School of Earth, Environment and Society

Certificates | Environmental Professional Program

The Environmental Professional Program’s certificate programs are designed to help environmental professionals stay current, knowledgeable, and competitive in a rapidly changing field.

Through affordable, hands-on training, participants build the technical skills needed to support sustainable natural systems while strengthening professional networks and partnerships across the environmental community.

Courses emphasize:

  • Practical technical skills for restoration and environmental management
  • Connections and collaboration with practitioners across the region
  • Ethical, fiscal, and regulatory responsibility in environmental practice
  • Understanding and applying regulatory compliance
CertificateFocusBest For
Introduction to River Restoration Survey CourseFundamental principles of river restoration scienceFlexible, self-paced introduction for early-career practitioners
River RestorationRiver science and managementPractitioners building river restoration expertise
Advanced River RestorationAdvanced river restoration techniquesProfessionals deepening river restoration expertise
Wetland DelineationWetland delineation, evaluation, and restorationProfessionals working in wetland ecosystems

Introduction to River Restoration Survey Course for a Global Audience (Self-Paced)

This flexible, self-paced course provides an overview of the fundamental principles of river restoration science. Taught by leading researchers and practitioners, the course features 15 lectures covering key physical, ecological, and design principles for creating resilient restoration projects. Participants will benefit from 12 hours of expert-led content and a wealth of related resources.

  • Course Details: This is a self-paced, asynchronous online course structured around three learning units. Each learning unit contains four to seven lectures and a short exam. View the syllabus.
  • Technical Director: Melanie Klym, American Rivers - Northwest River Restoration Director
  • Cost: $500
  • Professional Development: Earn a certificate of completion for 12 Professional Development Hours (1.2 Continuing Education Units).

River Restoration Certificate

The River Restoration Certificate offers online and in-person courses covering key topics in river science and management, including stream ecology, site evaluation and assessment, and restoration design.

Taught by regional and national experts, the curriculum emphasizes collaborative planning, restoration theory, and field-based learning grounded in real restoration projects.

  • Certificate Details: The certificate includes five core courses and two electives.
  • Technical Director: Dr. Janine Castro, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Cost (2026): $4,400

The core courses are designed to be taken in order. EPP 221 is a prerequisite for EPP 224 and EPP 224 is a prerequisite for 225. Students are expected to complete all required courses within a three-year timeframe.

  • EPP 221 - River Restoration, Part I: Physical Processes (online)
  • EPP 222 - River Restoration, Part II: Ecological Processes (online)
  • EPP 223 - Site Evaluation and Assessment Tools (in-person)
  • EPP 224 - River Restoration Design (online; prerequisite - 221)
  • EPP 225 - Restoration Project Management (in-person)

In addition to the five core classes, students must take two elective courses. Elective courses can be taken through EPP, other programs, other universities or volunteer activities or conferences. 

The only requirements are that each class must be at least one-day long, that both together must total at least three days (for example, a one-day course plus a two-day course), and that they must be related in some way to river restoration. Students must be able to show proof they attended (certificate of completion, registration, note from instructor, etc.).

Electives should be completed within three years of starting the program and three years of completing the core certificate courses. If students are uncertain of what qualifies as an elective course, they can contact EPP at 503-725-8303 or epp@pdx.edu.

Advanced River Restoration Certificate

The Advanced River Restoration Certificate is designed for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in the latest river restoration techniques. In partnership with River Restoration Northwest, the program is taught by leading practitioners or academics with nationally and internationally recognized experience in river restoration and innovation.

Courses may be taken individually, or together to earn the Advanced River Restoration Certificate from Portland State University. Students pursuing the certificate must have previously completed the EPP River Restoration Certificate.

  • Certificate Details: Students must successfully complete one advanced course from each of three topic areas: biologic, physical and applied restoration. Each year, two courses in each topic area will be offered.
  • Technical Director: Dr. Colin Thorne, University of Nottingham's Department of Geography
  • Certificate Cost: $2000-$3000

Wetland Delineation Certificate

The Wetland Delineation Certificate provides in-depth and field-based training in the delineation, evaluation and restoration of wetlands. Coursework is based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers standards and focuses on wetland soils, plants, and hydrology. 

Recognized by the Society of Wetland Scientists for professional certification, the program helps participants build the technical knowledge and field experience needed to conduct accurate wetland delineations and support environmental projects in wetland ecosystems. Though nationally applicable, the program is especially valuable for professionals working with wetlands in the Pacific Northwest.

Participants gain skills that help them:

  • Conduct wetland delineations using current techniques
  • More easily obtain permits from local, state, and federal agencies
  • Earn continuing education and professional recertification credits

  • Certificate Details: Complete four required courses within a three-year timeframe.
  • Technical Director: Phil Scoles, Terra Science
  • Certificate Cost: $3,350

To earn the certificate, all four courses must be completed within a three-year timeframe. Students are strongly encouraged to take EPP 716 (Basic Wetland Delineation) prior to taking EPP 717 and 719.

  • EPP 716 - Basic Wetland Delineation
  • EPP 717 - Hydric Soil Indicators for Regional Supplements
  • EPP 719 - Wetland Hydrology Indicators and Problem Situations
  • EPP 701 - Wetland Plants of the Pacific Northwest