When can I start?

Your start date is flexible, you may start at any time and our onboarding process is quick, simple and straightforward, via Zoom.

Can I do the course entirely online?

Yes, our market-leading e-portfolio platform, Learning Assistant means you can study in any location, at any time, working around your commitments.

How do I enrol?

Please contact us for a Booking Form, which will be sent by email.

How much does the course cost?

Please contact us via info@charburn.com or call +44 (o)1670 704528 for up to date fees.

When do I have to pay?

The course fee must be paid for in full, and in advance, before you can start studying, unless:

(a) You are paying by instalments, in which case the first instalment must be paid.

(b) You are paying by employer invoice, in which case, the funds must clear.

How can I pay?

Available payment methods are:

1. Credit Card/Debit Card

2. Online banking (BACS)

3. Employer Invoice/Purchase Order

4. Payment Plan - interest-free monthly payment plans over four months or less

Please indicate on the Booking Form your preferred payment option.

Can I pay by instalments?

We provide interest-free monthly payment plans over four months or less. There are no charges. 50% of the total course fee, and your IEMA Membership Fee is required as a minimum deposit for a Payment Plan. Once your first payment has been processed, you’ll receive your login details, welcome pack and a copy of your receipt, and we will also register you with IEMA and your 12 month membership with them will start. Please email info@charburn.com for more information.

I’m a non UK resident do you know if VAT is applicable?

Yes, unless you are a business customer. VAT is applicable as it is charged on the place of supply. i.e UK.

Who is the course aimed at?

The course is ideal for professionals who are working across organisations at an operational level and pursuing a career path in environment and sustainability. It is aimed at learners that wish to progress to IEMA Practitioner Membership (PIEMA).

What is IEMA Practitioner Membership (PIEMA)?

PIEMA is a globally recognised, professional status that showcases not only your knowledge and experience as an environmental practitioner but also powers up your career prospects through professional development.

How can this course boost my career opportunities?

Upon completion, many of our learners tell us that their careers are positively impacted, leading to new opportunities including;

• Improved job prospects

• More leadership opportunities

• Increased salaries

• More responsibilities

• More influence within the workplace

• Progress towards Chartership

Would this qualification tick the box when applying for a job that requests environmental management degree of equivalent?

The qualification at the end of the course is the IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management, which is benchmarked at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 5, the same as an HND or Foundation Degree.

The course also leads to IEMA Practitioner Membership (PIEMA). PIEMA is a globally recognised, professional status that showcases not only your knowledge and experience as an environmental practitioner but also powers up your career prospects through professional development.

What qualifications do I need to take the course?

Learners attending this course are expected to have a foundation level of environmental/sustainability knowledge gained through work experience or a relevant course, for example, the IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management or equivalent.

Do you also offer the IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management, and is this is a necessary prerequisite before taking the PIEMA Course?

Please see answer above. We do not currently offer the IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management.

Do you require any proof of evidence of having knowledge about sustainability to enrol on the course?

When you fill in the Booking Form we do ask you to summarise any previous experience or knowledge relevant to this course. When you start the course, the first Unit asks for you upload any relevant certificates and a short CV as evidence of your experience and knowledge.

Do you need to be employed in the sector?

You do not need to be employed in the sector but as we are assessing you against the PIEMA Membership Standard as you complete the course, we do need to see that you are able to demonstrate the Practitioner competencies being applied in a workplace setting. This can be a previous workplace or a project you have volunteered on. Please contact us if you would like further information on this.

Is the course limited to specific countries?

No - you can study in any location, at any time, working around your commitments.

How long will it take me to do the course?

The course is 120 hours of learning (15 days equivalent if full-time) plus the time it takes for you to complete your assignments. The full course must be completed within 12 months of your start date.

I work full time. How will the course fit in around my working hours?

You can study in any location, at any time, working around your commitments. Most learners comment that one of the main benefits of the course is it’s flexibility, the ability to work at their own pace and to their own deadlines, and not having to take the time out of work to complete the course in a classroom.

What is applied learning?

Applied Learning is often referred to as ‘on the job’ learning or ‘learning by doing’. It is not classroom-based. It is a practical approach that is supported by research to increase student motivation and provide a real-world application. It is also an opportunity for high-impact, active learning, where students explore content and directly apply new knowledge. Applied programmes and qualifications combine general or ‘academic’ learning with practical learning by situating it in a work related context.

Throughout the course we are not only assessing your work against the knowledge of environmental and sustainability needed at PIEMA level, we are also assessing your ability to apply this knowledge in your own organisation or real world examples.

This helps learners to comprehend and retain the information. It also allows them to work at their own pace, around work commitments, whilst still achieving a high-level qualification.

Can applied learning work for me when I only work in a small consultancy?

The course has been written to fulfil both the IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management course specification and the PIEMA Membership Standard and therefore covers a very broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. If you work in a smaller organisation, or a consultancy/advisor role you will still be able to use a mixture of work based evidence and case studies to show how you can apply knowledge to real world situations. Your Assessor will help you do this as you work through the course.

How does your applied learning approach vary from other providers online learning?

We are the only learning organisation delivering the course through Applied Learning. Applied Learning is often referred to as ‘on the job’ learning or ‘learning by doing’. It is an active learning style that is not just about listening, or reading through lots of pre written course materials.

Essentially this means that throughout the course we are not only assessing your work against the knowledge of environmental and sustainability needed at PIEMA level, we are also assessing your ability to apply this knowledge in your own organisation or real world examples. Learners often find they can use existing work-based evidence, reducing the time spent on studying for this course.

Because we are combining this assessment of your ability to apply your knowledge, our course has been approved by IEMA as the only course to provide a direct route to PIEMA Membership. On successful completion of the full course, and registration with IEMA, earners can use the suffix PIEMA.

Do I receive an induction?

Our onboarding process is quick, simple and straightforward, via Zoom. We take you through the course and introduce you to the online e-portfolio learning platform. You have a chance to ask lots of questions and there are additional videos and step by step guides also available afterwards.

Is it possible to see a trail of how the course is conducted before the start of the course?

We can only send you a limited example of material before the course starts. This is due to the specialist nature of Charburn Consulting Ltd’s delivery. There is also a generic YouTube video on Learning Assistant available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz02qpv4W3k

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on an ongoing basis by submitting work for each unit via our market-leading online e-portfolio platform, Learning Assistant. There are no written exams to sit, assessment is all via coursework.

The beauty of our course is there is no pressure. You cannot fail. You submit a Unit for assessment and it will either be accepted as being complete, or we’ll give you detailed feedback on what else you need to add in and return it for more work. You can resubmit a Unit as many times as you need to. We are all really supportive here. We want you to pass as much as much as you do!

If I do not pass a Unit the first time I submit it, can I then re-submit this for a second assessment without any additional costs?

There is no limit on the number of times that you can resubmit a unit of work for assessment, and there are no additional costs associated with this.

What are the usual timings for assessment feedback, are they the usual office hours or before/after that?

We aim to provide you with Assessment Feedback on submitted work within ten working days of receipt.

Will I have telephone access to my course advisor/tutor as well as e-mail access?

We do not commit to offering phone tutorials, however these are often made available upon request.

I already have IEMA Membership, do I still need to pay the IEMA Membership Fee?

Yes – IEMA require it for each new learner starting the course. However if you are already an IEMA member, your next renewal fee would be zero so that you are not losing out by paying twice, i.e if you register for our course now you will in effect be paying in advance for next years membership.

If you need any further guidance please contact the IEMA Membership team. We advise when booking on the course to use the same name and address that you have used for your existing IEMA membership so that when we register you, you will match up with their records.

What is included?

When you enrol on the course you will have access to all of the course materials on our market-leading e-portfolio learning platform – Learning Assistant. You can access this at any time. You will receive an induction and 12 months of one-to-one mentoring and assessment from your assigned Assessor via Learning Assistant.

Is there a defined reading list which you advise of for each Unit?

Yes there is a Core Reading List included in our course materials, and covers each Unit in turn.

Do you supply the materials in digital form or are there additional costs?

When you enrol on the course you will have access to all of the course materials on our market-leading e-portfolio learning platform – Learning Assistant. You can access this at any time.

In terms of Unit 4, Environmental Policy & Law, what is the scope of the policy and law discussed? Is it UK specific, EU specific, an overview of various national laws, or does the student specifically research the policies and laws applicable in their own locality?

The course is designed to be applicable internationally so you would research the policies and laws applicable in your own locality. Your Assessor will be looking for you to be able to explain key environmental legislation that is relevant to your organisation/ or a case study. We assume that at Practitioner level people will know relevant legislation in their own jurisdiction. Your Assessor is more interested in looking for your ability to apply your knowledge to your organisation.

How will the course be impacted by leaving the European Union?

You are not alone with being nervous about embarking on a new qualification, or of exams. The beauty of our course is there is no pressure. You cannot fail. You submit a Unit for assessment and it will either be accepted as being complete, or we’ll give you detailed feedback on what else you need to add in and return it for more work. You can resubmit a Unit as many times as you need to. We are all really supportive here. We want you to pass as much as much as you do!