Chartered Ecologists are active professionals who use their knowledge, experience and influence to promote and advance ecology as an applied discipline. They may work or have worked in local or national government, consultancy, the voluntary sector, statutory agencies, industry or academia but they are united by three common characteristics:
- their advice and practice is based on a fundamental understanding of ecology and the critical evaluation of scientific evidence;
- they work in accordance with high standards of professional conduct; and
- they can communicate complex ecological concepts and ideas effectively to a wide range of audiences.
As our natural environment faces ever-increasing pressures and threats, there are signs that society increasingly recognises and values the vital life support, provisioning, regulating and cultural services it provides. Chartered Ecologists are at the forefront of work to protect and enhance the natural environment and to safeguard, manage and restore these services for the benefit of nature and society.
Before joining the Register, applicants are rigorously assessed to ensure that they are fully competent and confident practitioners. Registrants are periodically re-assessed to ensure that they have maintained the high level of competence required. Chartered Ecologists are identified by the post-nominal letters ‘CEcol’.
Admission to the Register of Chartered Ecologists is currently open to:
- Fellows, Full or Associate members of CIEEM;
- Professional Ecologists not currently members of CIEEM; and
- Members of other professional bodies, licensed by CIEEM, such that their members can apply to CIEEM to join the Register. Details of licensed professional bodies will be listed below as and when a licence is granted.
Click here for eligibility and fees
Supporting your CEcol application
Your Chartered Ecologist application will be assessed against the relevant levels of our Competency Framework. The Framework specifies the levels of competence expected of our members at different professional grades and provides a competence-based assessment of membership and Chartered Ecologist eligibility.
The application process for Chartered Ecologist status changed to coincide with the release of a new version of the Competency Framework from October 1st 2024. Please note that if you are in possession of application documents that pre-date October 2024 you will need to request the latest versions before applying.
If you would like to request an application form and guidance documents, please complete and submit the form below.
Request a new application form
Please note, to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner, we kindly ask that you submit your completed forms by one of the following submission deadlines:
- 31st December
- 28th February
- 31st May
- 30th September