IEMA: Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management

IEMA is the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability. IEMA are responsible for ensuring that people working on the front line in these areas have the right knowledge, competencies, skills and confidence to do a professional job. IEMA also help and support businesses, governments and regulators to do the right thing when it comes to environment and sustainability related initiatives, challenges and opportunities. 

This course is for people who are starting out, or changing to, a career in environment or sustainability focused roles. You don’t need any prior knowledge before taking this course as this will prepare you with everything you need to know to start your journey. 

This course is also great for people working in other professions, such as marketing or finance, to gain a basic understanding of sustainability that you might apply in your role. 

Aligning with the competencies required for IEMA Associate Membership (find out more about these in our Sustainability Skills Map), this course means you can apply for one year’s membership as an IEMA Associate Member upon completion and successful pass of the multiple choice exam. 

There are no entry requirements for this course. 

Once completed, a learner on this course will be able to: 

• Outline the implications of global trends for the environment, for society, for the economy and for organisations 
• Outline sustainable business/governance principles and their relationship with organisations, products and services 
• Outline environmental principles and their relationship with organisations, products and services 
• Outline major policy and legislation and their implications for organisations, products and services 
• Outline major tools, techniques, systems and practices used to improve sustainability performance 
• Outline the role of innovation and other leading practices in developing sustainable products and services and providing sustainable solutions 
• Collect data, perform analysis, and evaluate information 
• Research and plan to provide sustainable solutions 
• Deliver effective communication and capture feedback 
• Engage with stakeholders 
• Outline tools and techniques that identify opportunities and risks 
• Identify and propose ways to improve performance 
• Support change and transformation to improve sustainability 

This is a 5-day course (40 hours), which is delivered online.  

Our courses are delivered by competent trainers that IEMA has assessed to ensure quality. 

At the end of the five days, you will take a one hour, open-book, online multiple-choice exam. 

On passing your exam, you will receive a digital certificate to recognise your achievement and you will be sent details of how to join IEMA as an Associate Member, earning your AIEMA professional suffix and all other benefits that come as being a member of a professional body.