Across more than 20 legislation and guideline instruments in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, government agencies, regulators and standards bodies reference CEnvP as the benchmark for environmental practice – and in some jurisdictions, it is explicitly required by law.
This recognition reflects more than two decades of independent, rigorous assessment to ISO 17024 – the international standard for certification of individuals. For practitioners who hold CEnvP, it means their credential is trusted by the agencies and regulators that matter most. For those engaging certified practitioners, it provides confidence that the work will meet the required standard.
Recognition on this page covers both CEnvP certification specifically and EIANZ membership where relevant. Entries that apply to EIANZ membership rather than CEnvP certification are noted clearly – these are relevant to all EIANZ members, not only certified practitioners.
Recognition varies by specialty and jurisdiction. Practitioners working in site contamination will find the broadest coverage of explicit regulatory requirements. Practitioners in ecology, impact assessment, climate change and geomorphology will find relevant recognition under the national and specific state sections.
This page captures all regulatory instruments and guidelines currently known to EIANZ that reference CEnvP certification or EIANZ membership. There are likely more that we are not yet aware of. If you know of a recognition instrument that is not listed here, we would welcome the information – please contact the CEnvP Program Office at info@cenvp.org.
National Australian recognition
Heads of Environmental Protection Authorities (HEPA), Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
In 2017, HEPA – the peak body representing environment protection authorities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand – endorsed the CEnvP Scheme and its governing principles, including ISO 17024:2013 alignment, defined specialist areas, recertification requirements and ethical and professional conduct standards.
The HEPA National Certification of Environmental Practitioners Working Group was established in 2015 to develop a framework to improve confidence in the quality and accountability of environmental reports provided to government agencies. After investigating certification schemes in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, HEPA endorsed the CEnvP Scheme’s principles in 2017 – establishing it as the reference standard for environmental practitioner certification across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This endorsement applies across all Australian jurisdictions and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 – Independent Audit Guidelines
EIANZ recognition
The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s Independent Audit and Audit Report Guidelines for controlled actions approved under the EPBC Act identify EIANZ certification as an advantage for environmental auditors engaged on nationally significant projects.
Australian Accounting Standards Board – Climate-related Disclosures (AASB S2)
As mandatory climate reporting obligations expand across Australian industry, the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s Assurance Engagements Standards require that practitioners involved in assurance engagements demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills and professional competencies.
CEnvP Climate Change Specialist certification provides practitioners with the professional competency framework consistent with these requirements – making it directly relevant to practitioners involved in assurance engagements under the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standard for Climate-related Disclosures (AASB S2), introduced in September 2024.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – Agriculture Sector Review
EIANZ recognition
A 2018 review of interactions between the EPBC Act and the agriculture sector recommended that the Commonwealth accredit a single professional association – citing EIANZ as the example – to in turn accredit environmental professionals undertaking flora and fauna surveys in support of referrals.
DCCEEW and TERN – EMSA Botanist Recognition
The joint Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Australia’s Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) application process for recognition as an EMSA-approved Botanist identifies CEnvP Ecology Specialist certification as a qualifying credential. This recognition, introduced in 2025, reflects the Scheme’s standing as the benchmark for ecological practice at a national level.
National New Zealand recognition
Heads of Environmental Protection Authorities (HEPA), Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
In 2017, HEPA – the peak body representing environment protection authorities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand – endorsed the CEnvP Scheme and its governing principles, including ISO 17024:2013 alignment, defined specialist areas, recertification requirements and ethical and professional conduct standards.
The HEPA National Certification of Environmental Practitioners Working Group was established in 2015 to develop a framework to improve confidence in the quality and accountability of environmental reports provided to government agencies. After investigating certification schemes in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, HEPA endorsed the CEnvP Scheme’s principles in 2017 – establishing it as the reference standard for environmental practitioner certification across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This endorsement applies across all Australian jurisdictions and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ministry for the Environment – Contaminated Land Management Guidelines
The Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Land Management Guidelines identify CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification as one of the recommended methods for confirming a practitioner is a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner (SQEP) under the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil (NESCS) – and the most direct pathway to recognised SQEP status.
The Guidelines state that practitioners who hold CEnvP-SC accreditation should be considered suitably qualified and experienced under the NESCS, as the Scheme’s requirements are generally consistent with the criteria outlined in the NESCS Users’ Guide.
Where investigations are carried out to meet a regulatory requirement of the NESCS, the investigation must be performed by a SQEP who must also certify the report. CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification satisfies this requirement.
National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil – Users’ Guide
The Users’ Guide to the New Zealand National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health identifies the CEnvP Scheme as one method for assessing whether a practitioner is a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner.
This foundational recognition, in place since 2012, established the Scheme’s standing in Aotearoa New Zealand contaminated land practice and informed the more explicit recognition in subsequent Ministry for the Environment guidelines.
State and territory recognition
New South Wales
CEnvP certification is recognised across two distinct NSW regulatory instruments covering contaminated land and environmental impact assessment.
NSW Environment Protection Authority – Contaminated Land
The NSW Environment Protection Authority recognises CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification as satisfying its requirements for contaminated land consultant certification. The EPA is satisfied that the Scheme provides a thorough process for certifying contaminated land consultants to an acceptable standard of competency.
Reports submitted to the NSW EPA for contaminated land must be prepared, or reviewed and approved, by a CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist or a CPSS CSAM (Soil Science Australia).
NSW Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (REAP) Scheme
Under the NSW Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (REAP) Scheme, introduced in 2021 by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, all environmental impact statements for state significant development and state significant infrastructure projects must be reviewed by a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner.
The CEnvP Scheme is one of two certification schemes accredited to deliver the REAP Scheme in NSW. CEnvP Impact Assessment Specialist practitioners are responsible for the majority of larger and more complex REAP submissions across the state – reflecting the depth of assessment expertise the certification requires.
Queensland
Environmental Protection Regulation 2008
EIANZ recognition
Schedule 8 of the Queensland Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 identifies EIANZ as a prescribed organisation for the purposes of Section 115A of the Regulation. This connects to Sections 564 and 572 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, which define a Suitably Qualified Person for performing a regulatory function and set out criteria for approval as an environmental auditor – both of which reference membership of a prescribed organisation as a qualifying criterion. EIANZ membership satisfies this requirement under Queensland law.
Nature Conservation Act 1992 – Flora Survey Guidelines
The Queensland Government Flora Survey Guidelines, published under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, list CEnvP Ecology Specialist certification as a recognised example of an acceptable certification program for practitioners conducting protected flora surveys. CEnvP certification is also identified within the Suitably Qualified Person self-assessment grading system as evidence of appropriate qualifications.
Victoria
VIC Environment Protection Authority – Environmental Auditor Guidelines
The Victoria Environment Protection Authority’s Environmental Auditor Guidelines for Appointment and Conduct reference Certified Environmental Practitioners and EIANZ across multiple sections covering auditor qualifications, expertise requirements and statutory land use planning.
For the contaminated land expertise area, CEnvP certification is specifically identified as evidence of relevant professional certification for practitioners seeking appointment as environmental auditors.
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action – Waterway Programs
From July 2024, projects requiring fluvial geomorphological expertise funded through DEECA Waterway Programs – whether commissioned directly by DEECA or by catchment management authorities – give preference to tenders that include practitioners with CEnvP Geomorphology Specialist certification.
Holding CEnvP Geomorphology Specialist certification demonstrates to DEECA and catchment management authorities that the project is being undertaken by a suitably qualified practitioner.
VIC Environment Protection Authority – Engaging Consultants
The Victoria Environment Protection Authority’s fact sheet on engaging environmental consultants identifies EIANZ as a professional association able to provide contact details for members across a range of environmental disciplines. As the certification program of EIANZ, CEnvP certified practitioners are among those available through this pathway.
South Australia
SA Environment Protection Authority – Site Contamination Practitioner Recognition
Since August 2019, the South Australia Environment Protection Authority has recognised CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification as satisfying its requirements for certified site contamination practitioners. The SA EPA currently recognises two certification schemes for this purpose.
SA Environment Protection Authority – Certification Body Policy
The SA EPA’s Site Contamination Policy on Certification of Practitioners establishes the criteria a certification body must meet to receive EPA recognition. These criteria – including defined specialist areas aligned to professional competencies, a maintained register of certified practitioners, and accountability to a code of ethical and professional conduct – were established independently by the SA EPA, not by EIANZ. The CEnvP Scheme satisfies all of them.
Western Australia
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation – Contaminated Sites Auditor Accreditation
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s Accreditation of Contaminated Sites Auditors guidelines require applicants to demonstrate individual certification or membership with professional bodies relevant to their expertise in site contamination assessment.
CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification is explicitly identified as satisfying this requirement – meaning that holding CEnvP provides recognised standing as part of the contaminated sites auditor accreditation process in Western Australia.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Environment Protection Authority – Environment Protection Policy
The ACT Environment Protection (General) Environment Protection Policy 2016 provides that in considering whether an environmental auditor has appropriate qualifications and experience, the EPA will have regard to the person’s status as a Certified Environmental Practitioner – making CEnvP certification a recognised qualifying factor in auditor approval decisions in the ACT.
ACT Environment Protection Authority – Contaminated Sites Policy
The ACT EPA’s Contaminated Sites Environment Protection Policy recommends the use of appropriately certified consultants for contaminated land work and specifically identifies CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification as a recognised scheme.
Tasmania
Tasmania Environment Protection Authority – Contaminated Sites
The Tasmania Environment Protection Authority requires that environmental site assessment and decommissioning reports submitted for approval be prepared by a site contamination certified consultant. The CEnvP Scheme is the only certification scheme currently endorsed by the TAS EPA for this purpose.
Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Underground Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulations 2020
Under these Regulations, a suitably qualified person is defined as a person who holds CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification under the Rules of EIANZ – making this one of the most explicit and direct legislative requirements for CEnvP certification in Australia.
Local government recognition
City of Newcastle – Contaminated Land Management
The City of Newcastle’s Contaminated Land Management Technical Manual requires that contaminated land reports be prepared, or reviewed and approved, by an appropriately qualified and certified environmental consultant. CEnvP Site Contamination Specialist certification is one of two schemes recognised by the City of Newcastle for this purpose.
“CEnvP certification is independently assessed to ISO 17024 and is recognised across more than 20 regulatory instruments in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand – the broadest recognition of any environmental practitioner certification scheme in the region.”