Board Certification Through Eminence

Board Certification through Eminence is accomplished through a nomination process. Candidates for Certification through Eminence may self-nominate, or be nominated by an AAEES member. All candidates typically submit their full CV and are screened initially, to ensure that they are eligible for consideration for certification and that their application is complete.

Evaluations occur twice a year. The deadlines for the submittal of complete Eminence Nomination packages are June 1 and December 1.

The Academy established the "Certification Through Eminence" pathway for induction into the Academy as Board Certified Environmental Engineer™ (BCEE), Board Certified Environmental Engineering Member™ (BCEEM) for Environmental Engineers without a PE license, and Board Certified Environmental Scientist™ (BCES), to identify and recognize highly qualified professionals by virtue of the accomplishments of these eminent environmental engineers and environmental scientists. Those persons receiving Certification Through Eminence are exempted from the oral and written examinations otherwise required for Certification.

Eligibility for Certification by Eminence for Environmental Engineers

To be eligible for nomination as a BCEE or BCEEM, the potential candidate must satisfy the following criteria:

Possess a degree in environmental engineering or related engineering degree acceptable to the American Academy of Environmental Engineers Certification Board;
Demonstrate a minimum of 20 years of experience in environmental engineering in academia, consulting, government, industry, or the military;
Ten of those years must be in senior positions (Senior Management, Teaching, Research, Consulting, Industry, Executive Government position(s) or the Military);
Must have achieved a position of leadership within their organization. Meeting this qualification requires consideration of both the position the individual has achieved and also of the scale and nature of the organization wherein they hold this position;
Must show a record of service to the profession, e.g., work on committees, commissions, boards of government and professional societies/organizations, etc.;
Must show a record of honors and awards received; and
A record of publications and/or presentations in environmental topics.
PE license required for BCEE. PE license is not required for the BCEEM.

BCEE or BCEEM candidates must be fully qualified to practice in one or more of these areas:

Air Pollution Control
Environmental Sustainability
General Environmental Engineering
Site Remediation (formerly known as Hazardous Waste Management and Site Remediation)
Industrial Hygiene
Radiation Protection
Solid Waste Management
Water Supply and Wastewater

Complete this form to download the application for Certification by Eminence for Environmental Engineers.

Eligibility for Certification by Eminence for Environmental Scientists

To be eligible for nomination as a BCES, the potential candidate must satisfy the following criteria:

Possess a degree in environmental science, chemistry, biology, geology, microbiology, toxicology, meteorology, hydrogeology, or other scientific fields acceptable to the American Academy of Environmental Scientists Certification Board;
Demonstrate a minimum of 20 years of experience in environmental science in academia, consulting, government, industry, or the military;
Ten of those years must be in senior positions (Senior Position in Teaching, Research, Consulting, Industry, Executive Government position(s) or the Military);
Must have achieved a position of leadership within their organization. Meeting this qualification requires consideration of both the position the individual has achieved and also of the scale and nature of the organization wherein they hold this position;
Must show a record of service to the profession, e.g., work on committees, commissions, boards of government and professional societies/organizations, etc.;
Must show a record of honors and awards received; and
A record of publications and/or presentations in environmental topics.

BCES candidates must be fully qualified to practice in one or more of these areas:

Air Resources
Environmental Biology
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Microbiology
Environmental Toxicology
Groundwater and the Subsurface Environment
Site Remediation (formerly known as Hazardous Waste Management and Site Remediation)
Solid Waste Management
Surface Water Resources
Sustainability Science

Complete this form to download the application for Certification by Eminence for Environmental Scientists.

How Do I Submit My Application for Board Certification?

Online. Go to the Application Submission Form to upload your application.
Email. You may send your application to Susannah Walz at [email protected].
Pay the application fee. The application fee for board certification is $125 for non-members and free for AAEES Members. To sign up as an AAEES Member, go to https://www.aaees.org/aaeesmember. This fee is also waived if your company/organization is an AAEES Patron. Go to https://www.aaees.org/patronsprogram for more information.