Application Process

Applications must be completed in their entirety and should include all information required on the appropriate form. Incomplete applications may be rejected or additional information may be requested of the applicant. All applications should be received by February 1st. All applications received between February 2nd and March 31st will be charged/invoiced a Late Fee of $25. Applications without full payment will not be reviewed. Certification will be approved or denied in June unless the Board advises the applicant that additional time and information is needed for review. Applicants can expect to be notified of their status during the end of July of the year applied. If approved for certification (both new and renewed), you will receive an official certificate reflecting your level of certification and years your certification will be active. For more information on the certification process timeline, see the timeline below. After five (5) years, all certified ecologists will be asked to apply for recertification. Recertification at a higher level than previously certified requires the submission of a Certification Upgrade Application (rather than the Recertification Application).

Application Fees

  Member Rates Non-Member Rates
 Associate Ecologist $75 $175
 Ecologist $125 $300
 Senior Ecologist $125 $300
 Streamlined Application $125 N/A
 Recertification (Associate/Ecologist/Senior/Streamlined) $75/$125/$125/$125 $175/$300/$300/N/A

Application Forms

We urge you to carefully read the information provided on the Certification Guidelines & Requirements page to assist in choosing the right form for you.

Certification Process Timeline

September
October		 Certification Process Resumes for Subsequent Year
Recertification reminder: broadcast email sent to current ecologists with certification ending the coming year.
Certification information: broadcast email also sent to all ESA members containing information about our Certification Program.
Renew membership now to receive member rate for certification
November
December
January 		 SUBMIT APPLICATIONS NOW TO ALLOW TIME FOR RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND/OR ANY OTHER MISSING INFORMATION TO BE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED BEFORE DEADLINE!!! 
February March Primary Deadline: February 1st. Late Fee ($25) applied to all applications received after this date. All applications received between February 2nd and March 31st should include the Late Fee in its payment. If this payment was not included in the certification fee by the applicant, he/she will be invoiced.
April Final Deadline for All Materials, April 15th. ANY applications, payments, or recommendation letters received after this date may cause the application to be held for next year’s review.
May ESA Headquarters and Staff prepare applications for review.
June In early June, the Board of Professional Certification Review takes place. The Board will determine if applications are accepted, denied, accepted at lower level, accepted at higher level, or if additional information is needed. Notification of Certification Status will be mailed and questions regarding the results may be sent in response.
July August The Board of Professional Certification will hold its Final Review. Notification of Certification Status will be mailed and questions regarding the results and/or appeal requests may be sent in response.
August Certification Process Ends. Please submit current year applicant appeals and general inquiries ONLY. Please note that during this time, guidelines and requirements may change for the following year’s application period. It is best to check back in September/October before the beginning of the new application period to see if any updates have been made.

Appeals Procedure

A decision of the Board of Professional Certification to deny certification may be appealed in writing to the ESA Governing Board. Details of the procedure are available upon request.

Disciplinary Procedure

The Board of Professional Certification, with approval of the Professional Ethics Committee, shall have the authority to censure a certificant, to suspend certification for a stated period, or to revoke certification on the finding that an individual has willfully violated the Code of Ethics or misrepresented the facts at the time of certification. Such a finding may be reached by concluding that an allegation of improper deportment is true. Such an allegation may be presented to the Board in writing, by any member of the Ecological Society of America. Anonymous allegations will not be entertained. Anyone named a party to such proceeding shall be informed in a timely manner of the evidence brought forward and be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations. The Board will forward all material to the Professional Ethics Committee. After review of the case by the Committee and the board, the Board will render a written decision informing the certified ecologist, the individual who initiated the allegation, and the Governing Board. Any such action of the Board may be appealed to the Governing Board, whose decision will be final.