Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (MCIWEM C.WEM)

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Becoming a Chartered member (MCIWEM C.WEM)

Becoming Chartered with us demonstrates that you are a leader in the water and environment profession. Showcase your experience and skills to the sector with this gold standard qualification, which will set you above your peers.

The Chartered Water and Environmental Manager qualification (MCIWEM C.WEM) is the ultimate demonstration of your skill and technical excellence in the field of water and environmental management.

It is bespoke for those who have chosen a career path in the environment and water sector and it recognises the specialist skills that you have attained. This provides the assurances sought by employers, clients, peers and the public of that you will provide the highest of professional standards.

Around the world, people face new and challenging water and environmental problems every day. MCIWEM C.WEM is a specialised grade of membership which demonstrates your skills as an experienced professional, and one that will always be relevant and in demand. MCIWEM C.WEM will expand the horizons and opportunities you have to participate in solving these challenges.


Who can join?

To qualify for Chartered membership you will need an Honour's degree (or equivalent), depending on any additional registrations that you are applying for you may need a Masters degree. You will also need a sufficient amount of industry experience. There is no defined minimum amount of time over which this can be attained, but typically professionals with less than five years' experience are unlikely to have attained the necessary levels of experience. Using the experience that you have accumulated throughout your career you will need to demonstrate 14 mandatory competences.

In addition to holding exemplifying qualifications to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding elements of professional competence, there are other ways you can demonstrate the necessary knowledge and understanding for progression to chartership. The C.WEM Work Based Learning Route provides a means of enabling very experienced applicants who lack the exemplifying academic qualifications to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding which they have acquired through their working experience.

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Additional Registrations

When you become a Chartered member of CIWEM, providing you have the required qualifications and experience, you also have the opportunity to register with three additional professional bodies. These are: the Engineering Council, the Society for the Environment and the Science Council.

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Why become a Chartered member?

Recognition of your professional competence

Promote your expertise using internationally recognised designation – MCIWEM C.WEM, an instant badge of competence and integrity for clients, colleagues and future employers. We are the only body in the world able to confer the status of Chartered Water and Environmental Manager, recognised and understood across the sector as demonstrating your commitment to continued professional development.

Broaden your horizons and lead the debate

Be at the forefront of the sector with access to the latest thinking, expert advice and in-depth features in our journals, magazine and our regular email newsletters.

Demonstrate higher standards

Differentiate the higher quality of your work thanks to CIWEM's professional standards, enabling you to build valued business relationships based on trust, honesty and integrity.

Build a global professional network

Get access to a powerful and supportive network of professionals. Through our regional branches, you can connect with like-minded professionals at events near you. With our topic-specific networks, you can make valuable connections across your areas of interest.

Develop your expertise and earning potential

Access a range of content and services to meet your development needs and build your expertise, including; good practice guides, technical papers, and online publications, as well as CPD relevant events.

Lead and influence

Make a positive difference to others by helping to shape the strategic direction of CIWEM whilst developing skills to support your own career journey. Join as a mentor or volunteer assessor to support others through their journey.

Application requirements

If you have an Honours degree (or equivalent) and around five years’ experience in the water and/or environment sector, then you're eligible to apply for MCIWEM C.WEM. To apply for any external chartered registrations (CEng, CSci, CEnv) you'll need a Masters degree (or equivalent). For those looking to apply via the C.WEM Work Based Learning Route further details on the application process can be found here.

To apply for chartership you will need to

  • Complete an online application form
  • Submit a copy of your most up-to-date CV
  • Submit copies of relevant certificates signed by your sponsors
  • Have two Chartered sponsors, one of which must hold C.WEM, who can review your application. You will need to submit a signed letter from each of your sponsors alongside your application confirming they have done this. Additional guidance on sponsor letter requirements can be download here.
  • Complete your 1000 word Career Overview Report
  • Submit your training and CPD record for the last three years. You can find further guidance on what is required here.
  • Complete your 4000 word Mandatory Competence Attainment Report
  • For C.WEM Work Based Learning applicants you will also need to complete the 'C.WEM Work Based Learning Statement Form'

Find out more about becoming a Chartered Member and achieving your professional qualification


Start your application

Useful documents

C.WEM application guidance

C.WEM Mandatory Competences guidance

C.WEM Mandatory Competences workbook

Sponsor Letter guidance

CPD guidance

Professional Interview guidance

Work Based Learning route guidance

Work Based Learning route statement form

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How much does a Chartered membership cost?

There is an application fee of £155 (£100 if your organisation is a Corporate Member).

Existing CIWEM members will not be required to pay this application fee, just a transfer fee of £55.

All Chartered member candidates will have a Professional Interview costing £195.

The annual membership fee is £322, plus external registration fees as appropriate.

Need advice?

We’re with you every step of your application and throughout your membership, get detailed advice on your membership application from completing your mandatory competencies and preparing for your professional review interview to supporting you with your CPD. Just call +44(0)207 8313110 or email membership@ciwem.org and someone will be delighted to help.

Retired chartered membership

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Fast Track to Chartership

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