Much debate has arisen over the recent bylaws change requiring TWS membership to keep certifications valid. The following questions and answers were developed to address some of the concerns being expressed and to keep membership informed about the current status of TWS’ Certification Program. - How much do I pay to apply for the CWB application if I’m already certified as an AWB?
- Do I need to include my transcripts and fill out the educational requirements if I already submitted this information while applying for the AWB certificate?
- Can I still apply for AWB or CWB if I’m missing a class in one category?
- Can I count wildlife technician work as professional work experience?
- Can I count work I did while in school as an undergraduate towards the five years required professional work experience?
- Can I count my graduate research project as professional work experience?
- How do I calculate semester hours if my school used quarter hours?
- If I transferred schools, do I need to submit a transcript from both schools or will one transcript suffice?
- If my address, phone number, or e-mail changed since I applied, how do I change this information on my certification application?
- Do all three professional references have to be Certified Wildlife Biologists?
- How do I get listed on the Certification Directory once I’m approved?
- How do I change my information listed on the Certification?
- Do I have to use the school’s course catalogue description when describing all the classes I took?
- If my AWB expired already, and I did not receive the required five years of professional work experience within the ten year AWB expiration date, can I still apply for the CWB certificate?
- When I renew my CWB certificate, can I also apply for a Professional Development Certificate?
- Can I apply for a Professional Development Certificate without applying for an AWB or CWB certificate?
- What does certification trademark mean?
- Did my certification get revoked this year since I am not a member of TWS?
- When was the TWS certification program established?
- What was the function of the TWS certification program as originally conceived?
- How many TWS members hold valid certifications? How many non-members?
- Has membership in TWS always been required in order to retain a valid certification?
- What were the reasons behind the current bylaws change requiring TWS membership for certification?
- What benefits will current non-member AWBs and CWBs derive from membership in TWS?
- Was the bylaws vote decisive?
- Does TWS make a lot of money on certification?
- Is TWS changing the originally agreed upon rules to require membership as a condition for certification?
- Why weren’t CWBs and AWBs certified before 2009 “grandfathered” into the program rather than being required to become members to maintain their certification?
- What if I’ve lost my job and cannot afford to pay membership fees? Will TWS still revoke my certification?
- How do I revalidate my certificate if it was revoked by Council for nonmembership in the Society?
- Is TWS certification an important advantage in hiring and promotion? Is it beneficial to be TWS certified?
- Can all wildlife professionals be TWS certified?
- What is TWS doing to improve and update the certification program to make it more beneficial for those who become certified?
How much do I pay to apply for the CWB application if I’m already certified as an AWB?
Applicants upgrading from AWB to CWB pay the difference in price between the current cost for the CWB application and the price they paid for the AWB application.If you are unsure of how much you paid for your AWB application, please contact TWS’ Certification Coordinator, Shannon Pederson, at 301-897-9770 X 303 or email
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. top Do I need to include my transcripts and fill out the educational requirements if I already submitted this information while applying for the AWB certificate?
You only need to include transcripts if you desire credit for classes taken after you submitted your AWB application.For example, if you want to count a master’s or Ph.D. study as professional experience, then include your graduate school transcript, provide an explanation of what was involved in your study, and why you feel your study should count as a substitution for professional experience. top Can I still apply for AWB or CWB if I’m missing a class in one category?
Yes, you may apply for AWB or CWB if you are missing one class, provided you gained similar experience through other means (workshop, continuing education, work, etc).Please note that at least one course MUST be taken in each category (Section III,A of the Program for Certification of Professional Wildlife Biologists states “For continuing education or professional experience to substitute for educational requirements, the applicant must have at least one college or university course (at least 3 semester hours documented on a college transcript) in that educational category”).Please provide sufficient detail of why this alternative experience should be accepted as a substitute for taking a class. If you are unsure if your experience qualifies as a substitution, please contact TWS Certification Coordinator, Shannon Pederson, at 301-897-9770 X 303 or email
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. top Can I count wildlife technician work as professional work experience?
If your working title states “wildlife technician”, you may apply this work experience provided you explain how your role provided you with management experience and independent decision making directly related to wildlife.Traditional wildlife technician roles do not count (see Section III.B of the Program for Certification of Professional Wildlife Biologists).TWS is considering creating a certification program specifically for wildlife technicians in the future. top Can I count work I did while in school as an undergraduate towards the five years required professional work experience?
No.Professional work experience is counted after you graduate (see Section III.B of the Program for Certification of Professional Wildlife Biologists).
top Can I count my graduate research project as professional work experience?
Yes, you may substitute your graduate thesis/dissertation for up to 3 years of professional work experience (up to 1 year for a Master’s degree and up to 2 years for a Ph.D. (see section III.B.2 of the Program for Certification of Professional Wildlife Biologists). The applicant should specifically request that graduate work be counted as professional experience and include job descriptions just as for any other professional position(s) for which they are requesting consideration. Please include your graduate school transcript, provide an explanation of what was involved in your study, and why you feel your study should count as a substitution for one year of professional experience. top How do I calculate semester hours if my school used quarter hours?
If your school awards class credit in quarter hours, please convert them to semester hours using the following formula: 1.5 quarter hours = 1 semester hour. For example, a 5 quarter hour course would be comparable to a 3.33 semester hour course (see Section III.A, Credit Hours of the Program for Certification of Professional Wildlife Biologists). top If I transferred schools, do I need to submit a transcript from both schools or will one transcript suffice?
You may use one transcript as long as it shows the courses transferred, grades received, and semester/quarter hours awarded. Be sure to include course descriptions where required regardless of whether a transcript is submitted. top If my address, phone number, or e-mail changed since I applied, how do I change this information on my certification application?;
Please submit any changes in your contact information to TWS Certification Coordinator, Shannon Pederson, by calling 301-897-9770 X 303 or emailing
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. top Do all three professional references have to be Certified Wildlife Biologists?
While it is strongly recommended that all three professional references be CWBs, it is not a current requirement. A minimum of one professional reference should be a CWB. top How do I get listed on the Certification Directory once I’m approved?
You will be automatically added to the Certification Directory after you are approved for AWB or CWB. top How do I change my information listed on the Certification?
Please submit your requested change in contact information to TWS Certification Coordinator, Shannon Pederson, by calling 301-897-9770 X 303 or via email
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top Do I have to use the school’s course catalogue description when describing all the classes I took?
No, you may provide your own descriptions. top If my AWB expired already, and I did not receive the required five years of professional work experience within the ten year AWB expiration date, can I still apply for the CWB certificate?
Yes you may, as long as you have received five years of professional work experience within a ten year timeframe. However, TWS does not keep expired AWB applications on file, so the CWB applicant would want to submit an entirely new application completing the application in full. top When I renew my CWB certificate, can I also apply for a Professional Development Certificate?
Yes. However, there are more requirements for the Professional Development Certificate than the CWB renewal certificate. Please be sure that you satisfy both sets of criteria before applying for both certificates. Can I apply for a Professional Development Certificate without applying for an AWB or CWB certificate?
Yes. top What does certification trademark mean?
After you are approved as an AWB or CWB, you may put the AWB or CWB title after your name followed by the ® trademark symbol. For Example: John Smith, Certified Wildlife Biologist ® top Did my certification get revoked this year since I am not a member of TWS?
No. The Wildlife Society Council met during its annual spring meeting at the 2010 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and addressed the topic about membership now being required for AWB and CWB certificates to be valid. Council discussed, in detail, many viewpoints that have been expressed since the Bylaws were changed. Council voted on two issues that pertain to CWBs and membership: - It granted a one-year extension (until December, 2010) to all CWBs and AWBs regarding their requirement to become members to retain their Certification, and
- It approved a policy that allows certificate holders to apply for an exemption to the membership requirement if their job requires certification. The exact wording of this policy and the specific conditions that will warrant an exemption will be developed and sent to all AWBs and CWBs very soon.
top When was the TWS certification program established?
TWS established its formal certification program in 1977. top What was the function of the TWS certification program as originally conceived?
An excellent summary of the history of TWS’ certification program and the original reasons for its formation can be found in “Directions in Professionalism and Certification ” (Maehr et al. 2002 Wildlife Society Bulletin 30(4): 1245-1252). The program was created to maintain high standards of professionalism for those who work in the wildlife field. As stated in TWS’ certification program booklet, certification “constitutes recognition by TWS that, to its best knowledge, an applicant meets the minimum educational, experience, and ethical standards adopted by TWS for professional wildlife biologists.” As the booklet also notes, “The primary objective of The Wildlife Society certification program is to provide public and private clients and employers more positive access to professional advice in matters concerning wildlife resources.” The specific goals of the program are: - To guide biologists, governmental agencies, courts, and the public in defining minimum standards of education and experience for professional wildlife biologists, and to encourage all practicing wildlife biologists to meet such standards.
- To create and maintain public confidence in the advice and opinions of Certified Wildlife Biologists as educated and experienced professionals who have pledged to uphold the Code of Ethics and the Standards for Professional Conduct of TWS and to act in the best interest of wildlife resources and the public.
- To assist the public in evaluating wildlife biologists by establishing a procedure for critical peer evaluation based upon defined minimum educational, experience, and ethical requirements.
top How many TWS members hold valid certifications? How many non-members?
Twenty-three percent of all TWS members (N = 8,800) are currently certified as Associate or Certified Wildlife Biologists. An additional 2,050 non-members are certified, representing around 50% of all current certificate holders. top Has membership in TWS always been required in order to retain a valid certification?
No. TWS certification has been available to anyone who meets the educational and experience qualifications as defined by TWS. Both members and non-members can still apply for certification if they wish but non-members pay a higher application fee. What has changed, however, is that anyone who is certified must be a TWS member in order for that certification to remain valid. top What were the reasons behind the current bylaws change requiring TWS membership for certification?
The proposal to require TWS membership for Associate Wildlife Biologists (AWBs) and Certified Wildlife Biologists (CWBs) came about after Council learned that TWS staff was unable to contact a majority of those certified because they were not TWS members and/or had not routinely updated their contact information. Council felt that is was important to be able to communicate with those who are certified by the Society to inform them about updates to the certification program, continuing education opportunities, and developments in the wildlife profession. It also is important for TWS Council and staff to contact these individuals so that they may serve on important committees (e.g., the Certification Review Board), lend their expertise to develop Technical Reviews, review and revise TWS position statements, and comment on any future changes to the TWS Certification Program. This proposal, however, has been controversial even among members of Council. Some of those in favor of the change argued that professionals should be members and actively participate in their professional society, especially given that certification is a TWS program intended to recognize minimum education and experience in the field of wildlife biology. Some of those opposed to the change argued that membership for certification should not be required because a person’s education and professional experience are not necessarily related to their membership in TWS. Some also felt that because non-members paid a higher fee for certification, they should not be required to become members, which requires paying an annual membership fee. Opponents further noted that current AWBs and CWBs became certified with the understanding that TWS membership would not be a requirement of certification. This difference of opinion over the proposal to require membership for certification is why Council decided to put the question to TWS members for a vote. top What benefits will current non-member AWBs and CWBs derive from membership in TWS?
Those who are AWBs or CWBs, but currently non-members, will derive many benefits by becoming members of the Society. These benefits include discounts on The Journal of Wildlife Management and annual conference registration, access to training and networking opportunities, and opportunities to serve on working groups and committees. Members also receive TWS’s monthly electronic member newsletter, The Wildlifer, our quarterly member magazine, The Wildlife Professional, the Wildlife Policy News, and access to the TWS blog, email blasts, listserv, and website, all of which help keep members informed about important developments in the Society and the wildlife profession. In addition, members help support TWS’ policy program, which works on behalf of wildlife and all wildlife professionals by influencing wildlife policy and legislation. This includes working to help improve state and federal government funding of wildlife agencies so wildlife professionals can more effectively do their jobs. top Was the bylaws vote decisive?
Yes. For a number of historical reasons, including its wish not to embarrass volunteer candidates for Council in “landslide” elections, TWS has not announced the exact numbers of votes when presenting election results. It should be noted, however, that a volunteer committee of TWS members verifies the voting results each year. It should also be noted that decisions are made by simple majority vote, so it really doesn’t matter if an amendment passes by one or 1,000 votes, it still passes. However, in this particular case, the bylaws change vote to require TWS membership for CWBs and AWBs was not close. The margin of passage equaled nearly 12 percent of the total ballots cast. top Does TWS make a lot of money on certification?
No. TWS does not obtain a lot of revenue from its certification program; in fact, it barely breaks even. Over 32 years, TWS has netted a total of $51,132 from its certification program, for an average income of around $1,600 per year or $133 per month. In some years costs have exceeded revenues. Major programmatic costs include insurance, phone charges, IT services, postage, printing, document copying, salary for a staff Certification Program Manager, and travel expenses for Certification Review Board members to attend annual and mid-year meetings. From a purely business perspective, the certification program is not designed to be a big money maker. It’s a service to our members and the public. TWS will derive some additional revenue from certificate holders that are currently non-members. However, the Society will also incur substantial costs in providing the member benefits listed above. Most non-profit scientific and professional organizations have only three reliable revenue sources with which to support their mission-focused work: (1) publication sales and subscriptions, (2) member fees, and (3) conference/meeting registration fees. In the absence of such support, organizations like TWS cannot fulfill their important core mission and goals. They cannot improve their services to wildlife professionals, or adequately affect wildlife management and conservation. top Is TWS changing the originally agreed upon rules to require membership as a condition for certification?
Yes. Non-members paid a slightly higher fee to become TWS-certified and, furthermore, CWBs and AWBs were told that membership in TWS would not be required to maintain certification. TWS Council therefore understands why some individuals are disappointed with the recent bylaws modification. However, in the 32 years since the program began, times and circumstances have changed. It is clear now that the TWS certification program needs to be updated, and this change is believed to be a necessary step to improve communication with all AWBs and CWBs. top Why weren’t CWBs and AWBs certified before 2009 “grandfathered” into the program rather than being required to become members to maintain their certification?
TWS Council carefully considered proposing a grandfather clause, but in the end rejected the idea in favor of recommending a membership requirement for all. This was considered the fairest option, since it treated all certified wildlife biologists equally, regardless of the timing of their certification. But, as noted above, Council also decided to put the issue to a vote, which the membership passed by a significant margin. top What if I’ve lost my job and cannot afford to pay membership fees? Will TWS still revoke my certification?
Decisions to remove certification can only be made by TWS Council. Council can therefore consider economic hardship in its deliberations. It should be noted that TWS has a small fund, which can be used to pay the membership fees of TWS members who are experiencing extreme economic hardship. To inquire about this fund, please contact
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top How do I revalidate my certificate if it was revoked by Council for nonmembership in the Society?
Payment of your TWS membership will revalidate your certificate. top Is TWS certification an important advantage in hiring and promotion? Is it beneficial to be TWS certified?
It depends. A few state and federal agencies (the state of Alabama, Kentucky, and USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, for example) either require or strongly advise employees to become TWS certified, but this is unusual. Indeed, at least two recent surveys of TWS members indicated that a majority of respondents felt that TWS certification provided them with little or no added benefit when it came to hiring or promotion. This was especially true of university professors or individuals working for non-governmental organizations or for U.S. Interior Department agencies such as USFWS and USGS (see “Values and Functions of Scientific Societies” by Eric Taylor and Bruce Lauber in the Summer 2007 issue of The Wildlife Professional, pp. 30-31). Certification can prove useful in specific situations, however. Some individuals who work for state agencies, for example, have reported that TWS certification is a useful credential when testifying in legal cases. In addition, wildlife consultants have reported that TWS certification makes them more competitive during the bidding process. Still others endorse certification as a matter of personal pride or as a way to support their profession or professional society. (For more details about the pros and cons of certification, see ”The Value of TWS Certification ” in the Winter 2008 issue of The Wildlife Professional, pp. 42-43). The fact that few agencies or organizations actually use TWS certification to hire or promote employees is a matter of great concern to TWS Council and members. It is one of the primary reasons that TWS Immediate Past President, Tom Franklin, recently appointed an ad hoc committee to study and report on the future of the certification program (see below). top Can all wildlife professionals be TWS certified?
No. TWS’ current certification program is aimed primarily at what could be termed generalist wildlife biologists—those who have taken a full breadth of general courses on wildlife-related topics. However, TWS’ mission was recently changed to “represent and serve the professional community of scientists, managers, educators, technicians, planners, and others who work actively to study, manage, and conserve wildlife and its habitats worldwide.” Extreme specialists who have followed a more-focused course of study, such as wildlife nutritionists, geneticists, ecologists, behaviorists, or policy specialists, would not necessarily be eligible for certification under the current system without taking numerous additional courses. The fact that the wildlife profession has become more specialized and that today’s active wildlife professionals now come from a wide variety of different disciplines and backgrounds is a significant challenge for the certification program. If we have no place for specialists in TWS’ certification program, even if they have relevant master’s or doctoral-level training, then how can TWS fulfill its mission of serving and representing all wildlife professionals? Indeed, the American Fisheries Society has addressed this issue by certifying Fisheries Professionals, who are then listed as having an expertise in a particular specialized area of the field. This has gotten them away from “one size fits all” thinking. TWS may consider a similar approach. top What is TWS doing to improve and update the certification program to make it more beneficial for those who become certified?
In 2009 the President of TWS Council, Tom Franklin, established an ad hoc committee to examine the TWS certification program in detail and make recommendations for the future. The committee, chaired by long-time TWS member and Certification Review Board member Gordon Batchelor, was directed to:
- Assess perceptions of the program by polling TWS members and wildlife professionals who are non-members (both certified and uncertified), as well as agencies and organizations that hire wildlife professionals (such as state and federal agencies, universities, NGOs, and consulting companies);
- Assess the status of certification programs in other scientific and professional societies, such as the American Forestry Society, Society of Range Management, and Ecological Society of America;
- Consider whether different categories of certification are needed and how the program might be better marketed to agencies and organizations that hire wildlife professionals;
- Consider the possibility of licensing wildlife biologists and/or accrediting university programs as they relate to certification;
- Evaluate the application process and consider whether it is adequately transparent, too strict, or too lenient, and assess whether processing and notification are timely;
- Determine if the certification program is being accepted and used appropriately by members and other professionals; and
- Consider the appropriate role of certification in the future of the wildlife profession.
The committee is scheduled to provide a preliminary report to Council at its Midyear Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from March 26-27, 2010. Anyone with suggestions about how to improve the TWS Certification Program should submit their ideas to the chair of the ad hoc committee at
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