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What Is an Environmental Compliance Specialist and How to Become One


What Does an Environmental Compliance Specialist Do?

As an environmental compliance specialist, your responsibilities are to ensure that a company or organization complies with all federal and state regulations and laws pertaining to environmental issues, such as air pollution, water quality, and waste reclamation. Part of your job is to investigate potential violations through audits and on-site inspections. You gather data and analyze them, writing reports about your findings. Another of your job duties is to develop compliance programs and projects for a company to implement.

How to Become an Environmental Compliance Specialist

To become an environmental compliance specialist, you need to have educational qualifications, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in occupational health, compliance, or environmental science, as well as experience with compliance issues in a specific industry or region. Some environmental compliance specialists work as consultants, while others may work in an internal capacity as part of a company’s compliance or environmental departments. Important skills for the job include the ability to conduct research, good analytical thinking skills, and strong written and verbal communication.