FAQs Upgrading

This naturally depends on what level you are at and the level of experience you have gained thus far. As you develop in your career, you should aim to upgrade your IEMA membership to reflect your level of competence and knowledge. One typical upgrade scenario is when a Student member graduates from their degree, they should check their eligibility against Graduate membership.

Take a more detailed look at our membership grades and complete three simple titles to find out which membership grade is right for you. You can also view the competency requirements for each grade via our online Sustainability Skills Map.

There are no restrictions; you can upgrade as many times as you wish. Please be aware however that you will be expected to pay the upgrade fee for each upgrade application. You can skip grades if you are planning to upgrade multiple times in a short space of time. Please also note that you will be required to maintain your membership subscription when it becomes due for renewal, even if you are in the process of upgrading. Upgrade fees are one-off payments which do not cover the cost of a membership renewal.

You can apply online for a new grade if you have progressed professionally since leaving your IEMA membership.

We would encourage you to contact our Membership and Standards Team on 01522 540069 to talk through your options.

For Practitioner you will have 3 months to submit your written assessment of competence after successfully completing the entry exam or the Certificate in Environmental Management course (unless your are entitled to a fast-track application).

For Full,you have 4 weeks to complete your written submission and submit this with the supporting documents.

Details about what to include in your assessment case studies and sample case studies are available here.