
• 2 days / 0.4 (14 hrs / week),
• 1 day / 0.2 (7 hrs / week).
Functional work experience: Supervisory, teaching, research, policy development, regulatory activities, community development work, and volunteer work may be recognised as contributing to the years of ‘functional experience’, providing you can demonstrate how these have contributed to relevant competence.
Applicants with experience in lieu of education: At the discretion of the Certification Board, ten and a half (10.5) years of full-time equivalence in the functional areas of geomorphology practice may be assessed for equivalence with educational qualifications.
Work Verifiers: The experience claimed must be independently verified by a “Work Verifier”, a current or former employer, senior colleague, or Referee who knew you at that time and can specifically confirm the experience claimed. Work Verifiers are required to complete an online form sent to them by email after the application has been submitted (please ensure they are notified beforehand). These individuals may be contacted by the Administration team, Registrar, Assessment Panel or Certification Board.
Referees
Applicants must nominate three (3) respected environmental professionals as referees, ensuring the following criteria are met:
• At least one (1) must be an experienced Geomorphology practitioner who is either a CEnvP-GEO Specialist or would be eligible to apply for CEnvP-GEO Specialist certification themselves.
• At least one (1) must be external to your current place of employment and familiar with your geomorphology work, the quality of that work, and your contribution to the geomorphology work in one or more of the three supporting documents supplied as part of your application.
• All referees must have must have known you for at least two (2) years in roles such as supervisor, educator, senior peer or client and must be able to comment on your experience, skills and attributes as they relate to the relevant areas of practice, ethics and professional integrity,
• Referees who are not CEnvPs must provide sufficient information / CV / LinkedIn in the Referee report to demonstrate that they are experienced environmental professionals.
Nominated Referees will be required to fill in an online Report sent to them by email after the Application form has been submitted. Please ensure the Referees are notified beforehand.
Areas of Practice
Areas of Practice are fields you are currently or have been working in (and not recognised as a CEnvP
specialisation). The Areas of Practice you nominate will be discussed during your interview. Once you are certified, these will be used in online profiles and directories.
Key Proficiencies
The following six (6) key proficiencies must be demonstrated by a Geomorphology Specialist in both written application and interview.
For the following four (4) proficiency areas, the applicant must demonstrate a PROFICIENT level of expertise.
1- Understands geomorphological concepts and their complexity
• Takes a holistic view of landscape forms and processes in both space and time.
• Explains geomorphological concepts and principles such as complex response, thresholds, lag times, morphodynamics (form-process), uncertainty, evolutionary trajectory, spatial and temporal scale, geological, climate and anthropogenic drivers and controls on landforms, landscape evolution and response.
• Appraises both the site-specific conditions, and larger-scale controls that can cause landscapes to behave differently than suggested by general guidelines, literature on landscape behaviour or findings from elsewhere.
• Explains the cultural context of geomorphology i.e. why issues of landscape degradation, conservation, rehabilitation, mitigation and adaptation are particularly important.
2- Selects and uses appropriate tools, techniques, data and methods to analyse, assess and interpret a landscape or solve a geomorphological problem
• Critiques tools, techniques, data and methods, and selects those that are appropriate for use.
• Can provide a geomorphologically sound course of action and recommendations to solve a geomorphological problem.
• Selects techniques for on-ground conservation or rehabilitation actions that are geomorphologically sound.
• Employs appropriate technical skills to use the selected technique, data or method in practice.
• Designs geomorphological projects including field-based projects and/or lab-based projects and/or modelling projects.
• Develops and uses defensible experiments and/or monitoring programs
• Demonstrates capability in determining the reliability and accuracy of data.
• Explains methodological bias and limitations.
• Presents findings and data in a proficient graphical, oral, verbal, written and visual way.
• Demonstrates a technical ability to manage data using appropriate methods.
3- Skilled in the interpretation of landscapes or solving geomorphological problems
• Practises objective, systematic analysis and interpretation of geomorphological systems.
• Identifies geomorphological problems and develops practical solutions to them.
• Demonstrates well-developed and proficient field-based observation, analysis, and interpretation skills.
• Interprets geomorphological data to reveal trends, and to establish positions and judgement about what this means.
• Distinguishes between reporting facts, describing trends and making a geomorphological interpretation.
• Draws defensible conclusions based on evidence.
• Recognises the limitations of uncertainty in geomorphology and understands how to treat this uncertainty.
• Demonstrates capability to critique and make sound decisions on the quality of existing and ongoing geomorphological work within their area of expertise or geographical area.
• Explains the various types of qualitative and quantitative ‘models’ that are used in making geomorphological predictions.
4- Skilled in the communication and advancement of geomorphology
• Advocates for geomorphology in a range of different settings and contexts.
• Identifies and uses effective and appropriate communication methods.
• Communicates well in a range of formats, speaks and orates well to a range of audiences.
• Identifies and engages with relevant stakeholders.
• Communicates complex geomorphological issues clearly and credibly with a range of audiences.
• Transforms technical information to engage and inform non-specialist audiences.
For the following two (2) proficiency areas, the applicant must demonstrate a FUNCTIONAL level of expertise.
5- Demonstrates influence (e.g. on policy, planning, improved environmental condition etc.)
• Knows, or knows how to find out about, relevant laws, guidelines, conventions, institutional arrangements and policy in the jurisdiction they wish to practice.
• Demonstrates an understanding of geomorphological principles and problems in a way that will enable policy and procedure development.
• Demonstrates a broad understanding of the use of geomorphology in environmental planning and assessment.
6- Understands risk assessment
• Demonstrates an understanding of the relationship between geomorphology and environmental risk assessment.
• Demonstrates familiarity with environmental impact assessment principles and practice.
• Assesses and manages risks while taking a particular course of action.
Definitions
For clarity in expectations, the Certification Scheme uses consistent definitions of “proficient” and “functional” across its specialisations:
Proficient Understanding
• Skilled knowledge or demonstration of the proficiency area. This can be done by referring to your work evidence documents as evidence.
• Broad experience involving a range of geomorphological problems.
• Proven ability to apply knowledge and experience to achieve objectives for a range of common geomorphological problems.
• Awareness of limitations of skills and the ability to identify where and how to obtain expert advice for complex geomorphological problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively and at a proficient level about typical geomorphological problems.
Functional Understanding
• Basic level of knowledge of competency element
• Limited relevant experience
• Ability to apply knowledge and experience to achieve objectives for simple issues
• Awareness of limitation of skills and the ability to identify where solutions might be sought to issues
• Ability to communicate effectively within the limits of knowledge
Professional Competency
As evidence to support claims of Geomorphology Specialist proficiencies you are required to:
• Submit a written statement (1000-1500 words in total) describing how you believe you achieve the six (6) key proficiencies for practising geomorphologists.
• Submit at least three (3) documents where you have been a key contributor that demonstrate professional competency in the required key proficiencies.
For the supporting documents to be accepted as evidence of your proficiency, you should be a named author/lead presenter on that document/presentation. If this is not the case, you must outline the extent to which you undertook the geomorphology, and which aspects of the geomorphology you undertook. This must be outlined in your competencies essay or as a statement accompanying the supporting document. This is particularly important when the work was undertaken as part of a team or in collaboration with other geomorphologists. Company reports without identifying information or a statement that you were the geomorphologist conducting the work are not acceptable.
Reports or documents that only note you as a project manager, reviewer or sign-off delegate are not suitable evidence of your geomorphology proficiency unless you provide a clear statement in your competencies essay or as a statement accompanying the supporting document, which outlines the extent of your geomorphological involvement and the specific aspects of the geomorphology you undertook.
You should also ensure that the supporting documents you provide were written/presented while you were working with, or affiliated with, that employer/organisation (i.e. check the date of the report/presentation against your employment profile). If there is a valid reason why this is not the case, you must provide an explanation in your competencies essay or as a statement accompanying the supporting document.
Recommendation: refer to your work evidence documents within your statement to substantiate your claims, explicitly address the relevant competencies and try to avoid repetition.
Commitment to CPD (Continued Professional Development)
To demonstrate commitment to CPD, you will need to provide details of:
• Past CPD. It is strongly recommended you submit a CPD log of the past two (2) years of activities or a statement explaining your past activities to enable the Registrar, Assessment Panel and Certification Board to ascertain your understanding of the requirement post certification.
• Future CPD. Provide a plan to accrue at least one hundred (100) CPD points biennially once certified. This should include the type of activities and the number of hours you are expecting to spend for each of them.
Ethical Conduct and Statement of Claim
It is intrinsic to the CEnvP Scheme that Certified Practitioners behave with the highest levels of integrity and professional conduct. Applicants are therefore asked to:
• ensure you have read, understood and confirmed that you abide by the EIANZ Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct.
• disclose matters relevant to past issues of professional conduct.
A statutory declaration confirming accuracy of the provided materials is required.
Important Information
Before you begin your online application form:
1- Read the Guidance Notes to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for certification.
2- Review the Application Checklist to confirm you have all the necessary information and documents.
3- Download the following Templates: Official Statement of Claim, CPD Log, Commitment to CPD Statement and Key Proficiencies.
Once you start your application form you can save and resume later. However, the last saved link is only valid for 30 days.