QEP Recertification Point Categories

QEP Category 1 – Active Practice

Description:

BGC does not ask that Diplomates keep precise work history records, but CM credit claimed in Category 1 should be consistent with the Diplomate’s work activities and job responsibilities.

BGC believes that the professional boundaries are constantly in flux as QEPs do more with their knowledge and skills and as the profession adapts to changing business and population needs. In general, if the work aligns with the QEP Exam Blueprint/Body of Knowledge, it can be counted as environmental practice. Diplomates are advised to consult with BGC if there are any questions about their professional practice areas.

Records:

Acceptable records include but are not limited to:

• Any documentation showing the company logo or letterhead bearing the Diplomate’s name and organizational title.
• Correspondence from the employer (past or current) attesting the Diplomate’s work history dates and job responsibilities in a company.

QEP Category 2 – Technical or Professional Committee Service

¹Points can be pro-rated (e.g., 18 months as Committee Chair = 7.5 points)

Description:

Recertification hours are awarded for technical or professional committee service outside of the Diplomate’s organization. BGC places no restrictions on how often the committee meets, how much time is invested, or how much progress is made. In general, if the work aligns with the QEP Exam Blueprint/Body of Knowledge, it can be counted for credit.

Records:

Acceptable records include but are not limited to:

• Documents published by the Committee Sponsor or Society, showing the Committee roster for each year of claimed service.
• Pertinent documents or correspondence which identifies you as a committee member, e.g., meeting agendas or minutes.

If the Diplomate served on a committee but their name was not well documented, additional information will be needed, e.g., a letter from the committee chair or the member organization staff.

QEP Category 3 – Publications

Description:

The publication must be related to Environmental practice. In general, if the publication aligns with the QEP Exam Blueprint/Body of Knowledge, it can be counted as Environmental. Published articles or books not related directly to Environmental practice are acceptable if QEPs are able to demonstrate that these activities contribute to their professional practice. A maximum of 25 points may be awarded per 5-year recertification cycle for peer-reviewed environmental journals.

Diplomates are advised to consult with BGC if there any questions about their content.

Conference proceedings do not receive Category 3 recertification hours due to their limited distribution.

Records:

Acceptable records include, but are not limited to, copies or links to the published material showing the publication, date, article title, and Diplomate’s name.

QEP Category 4 – Attendance at Educational Programs

Education Content Areas:

BGC does not prescribe or approve education courses. It allows practitioners to select the courses that best meet their needs. The overriding consideration in determining whether a specific program is acceptable is that it be a formal program of learning with the following characteristics:

• Contributes to the professional competence of participants
• States program objectives, which specify the level of knowledge the participants should have attained or the level of competence to be demonstrated upon completing the program
• Is developed by individuals qualified in the subject matter and instructional design
• Provides current, professional-level content that is relevant to the expected audience

Environmental: The subject matter aligns with the QEP Exam Blueprint/Body of Knowledge. Activities other than those listed in these guidelines may be deemed acceptable if the QEP can demonstrate that they contribute to professional competence. Substantiating that a particular activity qualifies as acceptable and meets the requirements is the responsibility of the QEP.

General Management/Leadership: General management training, including leadership, addresses skill development, which is generically applicable to many professionals, not just Environmental professionals, e.g., communication techniques, technical writing, presentation techniques, organizational effectiveness, media training, computer skills, supervisory skills, quality training, financial or accounting training, expert witness training, project management. (If the general management training has significant EHS aspects in the content, it can still be claimed in the Environmental area of Category 4.)

Ethics (Required): The subject matter aligns with the BGC Code of Ethics or the AIH, AIHA, ACGIH Member Ethical Principles. This type of subject matter concerns topics such as fairness, honesty, truthfulness, integrity, accuracy, objectivity, confidentiality, compliance, legality, conflicts of interest, conflict management, undue influence, equal opportunity, diversity, intellectual property rights/plagiarism, use of certification marks, and professional competency/limitations (i.e., when to refer a client). Acceptable courses also may include topics not listed as long as they directly relate to BGC’s Code of Ethics.

Examples of Acceptable Ethics Courses:

• The BGC Code of Ethics (or any component of the BGC Code of Ethics)
• Developing codes of ethics for the organization (not in the internal audit activity)
• How to resolve ethical dilemmas
• Ethical cultures
• Ethics helplines or hotlines
• The role of ethics in corporate governance
• Organizational ethics programs
• Organizational ethics maturity models
• How to audit organizational ethics programs
• Collaborating with ethics officers
• Personal Ethical Choices, Behaviors, and Decision Making
• Ethical Choices as required by Organizational Codes of Ethics and Business Conduct
• Ethics focused on Enhancing Stakeholder Confidence and Value
• Ethical Practice improving the organization’s contributions to the public at large
• Ethics and Standards of Conduct for Auditors
• Ethical behaviors resulting from professional interactions in the audit process

Examples of Courses Not Fulfilling the Ethics Requirement:

• Classes focused on specific compliance obligations
• Security laws and insider trading regulations
• Medical claims submission requirements

Records:

An acceptable record is one that shows the following:

• Diplomate’s name
• Event title
• Date of completion
• Event sponsor/provider
• Duration (e.g., hours or CEUs)

If any of this information is missing or if the subject matter is not clear from the title, then additional records will be needed, e.g., event description, agenda, or schedule.

If the event sponsor or provider does generate a participation record, then any one of the following will be acceptable:

• Certificate, letter/email, transcript, roster, or other sponsor-generated record showing completion
• Registration receipt if purchased on-site at a single-day event
• Event badge only if issued on-site at a single-day event

If the event sponsor or provider does not generate a participation record and there are no other restrictions for use, participation or viewing from the sponsor, provider, or content owner, then the Diplomate may use one of the following:

• Registration record and evidence of physical presence in the city on the day(s) of the event, e.g., approved expense report, purchase receipts
• Attendance Roster
• BGC Attendance Verification Form 
• QEP vouching (allowed once per CM cycle)

Academic Transcripts are required as evidence of graduate education. The education must take place within an accredited college or university. Applicants with international degrees may 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. (Note: BGC verification statements streamline and shorten the review for applicants. Please contact your program director to find out if verification statements are available for you.)

Unacceptable Records:

• Advance travel purchases
• Event agenda, programs, conference schedule, or presentation slides
• BGC Letter of Award (for CM points)
• Event badges if distributed prior to the event
• Airline boarding passes are acceptable for the days of travel but are not sufficient for a multi-day conference

QEP Category 5 – Teaching or Presenting

¹Typically, a podium-style presentation.

²A poster session where the author is not required to speak or be present. If required to speak or be present for Q&A, it is considered to be a live presentation, not a static poster session.

³BGC Diplomates are prohibited from revealing BGC examination content.

Description:

The subject matter must be Environmental or related content, which means that it aligns with the QEP Exam Blueprint/Body of Knowledge. Teaching or presenting must be outside of the Diplomate’s organization and primary job responsibilities. For example, an academic teacher could not claim Category 5 CM credit when teaching at their university, but they could claim credit when teaching an external professional development session at a national conference (because it is outside their primary organization and job description).

Diplomates whose primary job is as a consultant are bound to the same rules. In general, consultants usually may claim CM credit for any conference presentation; however, teaching can typically only be claimed if it:

• Is not part of the range of services offered by the consultancy, or
• Is part of the range of offered services but was offered without compensation.

Sales, advertising, and marketing presentations soliciting the audience to purchase the consultant’s products or services are not eligible for Category 5 CM credit.

Diplomates should also avoid double-dipping, i.e., claiming recertification hours when both presenting (Category 5) and participating (Category 4) at the same event.

Records:

Acceptable records include but are not limited to:

• Evidence in the form of an agenda, schedule, or proceedings showing name, topics, dates, and times
• Sponsor acknowledgment indicating length and topic of the presentation

QEP Category 7 – Other Approved Activities