Renewing accreditation

The Accreditation Order sets out the requirement for assessors to renew their accreditation.

When do I need to renew?

The Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM) accreditation term is generally 3 years.

Your accreditation expiry date is listed on your accreditation certificate, on the Public Register of Accredited Assessors and in your account in Biodiversity Offsets and Agreements Management System (BOAMS). Your name will not show on the public register if your accreditation expiry date has passed.

You can still apply to renew in the 3 months following your expiry date. This time period is called your grace period. Further information about the grace period can be found below.

How do I renew my accreditation?

You will need to submit the following documents to support your renewal application:

  1. a completed application form, including a signed Code of Conduct and Fit and Proper Declaration
  2. a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Log that meets the specified minimum requirement (further information on CPD requirements is provided below)
  3. once your application is approved, pay your accreditation term fee.

Renewal training

Accredited assessors need to complete renewal training before applying to renew their accreditation. They can register for training in the 3 months before their accreditation due date. 

Renewal has 2 parts:

  • Part 1 includes online eLearning modules hosted by our training partner, GreenCap.
  • Part 2 includes two 5-hour sessions of interactive online webinars. These are described as face-to-face content. 

Competency is demonstrated by successfully completing the assessment tasks. 

Cost 

  • Part 1: $550 (including GST) payable to our training partner, Greencap. 
  • Part 2: $500 payable to DPE. An invoice is issued when we receive your registration. An invoice will be issued when we receive your registration.

How to register

Choose which webinar you’d like to attend.

Complete the DPE online registration form for that course. DPE will prepare an invoice for payment. This will take one to 2 weeks to be emailed to you.

Complete the Greencap registration, pay their fee online and complete the modules before the stage 2 webinar.

Registrations are open for February and March. 

If you have questions about BAM assessor renewal training, please contact us at Bos.Training@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Date Training details
February 2023 Webinar 6 Feb – 7 Feb 
Assessment tasks due on 14 February.
Register and pay for Greencap Part 1 elearning here
Register for DPE Part 2 webinar day – Fully booked
March 2023 Webinar 8 March – 9 March
Assessment tasks due on 14 March 
Register and pay for Greencap Part 1 elearning here
Register for DPE Part 2 webinar day here
May 2023 Webinar 1 May – 2 May
Assessment tasks due on 5 May
Register and pay for Greencap Part 1 elearning here
Register for DPE Part 2 webinar day here
June 2023 Webinar 13 June – 14 June
Assessment tasks due on 16 June
Register and pay for Greencap Part 1 elearning here
Register for DPE Part 2 webinar day here

You must submit your renewal application and supporting documents using your Biodiversity Offsets and Agreements Management System account. In the 3-month period before your expiry date, the Biodiversity Offsets and Agreements Management System allows you to create a 'Renew Assessor Accreditation' application case where you can upload your documents and pay your accreditation term fee online.

Renewal application form (PDF 219KB)

You can submit your prepared application and supporting documents 3 months before the expiry date listed on your accreditation certificate.

Renewal application form (PDF 219KB)

You can also submit within your grace period described below.

The grace period is the 3 months after the expiry date listed on your accreditation certificate. You can submit your renewal application within the grace period.

It is important to note that, during the grace period, you will not be officially accredited and therefore you will not be able to formally certify any Biodiversity Assessment Report. You will still have access to Biodiversity Offsets and Agreements Management System and the BAM-C.

You will not be able to apply for renewal after the 3-month grace period has passed.

Please contact us if you have personal circumstances requiring consideration about your renewal's timing.

training and have met the minimum Continuing Professional Development requirements. You will be notified of the outcome of your renewal application by email.

If your application is successful, the accreditation term fee will require payment in Biodiversity Offsets and Agreements Management System. Once your fee is paid, you will receive a copy of your new accreditation certificate, and your details will be updated on the Public Register.

Please note: You will not appear on the Public Register without paying the accreditation term fee and are not able to formally certify any Biodiversity Assessment Report.

Please contact us for assistance.

Continuing Professional Development

The goal of Continuing Professional Development is to promote the practice of key tasks of the BAM assessment. The department expects an assessor to develop their skills and experience in applying the Biodiversity Assessment Method during each term of accreditation. The role of Continuing Professional Development in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS) is to support continuous improvement in the application of the Biodiversity Assessment Method by all participants.

The Accredited Assessor Continuing Professional Development Log Guideline describes how assessors should address continuing professional development. Assessors are strongly encouraged to read the guideline as it will help them understand how to address and record their Continuing Professional Development.

It is important to note that from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, you must complete one of the annual requirements as a minimum for each CPD-element for renewal. These transition requirements are identified in the table and the Accredited Assessor Continuing Professional Development Log Guideline.

Transitional arrangements for recording Continuing Professional Development activity

All assessors that were accredited or renewed after 30 June 2021 must address the Continuing Professional Development requirements that were in place from the start of their new accreditation term.

All existing assessors, as of 30 June 2021, are given transitional allowances extracted from section 3.2 of the Guideline and as listed in the table below:

Renewal date Minimum requirements for renewal
1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 If you have completed at least one annual requirement over the term of your accreditation, you will be eligible for renewal.
1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 If you have completed at least 2 annual requirements over the term of your accreditation, you will be eligible for renewal.
1 July 2024 onwards If you have completed at least 3 annual requirements over the term of your accreditation, you will be eligible for renewal.

If you would like to clarify the annual requirements necessary, please contact us.

As part of your accreditation renewal application, you must submit a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Log.

The CPD log template must be used to record your annual activity. The completed CPD-log must be submitted as part of your renewal application.

CPD log template (DOCX 123KB)

It is suggested that, at the beginning of your accreditation or renewed accreditation, you download the CPD log template and note how you are meeting the CPD-elements over the years of your accreditation. This will help you to keep track of your progress.

CPD log template (DOCX 123KB)

In limited circumstances, an alternative approach to recording Continuing Professional Development is available. This may apply to accredited assessors who are active in the Biodiversity Assessment Method and the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, and their work does not precisely fit the annual activity Continuing Professional Development requirements.

A different Continuing Professional Development approach must be in alignment with the goals of the CPD-log and must be considered against each CPD element 1 to 3.

Those who meet these criteria can use the Continuing Professional Development Request for consideration.

Please refer to Section 6 of the Accredited Assessor Continuing Professional Development Log Guideline for further information.

Continuing Professional Development Request for consideration (PDF 127KB)

If you have experienced adverse circumstances during your accreditation term that have impacted your ability to meet the Continuing Professional Development requirements, please contact us for consideration.

Please contact us for assistance.