Application Top Tips and FAQs

Yes. Use the guidance and tools we have available to assess your level of competence and decide which grade of membership best reflects your skills and experience. 

Yes. More than one competency within the same theme may be relevant to your experience and the work you do. Just make sure you meet the minimum number of technical and transferable competencies required.

We suggest you make good use of the 350-word limit. The recommended minimum word count is 250 words, and we do allow applicants to go up to a maximum of 350 words.

We suggest you use the STARE method to structure your statements. More detail on this is in the Membership Application Guidance. 

For Associate membership you need to demonstrate at least ‘capable’ level competence across all seven of the competencies and for Full membership at least ‘proficient’ level competence across all seven of the competencies. It is permissible to claim a higher level for an individual competency, but remember that there may be no need to in order to demonstrate the minimum required standard.

No. We do not ask for you to attach any additional reports or papers. You should, however, refer to them within your competency statements.

No. You need to make sure you have addressed the majority, but not all, of the points within the competency descriptor. We recommend you also look at the general description of the level of competence you are claiming too, alongside the detailed descriptor for each competency chosen. This will give you a better idea of what the assessors are expecting to see within your evidence.   

We have members from many different professional backgrounds and the Competency Framework is wide-ranging, so there should be competencies within the Framework that apply to your existing skill set. You can choose more than one competency from the same theme, as well as using a third sponsor if you have a varied background. Our Competency Framework covers different levels of competence across a range of competencies and areas within ecology and environmental management. If you are still unsure, please get in touch for advice .

Where complex scenarios are mentioned in the Competency Framework, applicants should remember that working on a big project does not necessarily mean it is complex as it could in fact be quite a simple project example to use. Applicants should provide evidence of complex scenarios and problem solving associated with them. This might include dealing with different interpretations, views, unexpected results or findings, or other unforeseen circumstances. Complexity is related to problem solving and integrating different, sometimes conflicting elements, not just large amounts of data. The Competency Framework defines ‘complex’ as ‘a problem, project, situation or task which has more than 2 viable solutions, is problematic or unusual or has multiple elements which can interact such that a conclusion cannot easily be reached. Interactions can be synergistic, neutral or conflicting.’

It is preferable, but not essential, that your sponsors are CIEEM members. They should be at the same grade as being applied for or above, and they should ideally have know you for at least 12 months. Sponsors must confirm that the information about your competence and professionalism contained in your application form is correct. To do this they must have sufficient knowledge of the quality of your practice as a professional. We have Guidance for Sponsors – October 2024  which you should send to your chosen sponsors to assist them.

 If it is not possible to find CIEEM members to act as sponsors, then non-member sponsors are acceptable. In all cases all sponsors must have knowledge of your work and be able to endorse your competence and integrity as a potential member. All non-member sponsors will need to provide a copy of their CV or work profile to demonstrate their suitability.

 All non-member sponsors will need to provide a copy of their CV or work profile to demonstrate their suitability. It will be the applicant’s responsibility to request this information from the non-member sponsors and include it with their application. In these cases, your sponsors’ suitability will be checked by our Membership Operations Manager.

Yes. We understand that colleagues you work with regularly and are best placed to endorse your evidence will often work in the same team as you. 

 It is vital that all of your competency choices are endorsed by at least one of your sponsors. As long as between them all of your claimed competencies are endorsed we will be able to process your application.  

Yes. Although we do not state this in our guidance document, we do have occasions where members need to ask a third person to sponsor them. If you want to discuss this option with one of the Membership Team please do. If you do end up submitting a form with more than two sponsors you must make it as clear as possible as to which sponsor is supporting each competency. Each sponsor will need to have filled out a sponsor declaration page.

That’s fine if they are happy to endorse your statements and are able to support your examples/evidence that you use. Please remember though that significantly older examples may not justify claims of current competence.