Environmental education officer : Training

Trainee posts with a set training programme are very rare in environmental education. Training usually takes place on the job and through internal and external courses. Larger employers often offer training on transferable skills, such as time management, presentation skills or IT training.

Organisations such as the Field Studies Council (FSC)  also offer practical environmental courses, for example on identification, surveying or conservation of species. Mentoring and coaching courses, which might be useful for working with volunteers, are available from a variety of course providers. Attending relevant conferences is also an effective way of keeping up to date with current issues and refreshing your knowledge, both for environmental and educational issues, developments and policies.

For most environmental education posts, continuous professional development (CPD) is seen as an essential part of the job. Training needs may be identified as part of an appraisal process but, particularly in smaller organisations, it is likely that you will be responsible for managing and arranging your own training.