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 Information
The MN Wetland Professional Certification Program is pleased to announce that April-July 2024 in-person courses will open for registration on Monday, March 11, 2024!
This registration link will go live at 9 am on Monday, March 11:
MWPCP Training and Exam Registration Form 2024
Many of these courses fill quickly. We will maintain a waitlist for all courses as needed.
Registration for all August-October classes will open the week of June 24th. Email reminders will go out to the MWPCP and BWSR Wetland Conservation Act email contact lists for both of those registration dates.
2024 MWPCP Training Courses:
The MWPCP courses listed below are categorized as technical training (focused on wetland delineation), regulatory training (focused on implementing the MN Wetland Conservation Act), regional training (covering both technical and regulatory topics relevant to that part of the State), and the Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulation Class which covers the fundamentals of both wetland delineation and regulation. All classes are eligible for MWPCP continuing education credit hours.
Course descriptions for each class can be found on the Wetland Training Opportunities page.
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations: Arden Hills- June 10-14
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations: Brainerd - September 9-13
Introduction to Wetland Delineation and Regulations: Arden Hills- September 30-October 4
Technical Training
Hydric Soils- Albany City Hall and Two Rivers County Park, Stearns County- April 30 & May 1
Wetland Restoration-McLeod County Fairgrounds- May 15-16
Wetland Delineation Methods- Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center- Spicer- May 29-31
Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) Method- MNDOT Shoreview Training Center – June 17 or 18
Wetland Plant ID- Lino Lakes (July 16) or Cloquet Forestry Center (July 18)
Antecedent Precipitation Tool- St Cloud MNDOT Training Center- October 22 (2 sessions)
Regulatory Training
Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) 101 Virtual Training- February 5-6
TEP Academy- St Cloud MNDOT Training Facility- April 9
Regional Training
Redwood Falls Community Center – August 27-28 (6 CEC per day)
Professional Certification Exams
The 2024 exam dates are June 14 in Arden Hills, September 13 in Brainerd, October 4 in Arden Hills.
Reminder: The end of the renewal period for all certified individuals who transferred their certification period from the University of Minnesota Wetland Delineator Certification Program ended on 12/31/2023.
Thanks to all who submitted credit hour reporting forms. New certificates will be going out in early 2024 to those who renewed.
This does not apply to anyone who has obtained certification under the MWPCP since 2021. Refer to your certificate for your current end of renewal date.
Current Renewal Period and COVID-related Policies
The COVID-related temporary continuing education policies lapsed at the end of 2023.
Professional Exams
Both the MWPCP Professional and Professional In-Training Exams will be offered on the Friday of the 2024 Introduction Classes. 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 Introduction Class participants who intend to take the Professional In-Training exam at the end of the Introduction 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.
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 January 2024)
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
Program questions, comments, and submittals should be sent to bwsr.mwpcp@state.mn.us