| Professionals for a Better Environment
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control
CPESC Scope of Practice
Version: August 2, 2010 Page 1 of 3
Foreword
The public demands evidence of professional competence from persons whose activities affect the physical and
economic wellbeing of people throughout the world. Such professionals increasingly must be able to show
evidence of their qualifications. Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control, Inc. (CPESC, Inc.) certifies
individuals based on thorough examination and review of an individual's educational, scientific and service
activities in both the public and private sector.
The Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) began in 1982 under the sponsorship of the
Soil and Water Conservation Society with the goal of identifying individuals qualified to work in the specialized
area of erosion and sediment control. The program grew soundly, but gradually for almost 20 years. Its operating
body, CPESC, Inc, became an independent entity in 2001. Today, CPESC, Inc. is operated under the umbrella of
EnviroCert International, Inc. and there is a registry of approximately 5000 CPESC registrants internationally.
CPESC certification is based upon scholarly preparation, knowledge and experience. Certified professionals listed
on the CPESC registry (a) meet educational and practical experience standards prescribed by CPESC, Inc., (b)
subscribe to the code of ethics, (c) qualify for particular identification of special abilities, (d) have passed a
rigorous qualifying examination, and (e) maintain a continuing professional development program.
Scope of Practice
"Scope of practice" describes the kinds of work that CPESCs do as they practice (work) in their areas of expertise
in erosion and sediment control. The activities listed as A. through H. in this document describe the CPESC
"scope of practice".
CPESCs work on landscapes that involve land disturbances, land development and land management. Most of
the sites are included with subdivisions, commercial sites, parks, other recreational areas, mixed use
developments, highways, transmission lines (power, oil, and gas), farms, forests and surface mines. An individual
CPESC works in one or more of these categories and often collaborates with another CPESC or technical expert
to provide the technical expertise that is needed at a specific site. The specific knowledge that the CPESC needs
to provide erosion and sediment control services can be found in a related document Competency Areas for
CPESCs.
A. Erosion and Sediment Control Planning
A common example of work in this category is the development of a stormwater pollution prevention
plan (SWPPP) needed by a developer to obtain a General Permit in order to begin construction of a
project in compliance with the NPDES requirements of the Clean Water Act. This includes the
development of an erosion and sediment control plan as a component of the SWPPP.
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| Professionals for a Better Environment
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control
CPESC Scope of Practice
Version: August 2, 2010 Page 2 of 3
B. Designing Erosion and Sediment Control Practices and Measures
This area is quite specialized because of the uniqueness that practices and measures have within certain
work sites. For example, while a grass swale at a commercial site and a grassed waterway on a mined
site are similar except in name, the grading required for soil stabilization to restore mined land from
specific soil layers to original contours is much different from developing the desired landscape for the
commercial site. Within the area of stormwater pollution prevention plan development, the
interdisciplinary skills for specific designs often require multiple areas of expertise including agronomy,
engineering, geology, hydrology, landscape architecture and soils. CPESCs recognize that designs
involving structural, hydrology, foundation or other engineering calculations must be prepared by a
licensed Professional Engineer in accordance with State statutory requirements. The goal in this work
area is to produce site-specific designs that comprehensively address current and potential erosion and
sedimentation issues with practices and measures that are cost-effective, understandable by the
contractor and that meet environmental and regulatory requirements. Reviewing erosion and sediment
control and stormwater pollution prevention plans is included in this category.
C. Installing Erosion and Sediment Control Practices and Measures
Although less formal training is required for many installation jobs, the expertise needed and used is
critical to the success of the related erosion and sediment systems being installed.
D. Inspecting Erosion and Sediment Control Measures
Inspecting temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures requires an understanding
of applicable regulatory requirements and the ability to read and understand contract requirements,
construction plans and specifications. An individual making inspections must understand how to verify
that measures are installed per plans and specifications and be able to recognize when the measures
that are installed are not providing the erosion and sediment control performance needed at the specific
location.
E. Research and Development Related to Erosion and Sediment Control
This category includes a small group of individuals. Subtopics in this category include erosion and
sediment control processes, erosion and sediment control products and their performance and testing
criterion and models related to processes and/or products to predict field performance.
F. Administration of Erosion and Sediment Control Program
This category includes activities associated with the development of erosion and sediment ordinances,
enforcement procedures, and penalties. In addition, program administration can include management of
www.EnviroCertIntl.org
CORPORATE OFFICE 3500 CAMINO AVE. STE. 210 | OXNARD, CA 93030 | (805) 751-3013
EAST COAST OFFICE 49 STATE STREET |MARION, NC 28752-4020 | (828) 655-1600 TEL | (828) 655-1622 FAX
| Professionals for a Better Environment
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control
CPESC Scope of Practice
Version: August 2, 2010 Page 3 of 3
a local unit of government, state entity or agency, or federal agency responsible for an erosion and
sediment control program. The management of these programs would include oversight for appropriate
permit regulations, adherence to technical standards, reporting to a governing board and/or serving on
various local, state, or federal committees.
G. Education of Erosion and Sediment Control Practitioners and Others
This area includes educating erosion and sediment control planners, designers, installers, inspectors and
others that need to know erosion control technologies. The depth of knowledge that is required in this
category varies considerably depending upon the category of training being provided. In addition to
possessing excellent communications skills, individuals that provide education to the erosion control
industry must have a thorough understanding of the performance elements that he/she teaches.
H. Manufacturing and Distributing Erosion and Sediment Control Products
Activities in this category require that the CPESC involved has a very specialized knowledge base related
to the products that they market. Product applicability, limitations, economics, effectiveness and other
selection considerations are important aspects of the services provided by individuals in this category.
www.EnviroCertIntl.org
CORPORATE OFFICE 3500 CAMINO AVE. STE. 210 | OXNARD, CA 93030 | (805) 751-3013
EAST COAST OFFICE 49 STATE STREET |MARION, NC 28752-4020 | (828) 655-1600 TEL | (828) 655-1622 FAX
