General Program Information
The Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program (MWPCP) is a certification program for Minnesota wetland professionals administered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The program includes Professional and In-Training Professional certifications. Certification indicates an individual has a fundamental understanding of the basic technical tools, rules, policies and guidance associated with wetland regulatory compliance in Minnesota. This includes the following subject areas: wetland identification and delineation; wetland restoration; State and Federal wetland regulations (rules, policies, procedures); wetland functional assessment; and wetland monitoring.
The program emphasizes the practical components of these subject areas as they apply to wetland regulatory implementation. The program does not test for, nor does it certify the competency of a wetland professional. It certifies that a wetland professional has successfully completed foundational training developed specifically for those working in the wetland regulatory field in Minnesota and that they have the basic background knowledge and training to become competent at conducting work associated with wetland regulatory compliance.
Program Plan (pdf) Updated April 27, 2022
Frequently Asked Questions About the Program (pdf)
Registration Is Now Open for all 2023 MWPCP Courses!
Follow this link to register:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/BWSR9/MWPCPTrainingAndExamRegistrationForm2023
MWPCP Training Schedule
The MWPCP is pleased to announce the 2023 training schedule (please see the Wetland Training Opportunities page for course descriptions):
Note that specific agenda items are subject to change. Course registrants will be contacted a week prior to the course with class details including the room location and a link to the Class Portal where the final agenda, course handouts, and prerequisite video modules (if any) will be posted in advance.
Basic Wetland Delineation and Regulation Courses
Wetland Delineation and Regulation Basic Class: Arden Hills- June 12-16 (Full)
Wetland Delineation and Regulation Basic Class- Brainerd - September 11-15
Regional Training
Rochester Public Utilities Building, Rochester - May 16-17
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, Fergus Falls – August 15-16
Regulatory Training
WCA Regulatory Training- St Cloud MNDOT Training Facility- April 20 (Full)
Technical Training
Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA)- MNDOT Shoreview Training Center – June 20 (Full)
Basic Wetland Plant ID-
Dakota County SWCD (July 18) (Full)
Central Lakes College (July 20) (Full)
Wetland Delineation Refresher- Prairie Woods ELC- Spicer- August 8
Virtual Training
Crash Course in Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) Administration - February 6-7
Day One (Feb 6, 8:30am-noon)
Day Two (Feb 7, 8:30am-noon)
Professional Exams
Both the MWPCP Professional and Professional In-Training Exams will be offered at 1pm on the Friday of the Basic Classes (June 16 in Arden Hills and September 15 in Brainerd). Remember that per the MWPCP certification exam policy, anyone who intends to take either the Professional or the Professional In-Training exams are required to complete and submit an application to take the exam. The exception are Basic Class participants who intend to take the Professional In-Training exam at the end of the Basic Class they attend. They do not need to apply as they qualify for the In-Training exam upon completion of the course. Exam applications must be submitted and approved prior to taking the exam.
Current Renewal Period and COVID-related Policies
All classes and certification exams that were scheduled for 2020 were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the current certification renewal period has been extended. All MWPCP-certified (professional or in-training) individuals are now certified until December 31, 2023. This extension allows for an additional year to obtain credits for certification renewal. The COVID-related temporary continuing education policies will lapse at the end of 2023.
Please note that the current certification renewal period ends on December 31, 2023 for all certified individuals who transferred to the MWPCP from the U of MN Wetland Delineation Certification Program. The credit reporting deadline for this renewal period is January 1, 2024. Any others who gained certification under MWPCP should refer to their certificate for their renewal period timeline. Once you have met the continuing education credit requirement, please submit the Credit Hour Reporting Form with proof of attendance no later than January 1, 2024. You are not required to submit a credit hour reporting form for MWPCP courses.
Temporary Continuing Education Policy Updates (pdf) Updated April 27, 2022
Questions & Answers regarding 2020 course cancellations and continuing education credits (pdf)
Continuing Education Forms and Associated Policy Documents
Please use the following questions to help you determine which form to complete and submit.
Q: Are you interested in becoming certified by taking either the Professional or In-Training Professional Exam?
A: Review the Certification Exam Policies (pdf) document to determine which exam you are qualified to take. Then complete and return either the Application for Professional Certification Exam (dox) or the Application for Professional In-Training Certification Exam (dox).
Q: Are you interested in finding out if a training event you are considering attending is eligible for MWPCP continuing education credits toward either your certification renewal or for meeting the training qualification to take one of the certification exams?
A: Review the Continuing Education Policies (pdf- updated April 27, 2022) document and then complete and return the Credit Hour Determination Request Form (dox).
Q: Are you certified and would like to report a training event that you attended toward your continuing education requirement?
A: Review the Continuing Education Policies (pdf- updated April 27, 2022) document and then complete and return the Credit Hour Reporting Form (dox).
Certified Professionals and In-Training Professionals List
The following file lists the name and certification status (Professional or In-Training Professional) of all MWPCP-certified individuals except for those who requested their name to be withheld from the publicly available list. Spellings of names are as provided by the individuals although we may have erred in the transfer of the information to the list. Please contact one of the listed program contacts if you are on the list and would like to make a correction/revision to your name. If you believe that you should be on the list, but are not, please contact one of the listed program contacts. Note that this list is not intended to be a resource for finding a wetland consultant. If you are looking for contact information for wetland consultants one option is to view a consultant directory on the MN Wetland Professionals Association website.
MWPCP Certification List (updated 1/26/2023)
Already certified and switched jobs? Let us know so we have your new contact information to stay up to date with email announcements. Please send your new contact information to: bwsr.mwpcp@state.mn.us
Exam Study Guide and Reference Materials
MWPCP Exam Study Guide- Updated November 2022 (pdf)
MWPCP Professional & Professional In Training Practice Exam- Version A, 2021 (PDF)
Program questions, comments, and submittals should be sent to bwsr.mwpcp@state.mn.us