Erosion and Sediment Control
Training and Certification

Enrollment and Application for Exam/Re-certification | Course Descriptions | Current Course Offerings and Registration Forms | Publications | DCR ESC Program Certifications | Online ESC Inspector Re-certification Program | Online ESC Program Administrator Re-certification Program

Overview

DCR's Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program was developed to meet the mandate of Section 10.1-561.1 of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law, Regulations and Certification Regulations (VESCL&R). Public officials are required by law to obtain and maintain specific certification(s) related to individual job responsibilities. The law requires that local ESC program authorities have a certified program administrator, plan reviewer and inspector. A copy of the VESCL&R is available for download on the Erosion and Sediment Control Program page. For information on the Responsible Land Disturber (RLD) Certificate of Competence Program, click here.

To help localities meet this requirement, DCR offers statewide training courses and certification exams in the following four subject areas: program administration, inspection, plan review and combined administrator. Click here to visit an ESC Certification Program page that provides more detailed information on the program.

Those with questions regarding ESC training and certification should call 804-371-7486 or click this email link. Those with questions about registering for a course or certification exam should call 804-371-7505 or email dcrexam@dcr.virginia.gov. Those with technical questions about the course or exam should call (804) 371-7486 or email swmequestions@dcr.virginia.gov.

Official enrollment and application for examination and re-certification

Those wishing to take the certification exam or seeking re-certification as a program administrator, inspector, plan reviewer or combined administrator must complete and submit to DCR the Application for Erosion and Sediment Control Certification and Recertification. Information on current course offerings and course registration materials is provided in the ESC course offerings section below. The enrollment form, application form, and educational materials are available for download in the publications section below. Call 804-371-7486 or click here if you have questions regarding ESC certification.

Course descriptions

Basic Erosion and Sediment Control in Virginia - This two-day course was developed to train those involved in carrying out or complying with the VESCL&R. The course covers legal and administrative aspects of the state program, state minimum standards and specifications for conservation practices, basic soil mechanics, plan review and plan interpretation skills.

Erosion and Sediment Control in Virginia for Inspectors - This one-day course was developed to train those involved in carrying out or complying with inspection aspects of the VESCL&R. The course covers state minimum standards and specifications for conservation practices, basic soil mechanics and inspector skills.

Erosion and Sediment Control in Virginia for Plan Reviewers - This two-day course was developed to train those responsible for reviewing and preparing ESC plans to determine whether or not a prospective project will be in compliance with VESCL&R. Those interested should have an understanding of the principles of hydrology, the VESCL&R and be familiar with the standards and specifications contained in the current edition of the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.

Registration forms

The fall 2013 schedule will be announced soon. Please check back for new class dates.

• Click here to download a registration form for upcoming Basic Erosion and Sediment Control in Virginia courses (includes dates, locations, etc.).
• Click here to download a registration form for upcoming Erosion and Sediment Control for Inspectors courses (includes dates, locations, etc.). The Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook is required for this class. Download an order form here.
• Click here to download a registration form for upcoming Erosion and Sediment Control for Plan Reviewers courses (includes dates, locations, etc.). The Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook is required for this class. Download an order form here.

Note that you will be required to download course materials ahead of time and bring them to class.

The next statewide certification exam date is May 9, 2013. Certification applications are accepted during the exam year up until 60 days before the exam date. Applications for the May 9 exam must have been be postmarked earlier than March 11.

Recertification applications are accepted anytime during the third year of the certificate's expiration date.

Exam Locations:
Tidewater: Williamsburg
Northern: Manassas
Southwest: Wytheville or nearby
Central: Charlottesville

DCR offers online re-certification for ESC Inspectors, Program Administrators, Plan Reviewers and Combined Administrators in the third year of their certification. (Note: Must use Internet Explorer to use those four interfaces.) Click here to download the application for Erosion and Sediment Control Certification and Recertification.

Publications

Course materials will not be provided in the classes. Students must use the following links to download and print course manuals, and bring them to class. The files are PDF documents.

Materials for Basic Erosion and Sediment Control in Virginia course

• Broadband users should click hereto download all course materials at once. Those without broadband access may prefer to download each course unit seperately by clicking the links below.
  • 1. Introduction and Agenda
  • 2. E&S Control Law and Regulations
  • 3. Certification Application
  • 4. Training Notebook Introduction and Table of Content
  • 5. Unit I - History
  • 6. Unit II - State Law, Local Program Implementation
  • 7. Unit III - Understanding the Erosion Process
  • 8. Unit IV - State Minimum Standards
  • 9. Unit V - Stormwater Runoff Minimum Standard 19
  • 10.Unit VI - Economics of E&S Control
  • 11. Unit VII - Basic Plan-reading Skills
  • 12. Unit VIII - Vegetative Erosion Control
  • 13. Unit IX - Structural Conservation Practices (Overview)
  • 14. Unit X - Basic E&S Plan Review
  • 15. E&S Control FAQ
  • 16. Minimum Standard Checklist
  • 17. Product Order Form
  • 18. New Small Town School Sample Plan (NSTSSP)
  • 19. NSTSSP II Temporary Sediment Basin
  • 20. NSTSSP Appendix I
  • 21. NSTSSP Appendix II
  • 22. Low Impact Development (LID) Product Order Form
  • 23. Course Evaluation

Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control for Inspectors course

• Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control for Inspectors

Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control for Plan Reviewers course

• Broadband users should click hereto download all course materials at once. Those without broadband access may prefer to download each course unit seperately by clicking the links below.
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. PR Agenda
  • 3. New Small Town School Sample Plan
  • 4. NSTSSP II Temp Sed Basin
  • 5. NSTSSP App I
  • 6. NSTSSP App II
  • 7. Day 1 Work Problems
  • 8. Day 1 Work Problems Answer Key
  • 9. Day 2 Work Problems I
  • 10. Day 2 Work Problems II Rational Formula
  • 11. Day 2 Work Problems III TR-55
  • 12. Day 2 Work Problems Answer Key
  • 13. Course Book Introduction and Chapter I
  • 14. Course Book Chapter II
  • 15. Course Book Chapter III
  • 16. Course Book Chapter IV
  • 17. Course Book Chapter V
  • 18. Course Book Chapter VI
  • 19. Course Book Chapter VII
  • 20. Course Book Chapter VIII
  • 21. Course Book Chapter IX
  • 22. Course Book Chapter X
  • 23. Appendix A
  • 24. Appendix B
  • 25. Appendix C
  • 26. Appendix D
  • 27. Appendix E
  • 28. Appendix F
  • 29. Appendix G1
  • 30. Appendix G2
  • 31. Appendix H
  • 32. Appendix I
  • 33. Evaluation

Other Erosion and Sediment Control Program materials that support the ESC Certification Program, including order forms for the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, the E&S Field Manual, and many other educational materials, are available for download on the Erosion and Sediment Control Program page.

Downloading

The following publications are Adobe Acrobat PDF files. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is free. You can save a PDF by right-clicking its link and saving the "target" to your hard drive.

ESC Certification Program FAQ

Application for Erosion and Sediment Control Certification and Recertification

DCR ESC individual certification

To check the status of your ESC certification, click on the link below that corresponds with the certification type - i.e., Program Administrator, Inspector, Plan Reviewer or Combined Administrator - of interest. Then click on step four (4). A pin number is required; to obtain one, first click on step 1 then proceed to step 4. (Note: Must use Internet Explorer to use those four interfaces.)

• Combined Administrators
• Inspectors
• Plan Reviewers
• Program Administrators

DCR ESC Program Certifications

Click here to see the latest list of certified Combined Administrators, Inspectors, Plan Reviewers and Program Administrators. The list is sorted by last name. It includes those of the Nov. 4, 2010, exam.

For more information, please call toll-free 1-866-DCR-EXAM or email dcrexam@dcr.virginia.gov.

Questions about the Virginia Stormwater Management Program
or Erosion and Sediment Control Program?
Just write SWMESquestions@dcr.virginia.gov.