This institute and certification programs are relatively new and appear to be slanted towards the environmental engineering professions that deal with waste, and air pollution.  However, the minimum requirements for certification include degrees in physical, earth or natural sciences, mathematics, as well as engineering.
The following is an extract from its brochure.
The Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP) is an independent, not-for-profit certifying body of the Qualified Environmental (QEP) and the Environmental Professional Intern (EPI) certifications.
The IPEP's mission is the improve the practice and educational standards of environmental professionals.  The institute volunteer Board is appointed by the following environmental Organizations:
    The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA)
    The National Academy of Environmental Engineers(AAEE)
    The American Association for Environmental Management (NAEM)
    The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP)
    The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
    The State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators ( STAPPA)
    The Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO)
    The Water Environment Federation (WEF)

IPEP is also a member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), an independent, third party accreditation board.  The QEP program is fully accredited by the CESB.
The IPEP publishes a list of all individuals certified as QEPs and EPIs.

The QEP brochure indicates that it is interested in professionals that are involved in "multimedia, multidisciplinary" environmental issues, that have skills to "solve real world problems".
The IPEP examination guide suggests that this is a broad based certification, but it seems fairly skewed towards Water and Air pollution issues .  For example, its exam (Part I) covers the following areas (weighted %):
   Environmental Quality Standards (5%)
    Fate and Transport of Environmental Contaminants (5%
    Basic Principles of environmental Systems (5%)
    Chemistry (8%)
    Toxicology (4%)
    Earth Science/Geology (3%)
    Ecology (4%)
    Physics (6%)
    Math/Stats (6%)
    Cross-media impacts... (4%)
    Data Management (4%)
    Pollution Prevention and Control (10%)
    Transportation Requirements for Wastes... (4%)
    Health and Safety Requirements.  (3%)
    Principles  of Water Treatement. (4%)
    Water Quality Monitoring. (5%)
    Air Emiss.. Monitoring and Inventory.. (9%)
    Envir. Econ. (risk, cost benefic analysis). (5%)
    Public Information/ Community Relations. (5%)
The A&WMA has a Textbook Study Package (six books) available to study for this exam.  You can request Price and availability at this e-mail .

Additionally, there are Four Practice areas, and each applicant must choose ONE.
These specialty areas appear to provide a more even balance to environmental issues, but do not include earth sciences as a subspecialty. The practice areas are:
    Air Quality
    Water Quality
    Waste Management
    Environmental Science, Management and Policy

For further details and breakdown of subjects in each of the areas  listed above, please request a Certification  & Examination Guide  and/or a QEP Textbook Study Package at e-mail

Exams are given four times a year in most of the 50 states including Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. Exams and also given in some annual meetings of associations such as the A&WMA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE ACCESS THE IPEP WEB SITE.
 

updated: 1-13-99 by JFA