National Registry of Environmental Professionals

What National Registry of Environmental Professionals does

The National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREPSM) is a not-for-profit credentialing organization established in 1987, headquartered at P.O. Box 2099, Glenview, Illinois. It operates as the foremost certifying body in the U.S. environmental and safety industries, offering roughly 19 specialized professional certifications including the flagship Registered Environmental Manager (REM), plus REP, CESCO, CEA, REPA, CES, CESM, CESCP, CESFO, CESLO, CIAQM, CNRP, CRCM, CPWM, RELT, MAS, EPP, and RIHP. Certifications are formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, EPA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Postal Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Amtrak, and the Rhode Island Department of Health. The organization maintains a registry of more than 15,000 certified professionals.

The underlying platform is a web-based certification management system supporting online applications, remote-proctored examinations delivered via Schroeder Measurement Technologies infrastructure, an online certificate holder search directory, a Job Bank listing over 5,000 environmental and safety positions, and webinar/workshop delivery (e.g., a five-week REM workshop and a two-day CRCM workshop). Complementary offerings include E-Book study guides ($125-$350), practice exam questions ($40-$60), an educational blog, and a merchandise store. Annual recertification requires 15 CEU hours plus renewal fees, creating the recurring revenue layer.

NREP monetizes through one-time certification application fees ($150-$300) and exam fees ($200-$250, with retakes at $100-$150), recertification renewal fees, paid workshops, study materials, and employer-side Job Bank postings. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the website, with an emerging enterprise channel through a May 2024 strategic partnership with Locus Technologies for the CRCM certification targeting EPA AIM Act-driven refrigerant compliance demand. Customer segments are primarily individual EHS professionals pursuing self-serve career credentials, with indirect institutional demand from federal/state agencies that recognize NREP credentials for hiring and compliance validation.

Name

National Registry of Environmental Professionals

Legal name

National Registry of Environmental Professionals

Website

https://nrep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREPSM) is a not-for-profit credentialing body established in 1987 that issues roughly 19 specialized certifications to environmental and safety professionals, recognized by U.S. DOE, EPA, and federal agencies. It monetizes via application fees, exams, study materials, workshops, and recurring recertification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Professional Certification

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Compliance & Regulatory (OSHA/HSE/GxP) Certifications (EDAAANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO), Safety, Security & Emergency Services (OSHA, Fire, EMS, Security CE) (EDAAALAK), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

Keywords

• Environmental certification programs
• Professional safety credentials
• Regulatory compliance certification
• EHS workforce certification
• Environmental management training

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Application Fees: Fees charged for processing certification applications, ranging from $150-$300 depending on certification type
2. Certification Exam Fees: Fees for taking certification examinations, typically $200-$250 per exam attempt
3. Study Guides and E-Books: Sale of digital study guides for exam preparation, ranging from $125-$350 depending on certification
4. Sample Exam Questions: Sale of practice/sample exam questions for $40-$60
5. Online Workshops: Five-week online preparation workshops for certifications like REM, with pre-recorded video modules and instructor support
6. Recertification Fees: Annual or periodic recertification requiring Continuing Education Units (CEU) and renewal fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) administers and issues nearly 20 specialized professional certifications across the environmental, health, safety, and compliance fields—covering roles such as environmental manager, environmental auditor, refrigerant compliance manager, indoor air quality manager, professional waste manager, and environmental safety specialists. Certifications are delivered through a web-based platform that supports online application, exam scheduling, and remote proctored testing, supplemented by instructor-led online workshops and downloadable study guides, plus recurring recertification services and a Job Bank.

Product overview

National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREPSM) is a not-for-profit certification organization established in 1987, offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional certifications for the environmental and safety industries. The portfolio centers on flagship certifications like the REM® (Registered Environmental Manager) as the highest professional/managerial distinction, complemented by specialized certifications including CESCO®, CEA℠, CES, CESM, CESCP, CESFO, CESLO, CIAQM, CNRP, CRCM, CPWM, REPA℠, AEP, RELT, MAS, EPP, and RIHP. The organization provides associated training workshops (REM® 5-week online workshop, CRCM 2-day workshop), study guides (E-Books for REM®, AEP, CESM, CEA, CES, CESCP, RELT), career services including a Job Bank with 5,000+ positions, and an online certificate holder directory. Recognition by DOE, EPA, U.S. military, and various state agencies underscores the certifications' authority in the environmental profession.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Registered Environmental Manager (REM) A flagship professional certification for environmental managers responsible for environmental compliance and program oversight, administered through the NREP online exam platform with remote proctoring.
• Registered Environmental Professional (REP) Professional certification recognizing broad environmental professional competence, delivered via NREP's web-based certification platform.
• Certified Environmental and Safety Compliance Officer (CESCO)

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% REM exam pass rate for those completing five-week workshop
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Locus TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2024Strategic partnership between NREPSM and Locus Technologies to promote complementary offerings. Locus is a pioneer in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) compliance and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) software solutions. Together they offer Certified Refrigerant Compliance Manager (CRCM) certification designed to recognize professional competence for managing refrigerant compliance within organizations. The partnership addresses EPA required record keeping, refrigerant purchasing, handling, use, storage, and disposal.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Underwriters Laboratories: UL operates testing, inspection, and certification programs across safety and sustainability categories. While not a direct competitor in environmental professional certification, it is a comparable credentialing and standards body whose recognition of professionals overlaps with NREP's positioning.
• Locus Technologies: Locus Technologies is NREP's strategic partner for the CRCM certification and sells EHS/ESG compliance software. It is adjacent infrastructure rather than a competitor, but it influences how refrigerant compliance professionals are trained and managed.
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying: NCEES administers professional engineering licensure exams and uses computer-based testing at Pearson VUE centers. It is comparable as a credentialing organization but operates in engineering rather than environmental specialties, so it is an adjacent rather than directly competing peer.
• Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards: CESB is an accreditation body that evaluates certification programs for engineering and scientific disciplines. It is comparable to NREP as a parallel credentialing infrastructure player rather than a direct competitor.
• Sphera Solutions: Sphera is an EHS software and data vendor listed as an NREP affiliate. It is adjacent infrastructure — not a direct competitor — but its software is consumed by the same EHS professionals that NREP certifies, making it a meaningful ecosystem partner.

Direct peers

• American Board of Industrial Hygiene: ABIH certifies industrial hygiene professionals (CIH, IHIT) and is recognized by federal agencies. It overlaps with NREP's RIHP certification and serves the same EHS professional buyer in industrial and government settings.
• Board of Certified Safety Professionals: BCSP is a leading peer credentialing body for safety professionals, offering certifications like CSP, OHST, and CHST. It competes directly with NREP's safety-adjacent certifications (CESCO, RIHP) for the same EHS professional audience and employer recognition.
• American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists: AAEES credentials environmental engineers and scientists (e.g., BCEE, REA) and is recognized across federal agencies. It is a direct peer to NREP's REP, CES, and CEA certifications, addressing a similar engineering-focused slice of the EHS professional market.
• Institute of Hazardous Materials Management: IHMM credentials hazardous materials, environmental, and sustainability professionals (e.g., CHMM, CHMP). It is a direct competitor to NREP's CPWM, CRCM, and CESFO certifications, targeting the same compliance and waste management audience.

Emerging players

• Green Building Certification Institute: GBCI administers LEED credentials for green building professionals. While focused on building sustainability rather than broad EHS, it competes for the same professional development wallet among sustainability-oriented practitioners and shares a similar certification-based business model.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/the_nrep
• Facebookfacebook.com/National-Registry-of-Environmental-Professionals-NREP-107313008340140
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-registry-of-environmental-professionals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Registry of Environmental Professionals