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Giving Up Your EPI Designation

EPIs may voluntarily surrender their certification before their certification expires (unless involved in a BGC ethics case). If voluntary surrender is chosen, the individual is no longer referred to as an EPI. This request can be made via the  Retire/Voluntary Surrender Request Form. BGC publishes the names of persons who have elected to voluntarily surrender their certification.

EPIs who surrender their certification:

  • Can continue to practice in their Environmental practice
  • Can use the BGC certification designations only when referencing the years of active certification, e.g., Environmental Professional In-Training, 2000-2003
  • Cannot use the BGC embossing seal, digital badge, or stamp
  • Are removed from the BGC email distribution list
  • Are relieved of fees requirements
  • Must reapply under the QEP program if they wish to obtain another BGC environmental credential
  • Are subject to BGC ethics case procedure provisions if found to be in violation of the voluntary surrender terms

Former Certificants can continue to be listed in the BGC online roster depending upon their status.

If the Certificant is Then the person
In good standing1
  • will continue to be listed in the online public roster, showing years of certification
  • will have access to the online private roster
  • may choose to be deleted from the roster at any time
  • can be re-listed in the roster at any time but may be subject to a nominal processing fee2
Not in good standing
  • will be removed from the online public and private rosters
  • can be re-listed in the roster (showing years of certification) by paying back fees (due at the time of surrender) and a nominal processing fee2
1No unresolved ethics issues and current on all fees (due before the end of a CM cycle).
2Current fee is posted on the BGC website.

 

Involuntarily Decertification

An EPI fails to maintain certification when any of the following conditions occur:

  • Annual fees (renewal & late) have not been paid for more than 2 years
  • An ethics review results in a decertification sanction

BGC may revoke a person’s certification at any time for cause related to an ethics sanction.

When an EPI fails to renew the certification, BGC sends a written notice of expiration to the person’s current postal mailing address. BGC will publish the names of persons whose certification has expired.

Decertification decisions can be appealed following the Certification Appeals Procedure. 

Except for an ethics-related decertification, a formerly certified EPI may only pursue reactivation of BGC status as a QEP, not as an EPI.

It is considered unethical conduct for a person to advertise himself/herself as a BGC Diplomate or Certificant (e.g., CIH, CAIH, QEP, CPPS, CPEA, CPSA or EPI)  if the person:

  • Is not currently certified by BGC
  • Has allowed the certification to expire
  • Has voluntarily surrendered the certification
  • Has chosen retired status
  • Has been de-certified for cause

BGC reserves the right and does take legal action when a non-credentialed person is found to be advertising himself/herself as a BGC Diplomate/Certificant.

EPI CM Handbook