SWANA Invite-Long

American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE)
Extends An Invitation To SWANA Members Who Are
Environmental Engineers To Join

The Environmental Engineering Foundation

History and Mission

The American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE or Academy) is a certification board whose total focus is on Environmental Engineering. The Academy was founded in 1955 for the principal purpose of serving the public by improving the practice, elevating the standards, and advancing public recognition of environmental engineering through a program of specialty certification of qualified engineers.

The American Academy of Environmental Engineers is dedicated to excellence in the practice of environmental engineering to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare to enable humankind to co-exist in harmony with nature.

The Academy was formed due to the efforts of a few dedicated professional engineers working in the public health and defense fields. These engineers saw the need for a national focus on environmental engineering to advance the practice and to help determine what educational programs best could provide qualified engineers in sanitary/environmental engineering. To meet this need and with the assistance of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a Joint Committee (coalition) for the Advancement of Sanitary Engineering was formed. Participating organizations included:

The American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Public Health Association
The American Society for Engineering Education
The American Water Works Association, and
The Water Pollution Control Federation

With the sponsorship and support of those five organizations, the Environmental Engineering Intersociety Board was created in 1955. The American Sanitary Engineering Intersociety Board, the predecessor of the Academy, was officially incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 21, 1955. In 1973 the organization changed its name to the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

Over time, other organizations joined as sponsors, including:

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1957
The Air Pollution Control Association in 1962
The National Society of Professional Engineers in 1971
The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors in 1977
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1981
The Solid Waste Association of North America in 1988, and
Air and Waste Management Association in 2008 [rejoined]

The Board initially established the term Diplomate to designate those individuals board certified as Environmental Engineers; however, in 2005 the Academy established the designation Board Certified Environmental Engineer to replace the designation Diplomate.

Board Certification Environmental Engineering Specialties

Currently the Academy issues board certification in the following eight specialty areas of Environmental Engineering:

Air Pollution Control
Environmental Sustainability
General Environmental Engineering
Hazardous Waste Management
Industrial Hygiene
Radiation Protection
Solid Waste Management
Water Supply & Wastewater Engineering

Membership in the Academy

To better serve the Environmental Engineering community, the Academy in 2005 expanded the opportunities for Environmental Engineers and aspiring environmental engineers to become members of the Academy. Today, the Academy membership categories include:

Student Member:

Open to any full-time undergraduate or graduate student majoring in a program that will lead to an engineering degree in the following:

Environmental Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Environmental Engineering Science
Environmental Resources Engineering
Environmental Systems Engineering
Earth and Environmental Engineering

Other engineering programs are also eligible. Student memberships in the Academy are free.

Member:

Open to any individual holding an undergraduate or graduate degree in engineering and working or teaching in an environmental engineering function. Membership is free for the first year after graduation to all Student Members who complete their academic program and earn a degree in any of the eligible engineering disciplines.

Board Certified Environmental Engineering Member (BCEEM):

Open to any individual who holds an engineering degree, works in an environmental engineering function, has completed the required time in responsible roles and has taken and passed a written examination and peer review in one of the specialties that the Academy issues certificates of engineering excellence.

Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE):

Open to any individual who holds an engineering degree, works in an environmental engineering function, has completed the required time in responsible roles, holds a valid license or a valid certificate of registration to practice engineering, and has taken and passed a written examination and peer review in one of the specialties that the Academy issues certificates of engineering excellence.

Benefits and Services

The following benefits and services are presently provided to all Members (except as noted):

Member Membership Pin
Member Membership Certificate
The Environmental Engineer Magazine
The Environmental Engineering Selection Guide
Listing in the Environmental Engineering Selection Guide*
Who's Who in Environmental Engineering*
Electronic Newsletter
Networking Services
The Academy Website and Career Center
Assistance and Peer Matching
Free One-year Member membership category (upon earning an engineering degree)

*Not available to Student Members

Application Procedures

Applications for membership may be submitted at any time on the prescribed Member membership category application form (downloadable from the Academy's web site, www.aaee.net)
The Academy
1. establishes an official file for each candidate,
2. ensures the completeness of the application,
3. confirms the qualifications of the candidate,
4. schedules written examination and peer review, and
5. issues a Letter of Membership signed by the Executive Director.
Documentation of receipt of an engineering degree shall be provided by a certified copy of a diploma or transcript.
In addition to a degree in Environmental Engineering, other related fields that are normally acceptable to the Academy include Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Bio-Medical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Other engineering and related fields might include environmental sciences, forestry, geology, math, meteorology and physics. For these related fields, candidates must demonstrate that their basic course work is in engineering.

For further information and details, please refer to the Mid-Atlantic Chapter's web site www.swana-midatl.org; AAEE's web site www.aaee.net; contact AAEE at (410) 266-3311 or info@aaee.net; or contact SWANA's representative on AAEE's Board of Trustees, Steve Lippy (slippy@baltimorecountymd.gov, (410) 887-2009).

Copyright © , American Academy of Environmental Engineers - All Rights Reserved. American Academy of Environmental Engineers, Excellence in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Selection & Career Guide, Environmental Engineer, and Who's Who in Environmental Engineering are all trademarks or registered trademarks of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, Inc.