Best Practices concerning Training and Qualification for Environmental Inspectors

This report describes the results of an IMPEL project on best practices concerning the training and qualifications of environmental inspectors. The project was based on the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 April 2001 providing for minimum criteria for environmental inspections in the Member States (2001/331/EC).

The objective of the project was to examine the systems in place in Member States for the Training and Qualification of Inspectors and to identify best practices from them. These best practices are more than “minimum criteria”.

The report includes a background study on entry qualifications, which illustrates the sorts of qualifications usually required (more complete information can be found in the annex). Further it describes a framework for identifying qualification and training needs for staff undertaking inspections, or preparing permits for those Member States where these inspection and permit activities are undertaken by the same people or within the same body. The project identified core competencies for an inspector/permit writer and also considered how to assess the extent to which inspectors were competent in these core competencies once they have completed their training and have some experience.