Which Environmental course is right for you: IEMA vs NEBOSH
With concerns over natural resources, climate change and sustainability only growing more prominent, people with environmental management training and qualifications are becoming major assets to organisations, with the number of environmental jobs having increased by 91% from 2016 to 2021.
Environmental management courses have become highly desirable as a result, especially for people aspiring to work in the environmental and sustainability industries, or individuals in organisations looking to focus more on their environmental practices.
There are, however, a range of different environmental management courses available, including the IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management and NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate. Deciding which course is best for you and your career can be challenging, which is why, in this post, we’ll break down the contents of both, helping you to decide which is best for you and your career.
The NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate
NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is a UK-based exam board whose health and safety training courses and qualifications are recognised globally. Their Environmental Management Certificate, or EMC as we’ll call it going forward, benefits from this globally recognised status and consists of two units. The course covers how industry activity impacts the environment, with the first unit focusing on effective environmental management and the second on controlling levels of pollution, as well as energy efficiency. By the end of the course, candidates will be able to develop an effective environmental management system for their organisation, and also be able to conduct an environmental impact assessment.
When you study the qualification through classroom learning, virtual classroom or in-house, the duration is 5 days, whereas when studied through E-learning we recommend spending about 60 hours on the course, including assessments. Speaking of assessments, the NEBOSH EMC has two assessments, one for each unit. The first is a written exam that you complete online within a 24-hour period, and the second is a practical assessment you carry out in your workplace.
Due to its broader scope of environmental management, the NEBOSH EMC is beneficial for those working in a wide range of industries where there may be pollution concerns or the need for managing environmental risks, such as chemical spills or air pollution. The NEBOSH EMC is a level 3 qualification, comparable to an A level qualification and, like the exam board itself, is a widely recognised qualification.
IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management
The IEMA FC (Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management) is a course developed by IEMA (The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment), a global sustainability organisation aiming to improve sustainability by empowering sustainability experts around the world. With IEMA’s international scope, their courses teach to high international environmental and sustainability standards, making them widely applicable across a variety of industries around the world.
The IMEA FC benefits from this international perspective, teaching environmental, sustainability and governance principles that can be applied to a vast range of organisations and industries. Upon completing the 5-day course (or approximately 40 hours through E-learning) and its one-hour open book exam, candidates will have built a foundational knowledge of environmental sustainability. They’ll be able to apply this knowledge to their own organisation, helping to implement or improve sustainable practices. Additionally, after you’ve completed the IEMA FC, you’ll be eligible for IEMA Associate membership. When you study with Phoenix, the course comes with 12 months of free IEMA membership, meaning you can take advantage of benefits such as networking opportunities, events, and training after you complete the course at no additional cost.
Comparing the NEBOSH Environmental Certificate and IEMA Foundation Certificate
As you may have already noticed, there are many similarities and differences between the courses that can make deciding which is best for you challenging. In this section, we’ll contrast the different aspects of the courses so you can identify the advantages of each, helping you to decide which suits your career goals best.
Course Content:
Environmental management is a vast topic, so although it is the focus of both courses, they each concentrate on specific elements of it based on their goals as educational courses. The NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate has a greater focus on the management of environmental risks, which includes discussing how to reduce an organisation’s environmental impact and pollution. The IEMA Foundation Certificate on the other hand focuses more on sustainable practices and how organisations can implement them, reducing their impact on the environment as a result.
Both courses therefore focus on reducing the impact an organisation’s practices have on the environment, but differ in how they go about this, with NEBOSH teaching awareness and management, while IEMA teaches to develop sustainable practices. The NEBOSH EMC does touch on sustainability but has a greater focus on management and assessing environmental risks.
Delivery methods:
With Phoenix, you can study the NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate via:
Whereas the IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management can be via:
In-house
Virtual Classroom
Or E-learning
Duration:
Both courses are 5 days long when studied in the classroom, virtually or in-house. When studied through E-learning, the NEBOSH EMC is approximately 60 hours long, whereas the IEMA FC is approximately 40 hours long.
Assessment:
The NEBOSH EMC is divided into two units and each one has its own assessment. The first is an online, written exam which candidates must complete in a 24-hour window. The second is a practical assessment where candidates must assess environmental impacts present in their workplace.
The IEMA FC comparatively only has one assessment, which is an online, multiple-choice exam taken at the end of the course.
Target Audiences:
Another key difference between the courses is their target audiences. The NEBOSH EMC is designed for those who have environmental management responsibilities in their current role, or those pursuing a career in environmental management. As it presumes the delegate will likely have responsibilities outside of environmental matters, the course has a wider scope, making it applicable to a wider range of industries.
The more focused scope of the IEMA FC, with its concentration on sustainable practices, is instead intended for newcomers to the environmental management and sustainability industries. The course is a gateway for those taking their first steps in the industry or looking to broaden their knowledge of sustainable practices, providing a fundamental education which can be built on with further training and experience.
Career advancement and other benefits:
With this knowledge in mind, the NEBOSH EMC can be better suited to those looking to expand their current role to include environmental management responsibilities or broaden their knowledge of it to aid in such a role. Seeking additional qualifications such as the EMC can lead to salary increases or promotions, as well as demonstrate your eagerness to expand your knowledge so you can take on new responsibilities in your role.
The IEMA FC is instead beneficial for those looking to begin a career in sustainability and environmental management. It can lead to career advancement within the industry and roles which are centred on implementing sustainable development. To aid in this advancement, completing the IEMA FC provides IEMA membership, which, as we’ve already mentioned, opens up networking and event opportunities for those looking to further their career. Completing the NEBOSH EMC does not provide you with membership, though you can still apply for affiliate membership with IEMA to take advantage of their events and networking opportunities.
It's important to note that the IEMA FC is a training course, not a qualification like the NEBOSH EMC. This may make the decision easy for those specifically looking for a qualification as opposed to training, so it’s something to consider when deciding between the courses. Additionally, NEBOSH courses are also more widely recognised globally, which can be beneficial if you’re aiming for a position in a specific role/industry which values NEBOSH qualifications.
Choosing between the NEBOSH and IEMA
Having now looked at both courses in detail, we can see that the biggest factors for selecting a course is your career goals and current position, as both have a range of delivery options when you study with Phoenix, as well as and similar durations regardless of which you choose.
The NEBOSH EMC is best suited for those in positions with environmental management responsibilities, or those looking to take on those responsibilities as part of a new role. Whereas the IEMA FC is best for those looking to begin careers in environmental sustainability, aspiring to help organisations improve their sustainable development practices.
Regardless of which course you choose, considering all the aspects of both courses is key when making your decision. This includes your career aspirations and the industries you’re seeking a position in, as well as what other benefits the courses can offer you, like IEMA Membership.
You can book the NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate and IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management with Phoenix today. If you have any other questions about which course is best for you and your career, contact us today.
References:
1.https://bowercollective.com/a/articles/environmental-career-finder