The first step on the path to becoming an environmental consultant is choosing a relevant degree program. A degree in Environmental Studies can help you start your journey with a firm foundation. Are you trying to find a career in environmental science? One path is as an environmental consultant. While environmental consultants (ECs) can perform many roles, their overall job role is to ensure that their clients comply with all environmental regulations.
This includes a wide range of services, such as compliance testing, sampling, technical tasks, report research and drafting. Consultants can work across multiple industries, focusing on waste management, pollution control, environmental policy, etc. If you want to be more hands-on, conduct field studies, and analyze scientific data, choose a degree in biology, geology, chemistry, or environmental science. An environmental consultant helps public and private sector clients address environmental issues and reduce environmental impact in areas such as water pollution, waste, management, air quality and soil pollution.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to gain relevant experience that will help you become an environmental consultant. Everyone has different areas of expertise; but, in general, I would say focus on the hard skills (mathematics, science, design, engineering, environmental economics, etc.) that belong to their area of interest. For more information on environmental consulting for stakeholders involved in property transactions and development, visit the partner's environmental consulting services page. The environmental sector is very broad and will probably continue to extend to different areas in the future.
Organizations that invest in research and development within these areas are also growing and are one of the places where environmental consultants can be found. After evaluating whether these levels comply with environmental regulations, the consultant will need to communicate his findings to his clients. The most surprising aspect of environmental consulting is the extent to which projects are subject to policy, both in the United States and abroad. While they are less related than environmental studies or conservation biology, degrees in areas such as environmental law enforcement, environmental drafting and environment, sustainable agriculture, or environmental policy can help you gain some of the skills you'll need to become a consultant environmental.
Students wishing to enter the environmental consulting industry should do their research and determine what aspect of environmental consulting they are interested in pursuing a career. The most efficient way to demonstrate to employers that you have sufficient knowledge to work in environmental consulting, despite not having any formal environmental education, is to obtain certification. In Economic Development and Comparative International Affairs & from Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA). Holly Neber is president and director of AEI Consultants, a national engineering and environmental firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Other aspects include helping U.S. Department of State and abroad to develop environmental legislation and regulations for industrial, commercial and residential polluters or those industries that specialize in cleaning pollution. Some consulting agencies work with initiatives that may not be as environmental in the long term; before you apply, be sure to evaluate all of the company's practices to ensure that your values align.