Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program WE ARE THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFYING PROFESSIONAL WETLAND SCIENTISTS SINCE 1994
The Professional Certification Program (PCP) of the SWS is accredited by the Council of Engineering & Science Specialty Boards (CESB). CESB accreditation requires that the PCP create and maintain a Body of Knowledge (document) that outlines specific skills, knowledge, and abilities that a Professional Wetland Scientist should possess. The Body of Knowledge (BoK) must be solicited from all who are certified by the program and be updated every five years. The BoK is a living guidance document for knowledge and skill requirements to be used by the PCP Certification Review Panel in assessing an applicant's experience towards certification as a Professional Wetland Scientist.
The Certification Standards Committee developed a questionnaire that was sent to all PWSs. The questionnaire consisted of a list of skills, abilities and knowledge all PWSs could potentially possess in order to be certified as a Professional. All PWSs were asked to rank each area relative to their importance for being a certified Professional Wetland Scientist. Ranking was from 1 to 5, with 1 being not important and 5 being most important.
The survey results given here represent the full current assessment of the PWS Body of Knowledge as of 2015 to be updated in five years. These results will be developed into a hierarchy of knowledge and skills used by the Certification Review Panel as part of an objective method to assess an applicant's experience.
Ratings are 1 being not important to 5 being most important.
General Science
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
1) Knowledge of statistics
43
88
186
76
6
2.78
399
2) Knowledge of general biology and ecology
1
0
17
70
311
4.73
399
3) Knowledge of general and organic chemistry
16
66
166
133
17
3.17
398
4) Knowledge of general physics
59
118
173
42
7
2.55
399
5) Knowledge of general calculus
139
139
104
13
3
2
398
Landscape and Watershed
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
6) Knowledge of watershed dynamics
0
5
64
172
158
4.21
399
7) Ability to identify watershed boundaries
0
11
70
145
173
4.2
399
8) Knowledge of watershed hydrology and water resources planning
0
8
86
180
122
4.05
396
9) Ability to understand the concept of a floodplain, find a source for floodplain maps and understanding of relationship between waterways, wetlands and floodplains
0
3
35
111
248
4.52
397
10) Ability to identify climate induced stresses, including climate change (greater extremes and projected regional changes in precipitation and temperature) on the watershed and their impacts to wetlands, streams and water bodies
19
68
157
118
37
3.22
399
11) Knowledge of historic land use and land cover types
3
21
85
153
137
4
399
Geology
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
12) Ability to identify geological and geomorphological features
3
36
119
166
72
3.68
396
13) Knowledge of geochemical affects on soils, wetland hydrology, and plant communities
1
22
105
159
107
3.89
394
14) Ability to recognize location of local bedrock depth
37
100
158
80
21
2.87
396
15) Knowledge of the nature and impacts of natural seismic events and processes
87
157
113
27
7
2.26
391
16) Knowledge of stratigraphy and soils and how they influence and are influenced by near-surface water movement
4
27
104
150
109
3.85
394
17) Knowledge of groundwater hydrology and how to locate water table(s)
1
11
54
151
179
4.25
396
18) Ability to identify physiographic region and geological formations using state geological maps
25
67
134
119
51
3.26
396
Soils
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
19) Knowledge of basic soil science (e.g., soil morphology and taxonomy)
1
12
46
129
208
4.34
396
20) Ability to describe a soil profile
1
8
41
101
245
4.47
396
21) Ability to use soil color charts
2
3
23
76
289
4.65
393
22) Knowledge of hydric soil indicator processes
1
1
18
86
286
4.67
392
23) Ability to identify hydric soil indicators according to USDA NRCS manuals, regional soil indicator handbooks, and Regional Supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual.
2
2
21
59
312
4.71
396
24) Ability to use local soil surveys and/or locate and use soil survey data resources on the internet (e.g., Web Soil Survey)
1
7
39
94
253
4.5
394
25) Ability to classify soils according to USDA classification
12
65
124
112
83
3.48
396
26) Knowledge of the interactions between soils and surface water, and soils and groundwater (water movement within, through, and over soils)
1
6
39
153
196
4.36
395
Hydrology
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
27) Knowledge of wetland hydrology processes
0
1
11
87
299
4.72
398
28) Ability to identify field indicators of wetland hydrology
1
1
6
48
341
4.83
397
29) Knowledge of groundwater hydrology concepts
0
6
66
174
150
4.18
396
30) Ability to install, maintain, and interpret water table monitoring devices and data
13
58
139
129
59
3.41
398
31) Ability to estimate streamflow, baseflow and water budgets in order to classify streams accordingly as perennial, ephemeral, intermittent
9
59
123
136
69
3.5
396
32) Knowledge and ability to estimate seasonal high and normal pool elevations in coastal and freshwater wetland systems or a waterway
4
25
80
167
121
3.95
397
33) Ability to use WETS Tables to investigate wetland hydrology and mitigation wetland design.
29
73
130
114
51
3.21
397
34) Ability to use water budget calculations/models, such as WETBUD, Pierce & Gilbert, or WATBUG to investigate wetland hydrology and mitigation wetland design.
45
103
143
81
26
2.85
398
35) Knowledge of projected regional/local rates of relative sea level rise from climate change for coastal wetland investigations.
59
114
125
72
26
2.73
396
Plants
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
36) Ability to identify plants to species level and determine their current USACE wetland indicator status
1
5
15
64
313
4.72
398
37) Ability to identify and to differentiate plant community types
1
3
12
70
312
4.73
398
38) Ability to measure plant species dominance
1
5
24
90
276
4.6
396
39) Ability to develop and execute an efficient plan for monitoring components of natural or created wetland systems in accordance with regulatory requirements or for establishing changes in wetlands/uplands/transition zones
1
3
75
157
160
4.19
396
40) Ability to identify wetland plant morphological adaptations
1
9
50
132
206
4.34
398
41) Ability to determine dominant or contributing influencing factors on species occurrence (e.g., wetland hydrology vs. salinity)
2
14
81
161
140
4.06
398
42) Knowledge of metabolic and adaptive physiological changes caused by prolonged soil saturation and inundation
7
36
110
153
92
3.72
398
Fish and Wildlife
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
43) General knowledge of plant and animal kingdoms, and the ability to place organisms in proper taxonomic groups
11
34
90
134
126
3.84
395
44) Ability to identify fish and wildlife species, both terrestrial and those adapted to wetlands during some portion of their life history
8
34
118
153
81
3.67
394
45) Knowledge of fisheries biology
31
81
189
78
16
2.92
395
46) Ability to identify freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates
28
87
154
101
25
3.02
395
47) Knowledge of and ability to formulate means to measure population dynamics
67
121
139
56
11
2.55
394
Protected and Invasive Species
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
48) Knowledge of current State and Federally listed regulations related to protected species
4
26
74
141
153
4.04
398
49) Ability to obtain information related to the natural history of protected species and their habitat
1
26
80
140
150
4.04
397
50) Ability to identify invasive species and general knowledge of their means of invasion and methods to manage
3
19
76
150
150
4.07
398
51) Knowledge of management and control of protected and invasive species
5
28
124
142
96
3.75
395
Ecology and Function
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
52) Knowledge of wetland ecology principles
1
0
9
86
299
4.73
395
53) Knowledge of the role of wetlands in nutrient cycling
2
9
68
167
149
4.14
395
54) Knowledge of biogeochemical processes in wetlands
2
18
93
160
122
3.97
395
55) Knowledge of the role of wetlands in wildlife habitat
2
5
51
147
190
4.31
395
Classification and Assessment
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
56) Knowledge of wetland functional assessment methods
3
11
61
145
175
4.21
395
57) Ability to use and interpret output from wetland assessment methods
3
19
59
163
151
4.11
395
58) Ability to use the Highways Wetland Methodology (FHWM)
62
95
134
80
25
2.78
396
59) Knowledge of Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) wetland classification & functional assessment
24
55
122
121
72
3.41
394
60) Knowledge of Evaluation of Planned Wetlands (EPW)
56
95
153
79
13
2.74
396
61) Ability to use Wetland Evaluation Technique or equivalent (WET)
51
80
149
91
23
2.89
394
62) Knowledge of Cowardin, et al wetland classification
6
15
53
107
213
4.28
394
63) Knowledge of local/regional wetland assessment methods or rating systems
3
14
62
139
177
4.2
395
Mapping/Imaging/Remote Sensing
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
64) Ability to identify the physical boundaries of a watershed on topographic maps and in the field
0
11
54
144
188
4.28
397
65) Ability to use topographic maps and soils maps to identify potential wetland areas
1
1
17
117
259
4.6
395
66) Ability to find and use Wetland maps, USFWS, EPA, state
3
3
31
99
261
4.54
397
67) Ability to identify and classify wetlands using aerial photographs
2
24
60
130
181
4.17
397
68) Ability to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to gather ecologically related information for purposes of identifying or managing wetland and watershed systems
3
28
98
137
131
3.92
397
69) Ability to interpret remote sensing images/data (other than aerial photos, e.g., LiDAR)
12
38
121
148
76
3.6
395
70) Ability to use historic and current aerial photographs to detect changes in wetland, stream or water body signatures or land use practices
3
9
61
150
171
4.21
394
Delineation
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
71) Ability to identify and delineate a wetland using federal, and, if applicable, state and local methodologies
2
3
13
56
321
4.75
395
72) Ability to define basic wetland delineation criteria, field indicators and methodology for delineation
1
1
8
53
330
4.81
393
73) Demonstrate knowledge of ACOE wetland delineation manual and regional supplements
1
6
30
70
286
4.61
393
74) Demonstrate experience in field wetland delineation.
3
8
26
64
289
4.61
390
Regulatory
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
75) Ability to differentiate between a jurisdictional and a non-jurisdictional wetland and wetland (Army Corps of Engineers/Environmental Protection Agency Section 404) other non-wetland Waters of the US (ACOE/EPA Section 10) under current regulations and guidance
7
14
44
102
229
4.34
396
76) Knowledge of terms related to USACE jurisdiction, like Navigable waters, Traditional Navigable Waters, contiguous, adjacency, isolated, connected, normal circumstances, atypical situations, water dependency, fill dredge, activities, structures, sufficient nexus, etc.
3
13
42
105
234
4.4
397
77) Knowledge of ACOE Regulatory Guidance Letters (RGLS)
9
26
84
147
131
3.92
397
78) Knowledge of state and local wetland regulations
2
8
40
98
249
4.47
397
79) Knowledge of the different Nationwide Permits (NWPs) versus Individual Permits
8
27
95
125
142
3.92
397
80) Knowledge of the Clean Water Act and the regulatory responsibilities of federal agencies and state agencies under it
6
13
72
133
173
4.14
397
81) Knowledge of National Environmental Policy Act
11
37
137
125
85
3.6
395
82) Knowledge of Endangered Species Act and the Cultural Resources Act, as well as other Acts and how they impact the Section 404 regulatory process
9
30
118
133
105
3.75
395
83) Knowledge of other federal/state/tribal regulations that have an effect on jurisdiction of wetlands and waters of the U.S.
7
31
90
149
117
3.86
394
Environmental Impact Assessment
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
84) Knowledge of NEPA and its relationship to the Section 404 Program
10
44
112
156
74
3.61
396
85) Ability to identify human activities that impact wetlands and waterways
4
5
55
152
181
4.26
397
86) Ability to describe alternatives to impacts or how to minimize impacts to wetlands
3
12
44
122
215
4.35
396
87) Ability to name examples of water dependent projects.
24
40
116
114
102
3.58
396
88) Ability to design and conduct a monitoring protocol
8
21
104
140
123
3.88
396
89) Ability to prepare an Environmental Assessment document
28
52
139
102
76
3.37
397
90) Ability to prepare the Natural and Water resources sections of an Environmental Impact Statement
19
51
112
136
78
3.51
396
Wetland Compensatory Mitigation Restoration, Creation and Enhancement
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
91) Knowledge of federal, state and local government guidance regarding aquatic resource mitigation and compensation
4
14
60
156
162
4.16
396
92) Ability to describe alternatives to impacts or how to minimize impacts to wetlands
1
8
61
125
203
4.31
398
93) Knowledge of compensatory mitigation design and construction techniques
6
20
90
147
135
3.97
398
94) Ability to develop and interpret a conceptual engineering and ecological design
5
23
98
170
102
3.86
398
95) Ability to set up a multiple year monitoring plan for a mitigation site
6
21
93
147
131
3.94
398
96) Ability to read and use an engineering plan
4
19
74
131
166
4.11
394
97) Ability to generate a sketch of a cross section and plan view to express a wetland mitigation design grading plan
10
40
113
115
119
3.74
397
98) Knowledge of the professional skills required for wetland and stream mitigation design
5
19
78
152
141
4.03
395
99) Ability to use and interpret data from monitoring tables
5
19
78
153
143
4.03
398
100) Ability to interpret data from a graph
6
7
67
124
192
4.23
396
101) Ability to develop a scope of work/plan for data gathering to develop a mitigation design
8
23
103
151
113
3.85
398
102) Use of water budget calculations in wetland creation/enhancement/restoration design.
12
36
141
143
66
3.54
398
103) Knowledge of current assessment/issues/problems in wetland mitigation design.
6
21
97
158
114
3.89
396
104) Knowledge of climate change (greater extremes and projected regional changes in precipitation and temperature) in wetland mitigation design.
32
75
154
97
39
3.09
397
Stream Assessment and Restoration
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
105) Knowledge of Stream Channel Assessment methodologies
10
59
136
127
63
3.44
395
106) Knowledge of Stream Classification Systems
13
43
135
130
73
3.53
394
107) Knowledge of the components necessary for a stable but Natural Stream Design
18
67
141
109
59
3.31
394
108) Knowledge of stream classification approaches/methods.
12
52
141
135
53
3.42
393
109) Knowledge of streamflow modeling methodologies
32
106
156
72
27
2.89
393
110) Knowledge of stormwater and erosion control best management practices (BMPs)
16
35
98
149
96
3.7
394
Wetland Education
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
111) Ability to develop educational materials to inform the public about basic wetland science principles, wetland values, regulations as well as impact avoidance and minimization
27
54
122
115
76
3.4
394
112) Ability to develop basic curriculum for interesting people in other disciplines and important points about planning for projects around wetlands, wetland values, wetland impacts and wetland regulations.
38
64
123
114
51
3.19
390
Professional Ethics
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
113) Knowledge of Current Ethics Issues in Wetland Science
3
9
57
126
203
4.3
398
114) Knowledge of the SWSPCP's Code of Ethics
3
9
53
93
239
4.4
397
115) Knowledge of the importance of adhering to SWSPCP's Code of Ethics
4
7
40
95
250
4.46
396
116) Knowledge of what to do when someone violates SWSPCP's Code of Ethics
8
10
73
113
194
4.19
398
Publications/Products
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
117) Experience in writing scientific papers for publication
51
89
159
70
28
2.84
397
118) Experience in writing/preparing technical reports and papers
7
17
55
131
188
4.2
398
119) Experience in presenting an oral presentation on Knowledge Points of wetland science and management
18
40
134
139
65
3.49
396
120) Knowledge of the scientific method and how to present data for publication
18
39
112
116
112
3.67
397
121) Ability to compile and organize a bibliography for scientific review
37
50
130
106
75
3.33
398
122) Knowledge of the peer review process
23
62
150
100
60
3.28
395
123) Knowledge of the current high quality technical journals and especially the Wetlands Journal
14
55
135
123
69
3.45
396
124) Experience in membership and active participation in professional societies and associations
26
51
140
109
70
3.37
396
125) Active participation in Continuing Professional Development courses, seminars, workshops, and conferences for currency in Professional Wetland Sciences.
8
36
72
139
143
3.94
398
126) Experience in researching scientific publications related to wetland science
25
54
141
103
73
3.37
396
Wetland Law
Answer Options
1
2
3
4
5
Ave
Count
127) Knowledge of how to provide Expert witness in legal proceedings
46
90
121
98
43
3.01
398
128) Knowledge of recent legal decisions affecting wetlands/water regulations