In states such as Georgia, anyone who is hired by or plans to work for a company that develops land must pass certification requirements. This includes people who inspect land and monitor construction. Check with your local environmental agency to learn whether you need a soil erosion certification for your position.
The basics of any soil erosion course include what soil erosion is and how it can affect areas like a building site or wherever the earth is being disturbed. Erosion occurs when the earth has been disturbed, whether by nature or by humans. State environmental agencies set limits on the amount of erosion that is permissible for each construction site. For each building site, a specialist who has been certified by the state is responsible for monitoring erosion control activities.
Because most people who take this type of course will use the certification in construction jobs, the additional topics covered are relevant to that field. These include obtaining the proper permits, compliance issues, erosion inspection review, record keeping and monitoring of stormwater discharge.
Soil erosion certification courses have no set length. However, they tend to run about two days, including a field trip to apply knowledge learned. At the end of the course, successful students receive a certificate of completion, as well as a card or placard that they may be required to have on site with them at all times.