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Institute for Wetland & Environmental Education & Research

WETLAND DELINEATOR CERTIFICATION STATUS


First announced in 1992, the US Army Corps' of Engineers (ACOE) Wetland Delineator Certification Program (WDCP) was intended to 1) improve the quality and consistency of wetland delineations submitted to the Corps and 2) streamline the regulatory process by developing procedures for expediting review and consideration of delineations submitted by certified delineators. From 1993-1994, the Corps ran pilot certification testing in three districts (Baltimore, Jacksonville, and Seattle). This testing undoubtedly proved too much of a workload for the Corps since they never conducted certification testing thereafter and appear to have no plans to do this in the future.

In any event, the Corps published proposed rules for the Wetland Delineator Certification Program in the Federal Register on March 14, 1995. No action has been taken on these rules as they remain on hold until publication of the final regulations. In the meantime, the proposed rules serve as guidelines for minimum requirements needed to perform wetland delineation according to their manual. Persons interested in doing wetland delineation work are encouraged to get training in the Corps wetland delineation manual.
US ACOE WDCP

IWEER has offered such training since 1992. When you successfully complete our Basic Wetland Delineator Training you will receive a "certificate of training." This certificate satisfies the manual training requirement of the WDCP. Even though the Corps "certification program" is on hold, you should include a copy of your "certificate of training" with paperwork submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers. This shows that you have received basic training in the use of their manual for wetland identification and delineation.

Certification programs have also been developed in Virginia, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, and in four Illinois counties in the Chicago metropolitan area (Lake, DeKalb, Kane and Cook Counties). IWEER is approved by the State of New Hampshire and the Illinois counties to provide wetland delineation training.


For more about the state and county certifications:

New Hampshire: Joint Board of Licensure and Certification, State of New Hampshire:
NH Joint Board

Commonwealth of Virginia:
Virginia Certification Information

The Society of Wetland Scientists offers a wetland scientist certification program:
Society of Wetland Scientists' professional certification program

Lake County (IL) Stormwater Management Commission's
Certified Wetland Specialists (CWS) Program