Eligibility

Individuals certified by AEES as Ecological Designers must have demonstrated expertise in the integration of the science of ecology and practice of design. Certification is based upon a combination of:

• academic credentials (all applicants),

• active participation in an AEES-sponsored Certified Ecological Designer workshop & charrette (all applicants), and

• experience as demonstrated in a portfolio of completed work (CED applicants only).

Successful applicants may represent themselves as Certified Ecological Designers (CEDs) or Associate Ecological Designers (AED).

 

Application Period

Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Candidates who have met all certification criteria will be recognized each year at the AEES annual meeting.

​

Requirements for Certification

To be certified, applicants must meet the following criteria:

 

I. Education (All Applicants):

A bachelor's degree or higher in ecology, landscape architecture, engineering, or a related field is required. Candidates with extensive work experience may petition the committee to accept that in lieu of a degree in one of these fields.

Required coursework:

• Ecological Science: 3 semesters or 135 contact hours. Certification as an Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America, or equivalent knowledge demonstrated through work experience.

• Basic Design Principles: 1 semester or 45 contact hours of coursework in basic design principles (i.e., landscape architecture, architecture, product design, engineering). Workshops or demonstrated work experience may also be used to satisfy this requirement.

• Ecological Design: 2 semesters or 90 contact hours in ecological design topics or applications of ecological design. Coursework may include a related discipline that addresses an ecological forcing function, such as fluvial geomorphology, if the applicant can provide evidence of an ecological emphasis related to design.​ Workshops or demonstrated work experience may also be used to satisfy this requirement.

 

II. AEES Certified Ecological Designer Workshop (All Applicants):

All candidates for certification are required to successfully complete the AEES-sponsored workshop and charrette. This workshop is exclusively presented by AEES and represents unique, focused content intended to further the development of collaborative, multidisciplinary ecological design. The workshop includes a design charrette that all candidates participate in along with members of the local community.

 

III. Ecological Design Project Experience (CED Applicants Only):

Candidates must have demonstrated ecological design experience. Completed projects* must have utilized ecological principles and/or natural ecosystems as a model in design. Documentation of three projects is required, with verification of the applicant’s substantial role. Project role may be substantiated through letters of reference from the project manager, publications, stamped plans, or other similar documentation.​

 

*At the discretion of the Ecological Designer Certification Committee, project that have been constructed may be considered and may be awarded partial credit toward the required projects.​

​

​​

Certification Renewal

Renewal requires updated curriculum vitae, noting work performed during the certification period, and 45 contact hours of continuing education, distributed over at least two of the preceding four years. The list of continuing education, including topic areas, dates, and contact hours, can be listed at the end of your curriculum vitae, and any supporting documentation should be appended in a compiled PDF for submittal.​

​

Certification Term and Cost

Certification is good for a term of four (4) years, with the option for renewal at the end of that period. The certification fee must accompany the certification application.

​

CED Certification Fees:

$150 for AEES members

$250 for non-members.

The non-member rate includes a one-year membership in AEES (current value = $140)

​

Certification Fees for current AEDs applying for CED status:

$75 for AEES Members

$175 for non-members if their AED certification has not expired

​

AED Application Fees:

$50 for AEES members

$75 for non-AEES members

​

Renewal Fee after :

CED = $100

AED = $50

​

Certification Timeline

​​

AED

Approximately 1 week for committee chair to review application completeness.

Approximately 2 weeks for reviewers to respond once application is deemed complete.

 

CED

Approximately 2 weeks for committee chair to review application completeness and assign reviewers.

Approximately 4 weeks for reviewers to respond once application is deemed complete.

​

Questions?

For any questions about the Certified Ecological Designer program, workshops, or application process, please contact Maia Singer at maia@stillwatersci.com.