Essential Skills 200

An Essential Skills Certificate Program Designed to Advance Junior-Level Environmental Professionals

To reinforce your learning and support the course content, our courses integrate videos from industry experts, industry-relevant examples, interactive activities and knowledge check questions. You will also be provided with a glossary and additional resources to further support your learning. 

Below is an overview of the courses required for this certificate. 

1. Technical Writing Essentials

In technical writing, the ability to communicate information and messages clearly to your reader can be the difference between the failure and success of a project. 

Good writers inform, educate and document their work. Having the ability to convey detailed, complex information in a way that is easily understood by many different audiences is a critically important skill. Being a proficient technical writer requires a combination of skill, logic, and imagination. This course will help you to further develop your essential technical writing skills, so you are able to convey clear, concise messages tailored to your audience. 

Topics include:

1. The Importance of Writing Well for Environmental Professionals
2. Identifying and Understanding your Reader
3. Choosing the Right Document for the Right Purpose
4. Designing and Structuring a Document for your Reader
5. Reviewing and Revising Documents
6. Document References, Appendices, and Disclaimers

2. Project Management Key Concepts

Being a successful project manager requires strong technical and soft skills. Every day you are expected to demonstrate these skills to ensure projects are organized, well-managed, and meeting client expectations.

This course follows a real-life project scenario and uses practical exercises, resources, and templates to prepare learners for the successful leadership and execution of your next projects. 

Topics include:

1. Initiation – The Project Charter and Project Governance
2. Planning – Scope, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Roles and Responsibilities, Risk, Budget, and Communication Plans, Project Plan Approval
3. Getting Organized – PM Technology Tools, Effective Filing, Project Management Templates
4. Execution, Monitoring, and Controlling – Recruiting the Team, Scope Creep and Issues, Schedules and Plans, Communication
5. Close Out – Administrative Tasks, Lessons Learn, Releasing the Team
6. Understanding Your Work Environment – Company Culture
7. Leading Your Team – Establishing Trust, Delegating Tasks, Accountability, Time Management and Meeting Management, Micromanaging
8. Communicating with Your Team

3. Communication Essentials: Fundamentals of Environmental Consulting

In consulting, communication with multiple stakeholders such as employers, clients, contractors, and regulators, is key to success. 

This course gives you the opportunity to learn about your role as a consultant, practice key communication skills that you will need to succeed in this role, and how to stay safe in the process.

Topics include:

1. Fundamentals of Consulting
2. Working for Your Employer
3. Working with Clients
4. Working with Contractors
5. Working with Regulators
6. Staying Safe

4. Navigating Canadian Environmental Law 

Environmental law is a vast and complicated domain and as an environmental professional, you interact with various laws and regulations, which guide and inform your work.

Developed by Canadian environmental experts, this course is designed to give you a solid foundation in key public and private laws, as well as an understanding of legal concepts that will help you and your clients mitigate risks. 

Topics include:

1. The Big Picture: The Canadian Legal Context
2. Jurisdictions
3. Focusing Events
4. Key Laws
5. Using Environmental Laws
6. Your Roles and Responsibilities
7. Working with Regulators

Please note: The contents of this course are intended for general educational purposes and do not replace the advice of a lawyer. You should always check current and relevant laws before acting on your knowledge, as they are constantly changing.

Once you have completed these four courses and their assessments there will be a final feedback survey. After completing the survey, you can claim your official Essential Skills 200 certificate!