GUIDELINES ON

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) REQUIREMENTS

FOR COMPETENT PERSONS

ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

Kampus Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Beg Berkunci No. 24, UKM
43600 Bangi
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
Tel: 603-89261500
Fax: 603-89261700
http://www.doe.gov.my/eimasv2/
Note: NRCEP URL sistem = http://eimas.doe.gov.my/ks_user/login.php

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title

Page

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations

List of Table

Introduction

List of Certified Environmental Professional Courses

Under CPD Requirement

Categories of CPD Activities

CPD Hour Contribution From Various Activities

Computation of CPD Hour

10

Submission of CPD Records

10

Supporting Evidence

11

Correspondence

11

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CAR
CePBFO
CePIETSO-BP
CePIETSO-PCP
CePPOME
CePSO
CePSTPO
CePSWaM
CPD
CSR
DOE
EiMAS
IETS
IER
MDMR
NRCEP
SWR

Clean Air Regulation

Certified Environmental Professional in Bag Filter Operation
Certified Environmental Professional in Industrial Effluent
Treatment System (Biological Processes)
Certified Environmental Professional in Industrial Effluent
Treatment System (Physical Chemical Processes)
Certified Environmental Professional in the Treatment of Palm Oil
Mill Effluent (Pond Processes)
Certified Environmental Professional in Scrubber Operation
Certified Environmental Professional in Sewage Treatment Plant
Operation
Certified Environmental Professional in Scheduled Waste
Management
Continuing Professional Development
Corporate Social Responsibility
Department of Environment
Environment Institute of Malaysia
Industrial Effluent Treatment System
Industrial Effluent Regulation
Monthly Discharge Monitoring Report
National Registry of Certified Environmental Professionals
Scheduled Waste Regulation

LIST OF TABLES

Table No

Page

Table 1:

Certified Environmental Professional Courses Offered

by DOE

Table 2:

CPD Hour Values Versus Activities

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
(a)

Definition of CPD
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It is a commitment by
Competent Person to continually update their skills and knowledge in order to
remain professionally competent and achieve their true potential.

(b)

Under the National Registry of Certified Environmental Professionals

(NRCEP) Scheme, all Competent Persons certified by Director General of
Department of Environment Malaysia are required to collect a minimum of 50
CPD hours per year.

(c)

The objective of this requirement is to ensure those registered under this

scheme are responsible for:
i.

Maintaining and enhancing their existing technical knowledge and

professional skills;
ii. Learning new skills and deepen their understanding in the subject matter
they are certified in; and
iii. Keeping abreast with the latest issues and developments in subject matter
they are certified in.

2.0 LIST OF CERTIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL COURSES UNDER

CPD REQUIREMENT
2.1 All Competent Persons under the list of certified environmental professionals
courses by Department of Environment (DOE) as in Table 1 must comply
with a minimum of 50 CPD hours per year.

Table 1: Certified Environmental Professional Courses Offered by DOE

No

Course

Certified Environmental Professional in Scheduled Waste Management

(CePSWaM)
Certified Environmental Professional in Industrial Effluent Treatment
System (Physical Chemical Processes) (CePIETSO-PCP)
Certified Environmental Professional in Industrial Effluent Treatment
System (Biological Processes) (CePIETSO-BP)

ii
iii

iv
v
vi
vii
viii

Certified Environmental Professional in Scrubber Operation (CePSO)

Certified Environmental Professional in Bag Filter Operation (CePBFO)
Certified Environmental Professional in Sewage Treatment Plant
Operation (CePSTPO)
Certified Environmental Professional in The Treatment of Palm Oil Mill
Effluent (Pond Processes)(CePPOME)
Any Competent Person whose name has been removed from the
Register for failure to renew his registration and desires to be reinstated.
He must comply with the CPD requirements for the year prior to
reinstatement

2.2

Any Competent Person who is certified in one or more of item (i) to item (vii)
under Clause 2.1 should collect a minimum of 50 CPD Hours.

3.0

CATEGORIES OF CPD ACTIVITIES

3.1

Generally, there are three categories of activities that would contribute to CPD
hours, namely:
(a)

Category 1: Enhancing technical knowledge on the subject area of

certification (for example, IETS matters, or scheduled waste management,
pollution control systems or other areas of environmental management)

(b) Category 2: Maintaining constant contact with operational aspects of the

subject area of certification (for example, IETS operation, or scheduled
waste management, or air pollution systems, etc.)
(c)

Category 3: Other Activities

3.2

The objective of the first CPD hour generating category of activities is to ensure
the Competent Persons continue to update their knowledge on the subject matter
they are certified in. For example a CePIETSO, would need to enhance further
understanding of the subject matter of IETS and keep abreast of the latest
developments on IETS issues. Similarly, CePSWaMs are also required to
deepen their understanding and keep up to date with the latest issues in
scheduled waste management.

3.3

The second category of activities aims to ensure that the Competent Persons are
still involved in the operational issues related to the subject matter they are
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certified in and the operational aspects related to the subject matter have not
been left out entirely from their list of duties / responsibilities. Additionally, the
second category of activities gives credits to Competent Persons in discharging
their daily responsibilities as required by law.

4.0

CPD HOUR CONTRIBUTION FROM VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

4.1.

The CPD hour contributions from each category of activities and sub-categories
are explained below.
(a)

Category 1: Enhancing Technical Knowledge

(Minimum CPD hours required - 20)

The Competent Persons are required to accumulate a minimum of 20 CPD

hours from the activities in Category 1. The Category 1 activities comprise
seven (7) sub-activities and their CPD hours are as explained below:
(1)

Attending training courses (no maximum limit on CPD hours)

These include all training courses and workshops organized by EiMAS or
DOE.
Training courses and workshops offered by other professional institutes or
recognized training providers at national or international level could also be
considered provided their main topics are related to the environmental
management or pollution control technologies. The training courses must be
courses which have been approved by EiMAS with a specific CPD hour
value. Typically, a one day course without exam is worth 6 CPD hours.

(2)

Engaging in self-studies (maximum CPD hours allowed - 5)

The Competent Persons need to prepare and submit a one page technical
summary of each topic studied. A one (1) page summary is worth one (1)
CPD hour.

Note: A minimum of 20 CPD Hours must be obtained from sub-activities

4.1(a)(1) and 4.1(a)(2). There is no limit to the total maximum CPD hours that
can be accumulated from sub-activities 4.1(a)(1).

(3)

Conventions, Conferences, Seminars, Talks, Technical Visits, etc.

(maximum CPD hours allowed - 10)
These include all seminars, conferences, talks or technical site visits
organized by EiMAS and DOE. Seminar and conferences conducted by
other professional institutes and recognized training providers at national or
international level could also be considered provided their main topics are
related to environmental management or pollution control technologies (one
day course is worth 4 CPD hours).

(4)

Paper Presentation (maximum CPD hours allowed 10)

Competent Persons who prepare and present papers for conventions,
conferences, seminars, workshops, talks, courses, etc. organized by
EiMAS, DOE or others can also apply for CPD credit hours if the papers
prepared and presented are related to environmental management or
pollution control equipment / technologies (Preparation and presentation of
paper 3 CPD / hour).

(5)

Publication on Environmental Subjects / Areas (maximum CPD hours

allowed 30)
Competent Persons who publish books or articles in journals related to
environmental management will be granted appropriate CPD hours (30 CPD
/ book, 15 CPD/ article).

(6)

Attachment or Academic Study (maximum CPD hours allowed 10)

Competent Persons who enroll in full time or part time studies on subjects
related to environmental engineering, environmental science or
environmental related field can apply for appropriate CPD hours (for
example pursued full time Undergraduate / Post Graduate Studies - 10 CPD,
Part time Undergraduate / Post Graduate Studies - 5 CPD).

(7)

Participating in Communication, Education, and Public Awareness

(maximum CPD hours allowed 10)
This includes participating in environmental education and awareness
programme at international, national and local level (for example Rakan
Alam Sekitar, Minggu Alam Sekitar, etc) and other environmental related
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities (2 CPD / activity).

(b) Category 2: Maintaining constant contact with operational aspects

(Maximum CPD hours allowed - 30)
The maximum CPD hours allowed from each of the following sub-activities are as
follows:
(1)

Discharging responsibilities as a Competent Person (for example, as an

IETS operator or a scheduled waste manager or an air pollution control
system operator 20 CPD).

(2)

Discharging responsibilities for preparing compliance reports [for

example, IETS reports for Performance Monitoring Committee Meetings, or
scheduled waste status report or an air pollution control system status
report for the company [3 reports / year = 15 CPD (or 1 report x 5 CPD)].

(3)

Discharging responsibilities for reviewing or / and signing prescribed

forms [for example, the MDMR Scheduled Waste Inventory or the
Consignment Notes (e.g.12 times / year) -10 CPD].

(4)

Discharging responsibilities as a regulatory compliance officer (for

example Industrial Effluent Regulation, or Scheduled Waste Regulation, or
Clean Air Regulation -10 CPD).

(5)

Acting as in house or external trainer (for example training on IETS

matters or scheduled waste management, or air pollution control systems
10 CPD).

(6)

Acting as an external auditor (for example conducting external audit on

IETS matters, scheduled waste management or air pollution control systems
10 CPD).

(7)

Submission of Field Training Report (applicable only for newly certified

Competent Person)
Competent Persons shall prepare and submit field training report within one
(1) year from the date of being certified by DOE as a Competent Person.
Any Competent Persons who prepare and submit field training report will be
granted appropriate CPD hours (30 CPD / report).

Note: A maximum of 30 CPD hours can be obtained from the combination of the
sub-activities under 4.1(b) above.

(c)

Category 3: Other Activities

If a Competent Person believes that he is undertaking other types of training
activities not described above, he can make a submission to the DOE to
request for appropriate CPD hours.

5.0

COMPUTATION OF CPD HOUR

4.1

Please refer to Table 2 for the calculation on CPD Hours for each activity.

4.2

Carry Forward CPD Hours

4.3

(a)

A Competent Person who has accumulated more than fifty (50) CPD hours
may carry forward excess CPD hours to the subsequent year. However, the
excess CPD hours can be carried forward for one (1) year only.

(b)

A Competent Person who intends to carry forward his excess CPD hours
must submit to the DOE their current and preceding years CPD records for
verification and approval.

Insufficient CPD Hours

(a)

In the event that the CPD hours accumulated by a Competent Person are
less than 25 CPD Hours, the DOE will remove the name of the Competent
Person from the National Registry of Certified Environmental Professionals
(NRCEP).

(b)

Any Competent Persons whose name has been removed and desires to be
reinstated must satisfy the minimum requirement of fifty (50) CPD hours for
reinstatement.

5.0

SUBMISSION OF CPD RECORDS

5.1

Every Competent Person shall submit online his CPD records yearly together
with his application for the renewal of registration with the DOE through NRCEP
by 31st January.

10

5.2

Competent Person who certified as a Competent Person after the month of

February shall submit the CPD Records by 31st January a year after next.

5.3

The DOE will not approve an application for the renewal of registration if the
applicant does not comply with the CPD requirements as stated in Clause 2.1.

5.4

The DOE will revoke the registration of any Competent Person at any time if the
DOE is satisfied that the renewal of registration has been obtained by submission
of fraudulent documents.

6.0

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

6.1

The supporting documents, wherever applicable, to be submitted online shall

be as follows:a) Certificates of attendance at approved training activities or other documentary
evidence;
b) Proof of attendance at or registration in recognized full time and part time
courses or other supporting documents;
c) Proof of attendance at certification courses or engagement in environmental
mainstreaming activities;
d) Proof of service in professional bodies such as Board of Engineer committees,
sub-committees;
e) Proof of authorship of articles or books;
f) Proof of presentation/attendance at talks / seminars, etc; and
g) Proof of training courses/seminars conducted / Copies of training module

7.0

CORRESPONDENCE

7.1

All correspondences relating to CPD requirements should be addressed to: Environment Institute of Malaysia
Kampus Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Beg Berkunci No. 24, UKM
43600 Bangi
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
Tel: 603-89261500
Fax: 603-89261700
Note: NRCEP URL sistem = http://eimas.doe.gov.my/ks_user/login.php

Any enquiry on CPD requirements, please contact Mr John Rampai via phone 0389261500 or email at jr@doe.gov.my.
11

Table 2: Activities and CPD Hour Values

CPD Hour Value

CPD Activities

Description

CPD Hour per

Activity

Maximum
CPD
Hours
Allowed
Per Annum

(A) Category I: Enhancing Technical Knowledge (minimum CPD hours required - 20)
1. Attending Environmental Training
Courses

(a) Organized by EiMAS or DOE

at national or international
level:
i. Without exam
ii. With exam

6 CPD/day

50

9 CPD/day

50

6 CPD/day

50

9 CPD/day

50

Environmental training courses

by EiMAS:
Industrial Water Pollution
Control (e.g. CePIETSO-PCP,
CePIETSO-BP)
Sewage Treatment Plant
Operation (CePSTPO)
Industrial Air Pollution Control
(e.g. CePSO, CePBFO)
Hazardous Waste
Management (CePSWaM)
Cleaner Production / Green
Audit
Palm Oil Mill Effluent Control
(CePOME)
(b) Organized by others, either
at national or international
level (approved by EiMAS
with a specific CPD hour)
i. Without exam
ii. With exam

12

2. Self-study

Studying
books/journals/articles on
environmental field

3. Attending Environmental
Conventions, Conferences,
Seminars, Workshops, Talks,
Technical Visits, etc.

(a) Organized by EiMAS or

DOE, either at national
level or International level
(b) Organized by others,
either at national or
international level
(c) Technical Visits

4. Presenting Technical Papers

6. Conducting Research and Pursued

Undergraduate / Post Graduate
Studies

4 CPD / day

10

4 CPD / day

10

2 CPD/ day

Preparation and presentation of

papers for conventions,
conferences, seminars,
workshops, talks, courses, etc.
a) Organized by EiMAS / DOE at
national level or
international level
b) Organized by others, at
national level or
International level

5. Publishing Books and Technical

Articles*

1 CPD / book,
journal or
article

a) Published books related to

the profession
b) Published articles in
referred journal related to
the profession
c) Published articles on
environmental field in
other journals or
publications
a) Full time study for a
minimum of twelve months
duration on subjects
related to environmental
engineering, environmental
science or environmental
related field
b) Part-time Study /
Correspondence / Distance
Learning Course for a
duration of not less than
one year leading to an
Undergraduate/Post13

3 CPD / hr

10

3 CPD / hr

10

30 CPD/ book

30

15 CPD/article

30

10 CPD/article

10

10 CPD/
course

10

5 CPD/ course

7. Participating in Environmental
Education and Public Awareness

Graduate Degree related to

environmental engineering,
environmental science or
environmental related field
c) Other related studies as
approved by the DOE
Participating in environmental
education and awareness
program at international,
national and local level

**

**

2 CPD /
activity

10

20 CPD

20

5 CPD /
report

15

10 CPD

10

10 CPD

10

3 CPD / hr

10

(B) Category 2: Maintaining constant contact with operational aspects

(maximum CPD hours allowed - 30)
8. Maintaining constant contact with
operational aspects of the subject
area of certification (for example,
IETS operation, or scheduled
waste management, or air
pollution control systems etc.)

a) Discharging responsibilities
as a Competent Person
(e.g. as an IETS operator or
a
scheduled
waste
manager or a scrubber
operator)
b) Discharging responsibilities
for preparing compliance
reports [e.g. IETS reports
for
Performance
Monitoring
Committee
Meetings, or scheduled
waste status report or a
scrubber status report for
the
company:
(3
reports/year = 1 report x 5
CPD]
c) Discharging responsibilities
for
reviewing
or/and
signing prescribed forms
[e.g. the MDMR (12
times/year),
Scheduled
Waste Inventory or / and
the Consignment Notes
d) Discharging responsibilities
as a regulatory compliance
officer (e.g. IER, or SWR, or
CAR)
e) Acting as in house or
external
trainer
(e.g.
training on IETS matters or
scheduled
waste
14

management,
or
air
pollution control systems)
9. Acting as an external auditor

Acting as an external auditor

(e.g. conducting external audit
on IETS matters or scheduled
waste management, or air
pollution control systems)

10. Submission of Field Training

Submission of Field Training
Report (applicable only for newly Report (applicable only for
certified Competent Person)
newly certified Competent
Person)
11. Others

Other activities as approved by

the DOE

10 CPD

10

30 CPD /
report

30

**

**

Note: * One (1) copy of Thesis/Research, Seminar Paper or Report shall be presented to the DOE for records
** CPD hour values to be determined by the DOE

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
31 JULY 2014

15