IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management (PLA)

L3 Level 3
Part Time
27 January 2025 — 31 July 2025
Online
PLA: This course is free for employed adults eligible for a Personal Learning Account (PLA). To see if you could be eligible for a PLA go to www.cavc.ac.uk/PartTimeFunding - For a full list of PLA courses go to www.cavc.ac.uk/PLA

About this course

Are you new to environment or sustainability, or at the start of your career and looking for recognition? The drive towards sustainability and desire for Green Skills has opened up new professional avenues across all sectors and IEMA’s Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management course is the perfect way to show that you have the knowledge and skills to begin your career in sustainability. This course leads directly to IEMA Associate Membership.
This course will give you a foundation of environmental and sustainability knowledge to build on. Covering a wide range of environmental, sustainability and governance principles, this course will give learners an understanding of the breadth of the sustainability agenda, and the management tools and skills that they will need when working within this area.

What you will study

What is IEMA?

IEMA is the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability. IEMA are responsible for ensuring that people working on the front line in these areas have the right knowledge, competencies, skills and confidence to do a professional job. IEMA also help and support businesses, governments and regulators to do the right thing when it comes to environment and sustainability related initiatives, challenges and opportunities.

Who is this course for?

This course is for people who are starting out, or changing to, a career in environment or sustainability focused roles. You don’t need any prior knowledge before taking this course as this will prepare you with everything you need to know to start your journey.
This course is also great for people working in other professions, such as marketing or finance, to gain a basic understanding of sustainability that you might apply in your role.
Aligning with the competencies required for IEMA Associate Membership (find out more about these in our Sustainability Skills Map), this course means you can apply for one year’s membership as an IEMA Associate Member upon completion and successful pass of the multiple choice exam.

What will you learn?

  • Once completed, a learner on this course will be able to:
  • Outline the implications of global trends for the environment, for society, for the economy and for organisations
  • Outline sustainable business/governance principles and their relationship with organisations, products and services
  • Outline environmental principles and their relationship with organisations, products and services
  • Outline major policy and legislation and their implications for organisations, products and services
  • Outline major tools, techniques, systems and practices used to improve sustainability performance
  • Outline the role of innovation and other leading practices in developing sustainable products and services and providing sustainable solutions
  • Collect data, perform analysis, and evaluate information
  • Research and plan to provide sustainable solutions
  • Deliver effective communication and capture feedback
  • Engage with stakeholders
  • Outline tools and techniques that identify opportunities and risks
  • Identify and propose ways to improve performance
  • Support change and transformation to improve sustainability

Teaching and Assessment Methods

How do you learn?

This is a 5-day course (40 hours), which is delivered online. 
Our courses are delivered by competent trainers that IEMA has assessed to ensure quality.

How will you be assessed?

At the end of the five days, you will take a one hour, open-book, online multiple-choice exam.
On passing your exam, you will receive a digital certificate to recognise your achievement and you will be sent details of how to join IEMA as an Associate Member, earning your AIEMA professional suffix and all other benefits that come as being a member of a professional body.

Important points

  • The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
  • Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
  • Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
  • Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
  • Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
  • All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
  • Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
  • Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.
Key information

Start date

27 January 2025

End date

31 July 2025

Time of day

Day Time

Part Time

35 hours per week

Location

Online
Maps & directions
PLA: This course is free for employed adults eligible for a Personal Learning Account (PLA). To see if you could be eligible for a PLA go to www.cavc.ac.uk/PartTimeFunding - For a full list of PLA courses go to www.cavc.ac.uk/PLA

Course code

CSIEMAFCEM
L3

Qualification

IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management (PLA)