Modification History
Not applicable.
Description
This qualification covers the skills and knowledge required to conduct environmental sampling, testing and monitoring in a variety of industry sectors.
Job roles/employment outcomes
The MSS40211 Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology provides technical training across a range of industry sectors, such as:
- environmental monitoring, sampling and field testing (e.g. air, water, soil and rocks)
- geotechnical services
- natural resource management
- water supply and treatment, storm and wastewater management
- solid and hazardous waste management.
Job roles targeted by this qualification include environmental assistants, environmental technicians and similar personnel employed by enterprises and Commonwealth, state/territory/local governments in the sectors listed above. Many of these employees are engaged in the monitoring of environmental impacts at industrial sites. They operate monitoring equipment, collect samples and conduct tests both in the field and at site laboratories. Other employees may collect a range of field data relating to the suitability of land and water use and process and present this data using geographical information systems (GIS) software.
In broad terms, they may:
- plan and conduct site sampling, field testing and measurements (e.g. meteorological)
- plan field work, arrange access to sites, logistics, equipment and supplies
- assemble, test, pack and transport equipment and supplies
- navigate using maps and global positioning systems (GPS)
- collect, process and present spatial/attribute data using GPS and GIS
- conduct field surveys of flora, fauna, water and soils
- calibrate and operate a wide variety of field-based instrumentation
- troubleshoot, repair, maintain and adapt instrumentation
- log and process data using a variety of computer hardware and software
- interpret data to identify significant anomalies and trends
- report results and make logical conclusions
- define and solve problems of limited complexity where the information available is less obvious, but not contradictory, and can be determined by direct reasoning
- work under the direction and regular supervision of environmental officers, environmental site coordinators, site managers, or environmental scientists, engineers and planners
- work in a team and may have responsibility for their own work outputs.
Application
This qualification is typically used to prepare new employees or develop the skills of existing workers performing an environmental assistant role in a variety of industry sectors.
This qualification recognises that the industry sectors listed above employ environmental assistants and technicians who have broad technical knowledge and skills in the area of environmental sampling and testing and some understanding of the industry processes and/or ecosystems that they are working with. These personnel do not have the more substantial knowledge of environmental monitoring; complex instrumentation; data analysis; environmental impacts and the strategies for minimising these impacts; and remediation/rehabilitation of sites, that is provided by the MSS50211 Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology for environmental officers.
Training programs for this qualification are suitable to be undertaken as part of a formal training contract with an employer under an Australian Traineeship or Apprenticeship arrangement.
Pathways Information
Pathways into the qualification
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry. Credit may be granted towards this qualification by those who have completed the MSL20109 Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement. Credit for this qualification may include units contained within relevant Skill Sets.
Pathways from the qualification
Further training pathways from this qualification include MSS50211 Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology.
Additional qualification advice
Because specialisation is a requirement in some industry sectors for the MSS40211 Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) may choose to issue a generic:
- Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology
or, where elective units of competency are packaged to suit a particular industry sector or specialisation, RTOs may choose to issue a:
- Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology (specialising in xxxxxxx)
Industry sector/specialisations could include, but are not limited to:
- water
- air
- odour
- soil
- noise.
Licensing/Regulatory Information
There are no specific licences that relate to this qualification.
Entry Requirements
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry.
Employability Skills Summary
The following table contains a summary of the employability skills as identified by industry for this qualification. This table should be interpreted in conjunction with the detailed requirements of each unit of competency packaged in this qualification. The outcomes described here are broad industry requirements that reflect skill requirements for this level. |
|
Employability Skill |
Industry/enterprise requirements for this qualification include: |
Communication |
|
Teamwork |
|
Problem solving |
|
Initiative and enterprise |
|
Planning and organising |
|
Self-management |
|
Learning |
|
Technology |
|
Packaging Rules
To be awarded the MSS40211 Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology, competency must be achieved in a total of sixteen (16) units of competency.
- eight (8) core units of competency
- eight (8) elective units of competency, as specified below.
Units listed under core are considered essential for all environmental assistants. The units listed as electives may only apply to some personnel according to the size and scope of the particular enterprise and industry sector.
Note: Units with prerequisites are marked with an asterisk. Refer to the unit for details.
Core units of competency
- Complete the following eight (8) units of competency.
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
MSS024001A |
Work and communicate effectively as an environmental technician |
|
MSS024002A |
Implement environmental management plans and procedures |
|
MSS024003A |
Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site |
|
MSS024004A |
Process and present environmental data |
|
MSAENV272B |
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices |
|
MSL943002A |
Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety |
|
MSL952001A |
Collect routine site samples |
|
MSL974007A |
Undertake environmental field-based monitoring |
Elective units of competency
- Complete eight (8) elective units of competency, made up of:
- a minimum of five (5) units from Group A
- the balance of units, to a maximum of three (3) may be selected from:
- Group A units, not previously selected
- Group B and C units, listed below.
A maximum of three (3) Group B and C electives may be chosen from this Training Package, other endorsed Training Packages and accredited courses, where those units are relevant and available at Certificate IV. This could include relevant units available in AHC10 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.
Group A: Specialist elective units
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
MSS014006A |
Contribute to sustainability related audits |
|
MSS024005A |
Collect spatial and discrete environmental data |
|
MSS024006A |
Perform sampling and testing of water |
|
MSS024007A |
Collect and evaluate meteorological data |
|
MSS024008A |
Recognise common geological landforms and samples |
|
MSS024009A |
Assist with assessing and monitoring stormwater systems |
|
MSS024010A |
Perform environmental biological techniques |
|
MSS024011A |
Navigate in urban, regional and remote areas |
|
MSS024012A |
Undertake simple environmental project activities |
|
BSBOHS406C |
Use equipment to conduct workplace monitoring |
|
MSAENV472B |
Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices |
|
MSL904001A |
Perform standard calibrations |
|
MSL924002A |
Use laboratory application software |
|
MSL954001A |
Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan |
|
MSL974002A |
Conduct geotechnical site investigations |
* |
MSL974003A |
Perform chemical tests and procedures |
|
MSL974006A |
Perform biological procedures |
* |
MSL974009A |
Undertake field-based, remote sensing monitoring |
|
PSPRAD703A |
Perform basic radiation measurements |
Group B: Elective units
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
MSS015001A |
Measure and report carbon footprint |
|
MSS015010A |
Conduct a sustainability water use audit |
|
MSS015011A |
Conduct a sustainability energy audit |
|
MSS015012A |
Conduct an emissions audit |
|
MSS015018A |
Inform and advise organisation and community representatives on sustainability issues |
|
MSS025001A |
Assist with assessing site environmental indicators |
* |
MSS025002A |
Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process |
* |
MSS025003A |
Report environmental data |
* |
MSS025004A |
Provide environmental information to customers |
|
MSS025005A |
Produce site maps |
* |
MSS025006A |
Collect and evaluate groundwater data |
|
MSS025007A |
Perform sampling and testing of soils |
* |
MSS025008A |
Monitor and evaluate noise |
|
MSS025009A |
Perform sampling and testing of air |
|
MSS025010A |
Assist with odour source assessment |
|
MSS025011A |
Assist with odour field assessment |
|
MSS025012A |
Perform environmental microbiological tests |
* |
MSS025013A |
Assist with assessing and monitoring wetlands |
|
MSS025014A |
Perform sampling and testing of contaminated sites |
* |
MSS025015A |
Plan and conduct environmental project work |
|
MSS025016A |
Perform sampling and testing of stationary emissions |
|
MSL975011A |
Design and supervise complex environmental field surveys |
* |
MSL975017A |
Perform laboratory-based ecological techniques |
* |
MSL975023A |
Supervise geotechnical site investigations |
* |
PRMWM01B |
Plan waste audit |
|
PRMWM02B |
Carry out waste audit |
|
PSPRAD707A |
Monitor radiation |
Group C: Elective units
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
CUVPHI05B |
Use a 35mm SLR camera or digital equivalent |
|
HLTFA301B |
Apply first aid |
|
MSL935004A |
Maintain instruments and equipment |
|
MSL973001A |
Perform basic tests |
|
MSL973002A |
Prepare working solutions |
|
MSL973004A |
Perform asceptic techniques |
|
MSL973007A |
Perform microscopic examination |
|
MSL973012A |
Assist with geotechnical site investigations |
|
PRMWM01B |
Plan waste audit |
|
PRMWM02B |
Carry out waste audit |
|
PSPRAD707A |
Monitor radiation |
|
PUAWER009B |
Participate as a member of a workplace emergency initial response team |
|
TAEDEL301A |
Provide work skill instruction |
Custom Content Section
Not applicable.