EPI Handbook - Board for Global EHS Credentialing

EPI Handbook - Board for Global EHS Credentialing
Applying for the Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) Credential
Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) Handbook
The Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) program is an
optional
first step toward obtaining QEP status for environmental students and professionals just beginning their careers. Holding the EPI designation allows students who anticipate entering the environmental field, or for environmental professionals who have graduated and entered the field within the last five years, to demonstrate personal knowledge of general environmental science.
BGC will only grant the Environmental Professional In-Training to practitioners who achieve the requirements for education and experience, agree to abide by
BGC’s Code of Ethics
and through examination, demonstrate general environmental science knowledge by passing the General Environmental Science (GES) Exam.
In the BGC certification framework, the EPI is a “certification” or “designation,” not a full credential, because it is a stepping stone toward achieving the QEP credential.  Practitioners may only hold the EPI designation for 7 years, after that, they must sit for the QEP exam and give up the EPI designation.  EPIs are required to adhere to the professional, enforceable
BGC Code of Ethics
; however, BGC has no requirement for certification maintenance while a practitioner holds the EPI, because, the expectation is that the EPI is learning through work experience, mentoring, coursework, and other professional actives in order to grow as an environmental professional in preparation for taking the QEP exam.
EPI certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence in applied environmental science, adherence to a strict code of ethics, and the dedication to make contributions to the environmental profession and community. This lets you advance your career as a new environmental professional. The EPI program also provides opportunities for networking. Our
online roster
of QEPs and EPIs increases the visibility of this elite group among their peers and professional contacts; BGC also provides access to a professional badging service, LinkedIn groups, an EPI mentoring program, and a free Career Center for posting resumes.
Obligations of EPI Designation Holders
After you pass the exam and are issued your credential, you are required to meet several obligations, not limited to:
paying your fees on or before the due date,
continually updating your knowledge and skills, and
documenting work experiences for the QEP application Process, and
upholding the
BGC
Code of Ethics
Please be aware that if the requirements for certification change, you will be required to meet them in order to obtain your QEP credential.
Application Steps
There are two steps to the application process for becoming certified as an EPI. Please familiarize yourself thoroughly with the requirements before you begin your application. Please also note that you must meet all current eligibility requirements.
Step 1:
Submission of General Application Documents:
Apply online
through the BGC website where you will tell BGC about yourself and confirm your agreement to abide by the
BGC
Code of Ethics
Forward the link to the BGC
Professional Reference Questionnaire
to at least 3 environmental professionals (supervisors, co-workers, clients etc.) who are familiar with your environmental work/studies and ask them to complete and submit the forms. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure that at least 3 completed references get submitted.
Ask your university/universities to send official transcripts to BGC.
They must show all degree courses with conferral dates.
They must be sent directly to BGC via surface mail or email to
applications@GoBGC.org
Official transcripts in a sealed envelope with the registrar’s stamp across the seal are acceptable. Except for submitting such an envelope, BGC can
NOT
accept transcripts uploaded, mailed, or emailed directly from the applicant.
Refer to the Handbook section on
Required Documentation for EPI Applicants
for information on Transcript requirements for degrees from the United States, Canada and other Countries.
Where to Send Transcripts:
email
applications@gobgc.org
Surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
P.O. Box 610, Holt,
Michigan 48842
Describe your professional experience.
You will need to show that you have worked as an environmental professional for less than 5 years (60 months). Detailing your environmental work experience now may help you when you apply for the QEP certification once you have sufficient experience.
Pay the Application Fee (non-refundable) and submit your application on the BGC website.
Step 2:
Take and Pass the Multiple Choice GES Examination
If you have a documented disability, you may submit a
Test Accommodation Request Form
before the application deadline.
Pay all examination fees.
Schedule the exam.
If you successfully meet the requirements of both steps and pass the exam, you will be awarded the EPI designation.
An
EPI
Eligibility Checklist
has been designed for you to determine whether you have met the requirements for steps 1 and 2 before applying for your EPI exam. It is included in the
EPI Library
Qualifications and Evaluation
To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board requisites:
Submit only one application per person.
Meet academic requirements.
Meet the professional environmental experience requirement documented by references.
Agree to adhere to the
BGC Code of Ethics
and to be governed by the
BGC Ethics Case Procedures
Pay your application fee and examination fee.
Documents and forms sent by you and third parties will be needed to assess your eligibility to sit for EPI exams. These include:
Application Form and Ethics Attestation
Transcripts
Reference Forms
Until you are certified, your application packet will remain active for two years. You are required to submit an updated reference from an environmental professional familiar with your recent work and pay a reapplication fee every two years to keep your application active until you pass the exam
Evaluation
BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for EPI eligibility and will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status.
We may ask you for additional documentation when the initial review of your application (or reapplication) indicates that pertinent information is missing or unclear. In that case, a review of your application or reapplication will not proceed until we receive the requested information.
Submit Early!
Submitting your application well in advance of when you want to take the exam may give you sufficient time to provide additional information without den to sit for the exam.
Confidentiality
Original applications and supporting documentation are treated by the BGC Board of Directors and staff as confidential information. As noted in the
BGC Privacy Policy
, all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized access to individual information. BGC does not disclose personal information obtained from you or any other applicant to third parties except when authorized in writing by you or if necessary to complete the process – for example, arranging for you to sit for the exam.
Record Retention
In accordance with the BGC record-retention policy, paper files and electronic documents provided by applicants that have been inactive for three years will be destroyed. Prior to destroying a file, the staff will attempt to notify you using your last known address.
BGC Director Assessment of Your Eligibility:
A Director of the Board is not authorized to give you a determination on your eligibility, either before or after your application is filed.
EPI Reapplicants
An application is considered to be active for two years after it is initially submitted. After the second year, your application expires. To reactivate an expired application and sit for the exam, you must complete the following steps:
Submit a
Certifications
Reapplication Form
Have at least one updated EPI
Professional Reference Questionnaire
Form
PRQ
) completed and submitted to BGC by an environmental professional who can provide information on your recent environmental experience. This form can be no more than 12 months old (see the
Professional References section
Update your work experience information
Meet all current application requirements
Pay the $150 reapplication fee (non-refundable)
Don’t Lose your Application!
If your application file is inactive for more than three years without your being approved to sit for the exam, it will be automatically purged, and you will have to follow the procedure as a new applicant if you wish to apply again. Please notify us in writing before three years of inactivity to keep your file open and contact information up to date.
Requirements to Be Eligible for the EPI
Academic Requirements
Your current career stage determines whether you qualify to apply for the EPI designation or the full QEP credential. Your career stage also determines the academic requirements that you must meet to qualify to sit for an exam.
Individuals with less than five years of professional environmental work experience are only eligible for the EPI. College or university seniors working toward a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences, earth sciences, natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics are also eligible for the EPI as are graduates who already have one of these degrees.
Individuals who have 5 or more years of professional work experience cannot receive the EPI designation.
Degrees must be conferred by a a college or university that is acceptable to the Board, see the “
Documents Needed
” section of the EPI Handbook, for more detail on acceptable degrees.
Eligibility
Professional Level Environmental Work
Minimum Education Required
EPI
Less than five years
College or University Senior: Enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program in physical sciences, earth sciences, natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics
Early-career professional: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in physical sciences, earth sciences, natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics
QEP
Eight years
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
Five years
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in physical sciences, earth sciences, natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics
Experience Requirements
Early career professionals with less than 5 years of professional environmental work experience and students are only eligible to apply for the EPI designation, which does not require documentation of professional work experience to sit for the General Environmental Science Exam.
Professional References
Individuals wishing to apply for an EPI designation must provide three references from environmental professional.  Applicants for the EPI must minimally have references submitted from three environmental professionals who are familiar with your academic abilities and achievements such as professors from your degree program. Applicants for the EPI who also have actual environmental work experience are encouraged to obtain references from supervisors or others who are familiar with your environmental work.
Each reference must be provided on the Board’s QEP
Professional Reference Questionnaire Form
PRQ)
, have a hand-written signature (not a typed or script font) or a digital signature, and be prepared only by the person giving the reference. This form can be found on the BGC website in the
QEP Documents & Forms section
Avoid Investigations about the Validity of Your References and Documents
: When references from different people have identical wording, they will be investigated to determine who actually prepared the reference. This can cause delays that may cause you to be prevented from taking the exam or being blocked permanently if you are found to have prepared the content of the reference. Sometimes, your supervisors and colleagues who are providing your references may need a memory jog about the work that you have done for them. Provide it verbally, not in writing or from a written job description, so that they are not tempted to cut and paste. Make sure that what you tell them is unique to the job that you did to avoid giving exactly the same information to other references and employers.
Ethics Requirement
Regardless of any other professional affiliation, the BGC
Code of Ethics
applies to each individual seeking certification (candidates) and each individual certified by BGC credentialing programs or holding a BGC designation (certificants). The Code serves as the minimum ethical standards for your professional behavior and is designed to provide both appropriate ethical practice guidelines and enforceable standards of conduct. The Code also serves as a professional resource for EHS professionals, as well as for those served by BGC candidates and certificants. Consequently, you are required to adhere to the BGC
Code of Ethics
and to be governed by the BGC
Ethics Case Procedures
Required Documentation for EPI Applicants
Official transcripts must be submitted for each degree. An official transcript is one sent directly to BGC by your college or university through mail or as secure e-transcripts. Alternatively, you may submit official transcripts if they are in a sealed envelope with the registrar’s stamp across the seal. When a degree includes credits that were transferred from another college or university, official transcripts for those course credits must be sent if requested.
Where to Send Transcripts:
email
applications@gobgc.org
Surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
P.O. Box 610, Holt,
Michigan 48842
U.S. and Canadian Degrees
Official transcripts must be submitted for each degree. An official transcript is one sent directly to BGC by your college or university through mail or as secure e-transcripts. Alternatively, you may submit official transcripts if they are in a sealed envelope with the registrar’s stamp across the seal. When a degree includes credits that were transferred from another college or university, official transcripts for those course credits must be sent upon if requested.
The Board will consider a U.S. college or university to be acceptable when it holds institutional accreditation from one of the
six U.S. Regional Accrediting Bodies
or the
Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
, which are recognized by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
and the
U.S. Department of Education
. Your degree must be awarded during the time that the institutional accreditation is in effect.
A Canadian college or university will be considered acceptable if it is recognized under applicable provincial standards, depending on where the school is located. In addition, it may hold specialized program accreditation as noted by membership in
Universities Canada
(formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada).
International Degrees
A degree from a college or university that is located outside the United States or Canada will be considered for acceptability based on the institution’s accreditation status in the education system that has jurisdiction. Applicants with international degrees will be required to submit their transcript(s) for a credential evaluation unless the academic program is authorized by BGC or through a BGC-recognized accreditation agency to issue BGC verification statements. (BGC verification statements streamline and shorten the review for applicants. Please contact your program director to find out if your college or University has a relevant BGC verification statements.)
A member of the
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
, Inc. or a member of the
Association of International Credential Evaluators
must be used to prepare a credential evaluation report. You must request that the report be forwarded directly to BGC through the
applications@gobgc.org
portal. Below is a list of different services that our applicants have successfully used for transcript evaluations. BGC does not specifically endorse or recommend one service over another.
Spantran
World Education Services
International Education Evaluations (IEE)
Academic Evaluation Services
Foundation for International Services
Professional References
Individuals applying for an EPI designation must provide three references from environmental professionals. Who acceptable references are depends on whether you are a new graduate or have actual work experience. Student and recent graduates must minimally have references submitted from environmental professionals, typically professors or environmental course instructors, who are familiar with their academic abilities and achievements. Applicants for the EPI who also have actual environmental work experience are encouraged to obtain at least one reference from supervisors, clients or others who can attest to your work experience.
Submitting References
References are required to document, from first hand experience, your abilities, achievements, and the nature of your environmental practice using an EPI
Professional Reference Questionnaire
Form
PRQ
).  A
PRQ
must comply with the requirements of this section. Each
PRQ
will remain confidential between the author and BGC.
You must communicate directly with your references to request that they submit the completed
EPI PRQ
form that you will send them the link to.
BGC does not initiate communication with references for you, nor does it reach out to references you have listed who have not submitted their forms.
Each reference must be provided on the Board’s EPI
Professional Reference Questionnaire Form
PRQ)
, have a hand-written signature (not a typed or script font) or a digital signature, and be prepared only by the person giving the reference. This form can be found on the BGC website in the
EPI library section
It is
unacceptable
for you to provide the response on the form and then have it signed by your reference
We may use the contact information provided to verify the authenticity of the reference and confirm who prepared the text.
Each
PRQ
must be submitted on the BGC website by the person writing the reference.
It is your responsibility to communicate with your reference(s) as frequently as needed to ensure that the
PRQ
is submitted in a timely manner. You will not be approved to sit for the exam until at least 3 PRQ forms have been received and accepted as valid by BGC.
Unqualified and Suspicious Documentation
Professional Reference Questionnaires (PRQs)
that appear to have been prepared by any of the following individuals may result in your application being rejected or delayed:
Your spouse or other relatives
A person whom you supervise
Yourself, preparing your own
PRQ
(even when it is for someone else to sign)
EPI Application Dates and Fees
Application/Reapplication Deadlines
Student applicants approved to be admitted into the EPI exam process will take the
General Environmental Science
exam. This exam can be taken no sooner than the last semester/quarter of their senior year. All others may schedule their exams within their two-year exam eligibility period. Examinations are held at Pearson Vue testing centers. If you fail an exam, you must wait 120 days before you will be allowed to retake it.
EPI Fees
The application, examination, and credential maintenance fees are listed in the table below. You are required to pay fees on or before the due dates. The application fee must be paid prior to the review of application materials. Fees are subject to change, so please check the BGC website to obtain the most current fee schedule.
Fee
Amount
Description
Application/Reapplication Fee
Covers the costs to have your documents reviewed and to maintain your file.
Student examinees can submit an application to take the general EPI exam no sooner than the last semester/final quarter of their junior year. Proof of current enrollment is required to pay the student fee.
Your application/reapplication fee is valid for two years. You must pay a reapplication fee and submit updated documents every two years to keep your file active until you pass the exam
Non-Students
$80
Students
$55
Examination (Scheduling) Fee
$270
The payment to schedule an exam and reserve a seat at the testing center.
Annual (Maintenance) Fee
$80
The yearly fee to maintain your EPI designation after it is awarded. The annual maintenance fee is due by the beginning of each calendar year. Your first annual fee will be prorated depending on the month in which you pass the exam.
Application or reapplication fees are neither refundable nor transferrable.
Your examination fee is not refundable either, but if you cancel your examination with the testing center at least 48 hours in advance of the exam time, the fee will be carried over to when you schedule your re-examination as long as the additional test date is within the 2 year application window. If your cancellation is made less than 48 hours in advance, your fee is forfeited.
Overview of the GES Exam
To establish the topics covered by the GES Exam, BGC conducted a Job Task Analysis (JTA) study, also known as the Role Delineation Study (RDS), the results of which were described in documentation and reports consistent with ISO/ANSI/NCCA, and CESB accreditation standards. JTA Panel members identified the domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills essential to performing the work of an early career environmental practitioner. The JTA results were then distilled into the 4 Broad topics and 16 sub-topics covered that comprise the
GES exam Blueprint
Once the Blueprint was completed and approved by the BGC Board, a panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with expertise on the Blueprint topics was convened to draft and review multiple choice exam questions. These SMEs represented a variety of practice settings, geographic regions, educational levels, gender, ethnicity, and years of experience. This effort was led by former BGC board members with exam expertise who worked under BGC Staff direction, but who also coordinated with the appointed BGC Board liaison to ensure the BGC board was kept informed as the exam updates were done.
In order to ensure that newly credentialed practitioners protect the public through their work, BGC conducts a JTA every five to seven years so that eligibility, domains, tasks, knowledge, skills, examination, recertification, and ethical requirements reflect current, real-world practice.
Examination Format
The exam has 125 (100 questions plus 25 pilot questions) multiple-choice questions, which you may go back and review at any time during the exam. Exams are given at Pearson Vue centers as well as at other approved, secure exam centers. The exam is taken via a computer and there is a short tutorial prior to the examination followed by a short survey following the exam. Instructions for the exam also explain how you can submit comments about the content of specific questions during the exam. BGC staff will review your comments; however, for exam security reasons, staff will not be able to discuss your comments with you.
Examination Scoring
You must receive a passing score on the General Environmental Science (GES) examination in order to receive the EPI designation.
All questions have the same point value.
There is no penalty for incorrect answers (such as “number correct minus a percentage of the number of incorrect answers”).
A passing score is
not
required in each of the individual subareas.
Examinees may request a review of their exam score by submitting the
Review of the Exam Score Form
, which will be forwarded to our testing vendor to conduct a score verification. The examinee should be aware that, given the quality control procedures that are in place, it is highly unlikely that the score will change.
Notification of Examination Results
Once the exam has been completed on-line, a preliminary score is sent to the computer where the exam was taken. This preliminary score is not final or official. Examinees will receive their official results in writing approximately four to six weeks after completing a part of the examination. If you fail the exam, we will inform you of your overall score. All examinees will also receive a performance report indicating their scores in each of the 4 major topical areas.
Confidentiality
As noted in the
BGC Privacy Policy
, examination reports, scores, and failures are not released outside of BGC without your authorization. Studies and reports concerning the efficacy of the exams themselves will contain no information identifiable with any candidate unless authorized by the candidate. The names of those who pass the examination will be listed on the
BGC website
and entered in the web rosters.
Re-Examination
If you are not successful in your examination attempt, you must wait 120 days from the date you took the exam before you may retake the examination.
Preparing for the EPI Exam
BGC General Environmental Science examination questions are derived from many sources and reflect the underlying purposes and principles of environmental science and entry-level environmental practice tasks.  The questions and Job Task Analysis were derived from, developed by, and then independently reviewed by other environmental Subject Matter Experts and professors/instructors from accredited environmental degree programs.
In preparing for the written exam, candidates should carefully review the
GES Exam Blueprint
.  Once the blueprint is reviewed, candidates are encouraged to study textbooks and other available reference material, which t align with the different sections of the GES Exam Blueprint.
The exam does include some calculations that the emerging environmental professional should be able to solve.  Candidates are not expected to have conversion factors or common environmental equations memorized; a sheet with common constants, conversion factors, and equations will be available during the online-based exam. This sheet, available
here
can be reviewed and used as part of a candidate’s exam preparation process.
None of the questions on the exam are based on any country’s laws or regulations.  Some questions are drawn from international environmental standards, such as ASTM and ISO. In contrast, others are drawn from commonly accepted “good” environmental practices which are accepted around the globe, such as pre-purchase environmental due diligence (sometimes referred to as the “innocent purchaser” defense).
While no laws or regulations were used as the basis for any question, environmental entities in many countries and regions have science-based factual information in their publications and websites.  These are typically excellent sources of information on the topics in the BGC environmental exam blueprints. Some examples of their “Home” pages are:
European
and
United States
Space, Atmosphere, and other science-based national Agencies
Environmental professional associations with an international membership, including, but not limited to:
Air & Waste Management Association
American Water Works Association
Water Environment Federation
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD)
UN Environment Programme
UN Environment Document Repository
UN Environment Document Repository Home
US Environmental Protection Agency (
US State Environmental Agencies, including, but not limited to,
Alaska
and
New York
World Health Organization
Sample Questions
The following are provided to familiarize you with the nature and form of questions that may be found in the Board’s examinations. Their subject matter and level of difficulty do not necessarily reflect the content of BGC examinations.
General Environmental Science
The deposits of stream-borne sediments are called
clays.
alluvium.
erosion.
silt.
The driving force for diffusion of a contaminant is
chemical species.
chemical gradient.
atomic number.
atomic weight.
The second law of thermodynamics says that
energy cannot be created or destroyed.
heat flows from a hotter to a colder surface.
for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction.
systems tend to gravitate toward a condition of greater order.
Scheduling Your EPI Exam
The Board for Global EHS Credentialing’s certification examinations are delivered at Pearson Vue Test Centers throughout the United States and Internationally. A current listing of Pearson Vue Testing, including addresses and driving directions, may be viewed at
The examinations are administered by appointment only, Monday through Saturday.
Your eligibility to take the examination is valid for two years from the last day of the month when your application was approved and will expire after that time. If you fail to schedule an appointment for this examination within two years, you will forfeit the application and the application fee. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for the examination.
Scheduling Your Appointment
After Pearson receives your ATT information from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, you will receive confirmation of eligibility to schedule an examination appointment. You may schedule the examination using one of the following methods (be prepared to confirm a date and location for testing). Individuals are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
When you receive the email confirming your eligibility to sit for the examination, you may schedule an appointment at any time at
To use the Pearson Vue Testing Portal, you must create an account by selecting “Create an Account” from the home page. Once logged in, you will be able to:
Schedule your exam
Reschedule
Schedule remote Internet exam delivery
Cancel exam
Select a testing venue location
Request test accommodations
Contact help desk
Telephone Scheduling
Call Pearson at 833-256-1420 to schedule an examination appointment. This toll-free number is answered from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
If you contact Pearson by 3:00 p.m. Central Time on:
Depending on availability, your examination may be scheduled beginning:
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Wednesday
Friday / Saturday
Thursday
Monday
Friday
Tuesday
Confirmation Number
When you schedule your appointment by telephone or online, you will receive an email from Pearson containing your confirmation number, appointment date, time, location, and driving directions to the center. Make sure you keep a record of your confirmation number and appointment information. You will need your confirmation number if you want to confirm, reschedule, or cancel your appointment. BGC will not have your confirmation number in our records.
Confirming Your Appointment
It is your responsibility to verify that you have been scheduled for the date, time, and place you have requested. You can confirm your appointment online even if you scheduled your appointment by telephone.
Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities
Pearson and the Board for Global EHS Credentialing comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and strive to ensure that no individual with a disability (as defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment) is deprived of the opportunity to take the examination solely by reason of that disability. Pearson will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. Candidates requesting special accommodations must call Pearson at 833-256-1420 to schedule their examination.
Wheelchair access is available at all established Test Centers. Candidates must advise Pearson when scheduling that wheelchair access is necessary.
Candidates with visual, sensory, physical, or learning disabilities preventing them from taking the examination under standard conditions may request special accommodations and arrangements.
Verification of the disability and a statement of the specific type of assistance needed
MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO the Board for Global EHS Credentialing
at least 45 calendar days before your desired examination date by completing the
Test Accommodation Request Form
. BGC will review the submitted forms, consult with the vendor, and contact you regarding the decision for accommodations.
Missed Appointments/Forfeitures
You will forfeit the examination registration and all fees paid under the following circumstances:
You wish to reschedule an examination but fail to contact Pearson at least two business days before the scheduled testing session.
You wish to reschedule a second time.
You appear more than 15 minutes late for an examination.
You fail to report for an examination appointment.
A completed application form and examination fee are required to reapply for examination.
Inclement Weather/Power Failure/Other Emergency
In the event of inclement weather or unforeseen emergencies on the day of an examination, Pearson will determine whether circumstances warrant the cancellation and subsequent rescheduling of an examination. The examination will usually not be rescheduled if the Test Center personnel can open the Test Center. Every attempt is made to administer the examination as scheduled; however, should an examination be canceled at a Test Center, all scheduled candidates will receive notification following the examination regarding rescheduling or reapplication procedures.
If power to a Test Center is temporarily interrupted during an administration, your examination will be restarted. The responses provided up to the point of interruption will be intact.
Cancellation and Rescheduling of Exams
You may reschedule your examination once, at no charge, online at
or by calling Pearson at 833-256-1420 at least two business days before your scheduled examination appointment. The following schedule applies:
If you contact Pearson by 3:00 p.m. Central Time on:
Depending on availability, your examination may be scheduled beginning:
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Wednesday
Friday / Saturday
Thursday
Monday
Friday
Tuesday
Problems with Pearson Scheduling and Testing
You should call the BGC office at (517) 853-5763 (between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, U.S. Eastern Time) if you encounter either of the following problems:
You cannot schedule an exam because the Pearson operator does not have a file with your name and identification number.
You arrive at your scheduled examination appointment but are unable to test due to Pearson technical or personnel difficulties.
What to Expect on EPI Exam Day
Plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time. You will not be admitted if you arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled testing time. Calculators built into cellular/smartphones are not permitted in the test center.
Pearson Vue Test Center Update – Please Read
The test center will no longer provide paper and pencils for calculations. Each candidate will be provided with a whiteboard with a dry marker for equation-based items. Additionally, scratch paper, which you can use to calculate, is embedded and can be found in the upper left corner of each question next to the equation sheets and the calculator icons. The
BGC Equation Sheets
will be accessible by clicking the Equation Sheet button on the exam screen – which will be explained during the pre-test instructions.
You must bring these three items:
Your
Authorization to Test (ATT)
letter from Pearson.
Your current, valid, government-issued photo identification document with a signature (e.g., driver’s license or passport) must match the name you used to register for the exam.
Your Pearson confirmation number.
Personal calculators will no longer be allowed in the testing session. A calculator has been programmed into the entire examination and is available during the testing session. Instructions on the use and location of the calculator icon are included in the pre-test instructions.
The URL below can be used to practice with the calculator.
www.pearsonvue.com/athena
Security measures will be implemented, including capturing a digital fingerprint and information from your identification (including an image of your photo).
A score report will be printed at the end of the exam. Candidates may also retrieve their score report from their account after notification that the score report is ready.
Avoid Identification Headaches
:  The name on your government-issued photo identification document must match the name that you used to register for the exam. If you have a name change, such as by marriage, please notify BGC at
applications@GoBGC.org
and notify Pearson
immediately. If you do not provide the required identification or fully participate in the identity validation process during check-in and breaks, you will not be permitted to test, and you will forfeit your testing fees.
Examination Restrictions
You are prohibited from bringing items into the examination room except for the items specified above. Banned items include, but are not limited to, the following:
The use of reference materials is not allowed.
No documents or notes of any kind may be removed from the Test Center.
No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination.
Eating, drinking, or smoking is not permitted in the Test Center.
You may take a break whenever you wish, but you will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost during breaks.
Security
Pearson administration and security standards are designed to ensure all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. The Test Center is continuously monitored by audio and video surveillance equipment for security purposes.
The following security procedures apply during the examination:
Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, tape recorders, pagers, or cellular/smartphones are allowed in the testing room. Possession of a cellular/smartphone or other electronic device is strictly prohibited and will result in dismissal from the examination.
No guests, visitors, or family members are allowed in the testing room or reception areas.
Personal Belongings
No personal items, valuables, or weapons should be brought to the Test Center. Personal items must be left outside the testing room. You will be provided a locker to store your personal items. You will not have access to these items until after the examination is completed. Please note the following items will not be allowed in the testing room and must be kept in the secured locker:
Watches
Hats
Wallets
Keys
Cellphones
Pagers
Books and manuals
Notes or reference materials
PDAs or other electronic devices
Food or drinks
Jewelry
Jackets
If all personal items do not fit in the locker, you will not be able to test. The site is not responsible for any personal belongings.
Once you have placed your items into the locker, you will be asked to do the following to ensure that no prohibited items enter the testing center:
If your test center has one, you will be asked to walk through a metal detector.
The test center administrator will perform a visual inspection of your person.
You will be required to:
Take off your glasses to check for camera devices.
Pull up your sleeves and show your forearms for full visibility of your wrists.
Turn your pockets completely inside out to ensure they are empty.
Raise your pantlegs for full visibility of your ankles.
Depending on your exam, a test-day photo may be taken.
If any personal items (cellular/smartphones, alarms) are observed or heard (cellular/smartphones, alarms) in the testing room after the examination is started, you will be dismissed, and the administration will be forfeited.
Telephone Scheduling – Americas
Call Pearson at 888-572-2276 to schedule an examination appointment. This toll-free number is answered from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday.
Telephone Scheduling – Asia Pacific
Telephone Scheduling – Europe, Middle East Africa (EMEA)
Confirmation Number
When you schedule your appointment by telephone or online, you will receive an email from Pearson containing your confirmation number, appointment date, time, location, and driving directions to the center. Make sure you keep a record of your confirmation number and appointment information. You will need your confirmation number to reschedule or cancel your appointment. BGC will not have your confirmation number in our records.
Confirming Your Appointment
You are responsible for verifying that you have been scheduled for the requested date, time, and place.
You may confirm your appointment in two ways.
Call (888)-572-2276 and speak to the customer service representative.
Confirm your appointment online at
You can confirm your appointment online even if you scheduled your appointment by telephone.
Documents and Forms for EPI Applicants
Application
EPI Application Form
EPI Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) Form
EPI Eligibility Checklist
Exam Blueprints
The QEP examination has two parts.  Both exams are international in scope and contain no regulations specific to any country. The focus is on technical environmental science.  Each part takes up to three hours to complete and consists of approximately 100 multiple-choice questions.
Part 1 QEP/EPI Exam Blueprint 2022
Part 1 is a multiple-choice General Environmental Science (GES) Exam, which is required for all approved EPI and QEP applicants.
Part 2 Air Quality Blueprint 2022
Part 2 requires the QEP applicant to choose a specialty practice area exam from among the four options. EPIs do not take a specialty practice exam until they apply for full QEP status upon completing the minimum requirement of five years of professional environmental work experience.
Part 2 Water Quality Blueprint 2022
Part 2 Waste Management Blueprint 2022
Part 2 Environment Science, Management, and Policy Blueprint 2022
The examination for the EPI and QEP certifications are being updated to combine four QEP specialty areas — water quality; air quality; waste management; and environmental science, management, and policy — into, a comprehensive examination process. The Examination Blueprint is being provided in preparation for the release of the new, comprehensive exam.
New QEP/EPI Exam Blueprint
for 2023
New GES Exam Blueprint
for 2023
Test Accommodations
Test Accommodations Policy
Test Accommodations Guidelines
Test Accommodation Request Form
Other
BGC Certifications Reapplication Form
(except
CIH
BGC Certifications Appeal Procedure
Review of Exam Score Form
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EPI Applicants Payments
Please use the buttons below to pay for your EPI Application and Exam:
Note – if you are using your company’s network, you may get an error due to security reasons. Please try again from your mobile or your home (or another) network. We do not take payment over the phone. Alternatively, you can mail a check to:
BGC
Attn: EPI Applications
P.O. Box 610, Holt,
Michigan 48842
EPI Fees
EPI Application Fee for Students
$55
Processing
EPI Application Fee for Non-Students
$80
Processing
EPI Examination Fee
$270
Processing
EPI Candidate Handbook
About the EPI
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Required Documentation for EPI Applicants
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Scheduling Your EPI Exam
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Documents and Forms for EPI Applicants
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