This course can be studied over 8 – 24 months via online and taught courses.
Next intake: Spring 2027 – we have Core Skills weeks in March and April (only one date required).
This is a life-changing course for people wanting to get into Ecological Consultancy. It is a real alternative to a Master’s and MUCH cheaper!
Our Certificate in Ecological Consultancy is a real, practical alternative to a Master’s degree, giving you real skills, knowledge and experience!
This course is truly unique and gives you the opportunity to launch your ecological consultancy career with a suite of knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as the confidence to apply for jobs. 2027 will be its 19th year, and over 700 people have successfully completed it!
This course aims to provide complete training for those wishing to work within an ecological consultancy and includes a series of compulsory and optional field-skills courses, self-study tutorials, assignments to practice your skills and an element of career planning.
Hear some of the testimonials from our 2024 students HERE.
Time commitment: The course is designed to fit around working full-time, and it is anticipated to take at least 8 months to complete, or up to 24 months if you have other commitments. The course includes a 5-day Core Week held online, with daily webinars and practical exercises. Later in the year, you will also complete a 2-day field course to consolidate your learning from the Core Week. You will then need to complete 3 optional courses, either online or taught, plus assignments and home study courses.
Course content: We have provided a detailed course outline below as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help answer your queries.
Where: Please note that some of the optional courses will be held in different locations, including Devon, Somerset, Hampshire, Surrey and the Bristol area – directions and accommodation list will be provided on booking. The 2-day field course will be either in Exeter or near Bristol.
When: The Core Week course is in March or April 2027 (two intakes). You will choose either: 8th-12th March or 5th-9th April. The 5 days will be conducted online, with webinars, videos, and live discussions. Field courses and face-to-face courses are held between April and September.
Additional short courses are offered throughout the year, depending on your choice.
The course ends with an exam and graduation in October 2027, but you can take the exam at any time after this, within 24 months of starting.
Price: The 2027 course price is £2700 including VAT (£2250 excluding VAT). You can pay in full or pay a £350 deposit, then 12 monthly instalments of £195.83.
To apply for 2027, scroll down to the ‘Apply here’ button below.
How to book: Just use the Apply here button below. You MUST have a relevant degree or experience*. You must be pre-approved for the course; once you are, we will send booking information. If you do not have a relevant degree but some experience, then please contact us at [email protected] and we can see if this course is right for you.
*Don’t have a relevant degree or experience? Why not take a look at our Certificate in Conservation Management or shorter courses as a stepping stone to this course? Email us at [email protected] for advice on next steps.
A five-day intensive course via webinars and other activities which covers core subjects and vital skills for anyone wanting to work as an ecological consultant:
Throughout the week, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to chat with the tutor and ask questions. There will also be online tutorials via webinar, so you can meet up with your fellow students. We will run sessions on protected species licences, CIEEM membership, career planning, goal-setting, background reading, gaining experience, and CV development.
The Core Week course is in March or April 2027 (two intakes). You will choose either: 8th-12th March or
5th-9th April.
Some time during the summer or autumn, you will attend a two-day field course to consolidate all your Core Week learning. Here, you will practice Phase 1 habitat mapping, plant ID, animal tracks and signs, surveying techniques, and much more! It is a great opportunity to work in a stunning location and meet your fellow students. Held near Bristol or in Exeter.
This field course involves mainly fieldwork and a lot of walking. You will need to take packed lunches on both days.
As well as the core courses covered in part one, students can choose three other courses (1 or 2 days each) according to their existing skill levels and specific interests. Options include:
* Two-day courses; **You will need to have existing knowledge so the relevant ecology and surveying course would be a pre-requisite if you choose this course; >> Compulsory if your botany knowledge is weak; ~ Similar material is covered in the core week, however additional detail is included – courses will be useful if you are working towards your dormouse, bat or great crested newt survey licence; + Similar material is covered in the core week, however additional detail and other survey sites are provided. #Online only.
Most of these courses are also available online; some are not available face-to-face.
For each course, you will receive a certificate, which you can add to your CV.
Please note that some optional courses will be held in different locations, including Devon, Somerset, Hampshire, and the Bristol area.
To find out more about the content of these courses, please see our Introductory Level Short Courses.
To add to the knowledge gained from the field courses and core week tutorials, there will also be three self-study courses which will cover the following topics:
You will also complete our online Invasive Species course. This is an introductory-level course on common invasive species. The course comprises nine online modules, and at the end you will complete a short quiz to show you have completed and understood the course. You will receive a separate Certificate for this course.
Other aspects of the course include:
Checkout some of our blogs on the topic!
![ecology-blog21]](https://ecologytraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ecology-blog21.jpg)
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out the amazing images taken by our students while attending our Certificate field course.
What this year’s students say about their course:
