Interpretive Naturalist Certification Program of Alaska

Waiver Policy

To document past experience that you wish to apply towards your certification, please use the Request for Waiver documentation form. Complete a separate form for each experience that may apply. Copy the completed forms for your records. Send the originals to the INCPA certification committee c/o BLM CCSC 6865 Elmore Road, Anchorage, AK 99507. The committee can then decide on the appropriate credit while you are working on your other requirements. To document past attendance at classes, you may submit transcripts instead of the instructor's signature. To document contributing work in a scientific field, you may provide a representative sample of your work, a supervisor's signature on the certification form, or a resume.

I. Introductory Orientation Workshop
There is no waiver for this workshop.

II. Education Knowledge and Techniques
Workshops
Education Delivery and Interpretation Workshop: no waiver.

Curriculum workshops: This requirement may be satisfied with documentation of attendance in one of the workshops within the past five years. For those who have had the training longer than five years ago, and are currently using the curriculum, you may receive a waiver by contacting the respective curriculum coordinator for an appointment to receive updated materials and be informed of the changes that have occurred in the curriculum.

Site Specific Training
One of the training requirements may be waived with documentation of attendance within the last two years.

Shadowing Experience
No waiver.

III. Science Knowledge
Workshop
Attendance at the Alaska Natural History Workshop may be waived with documentation of university level courses or contributing work in the subject area in the past three years. Regardless of waiver eligibility, however, attendance is highly recommended.

Science Training
Up to eight hours in each of the subject categories may be waived with documentation of attendance at workshops, training opportunities, instructional fieldtrips, credit and non-credit classes, or contributing work in the field in the past three years.

IV. Field and Laboratory Experience
Workshop
Attendance at the Field Methods Workshop may be waived with documentation of university level courses or contributing work in the subject area in the past three years. Regardless of waiver eligibility, however, attendance is highly recommended.

Field Research Project
No waiver.

V. Instruction Experience
Up to thirty hours of this requirement may be waived with documentation of instruction experience within the past two years. Documentation of hours spent instructing the specified audience groups and with more than one organization may satisfy these sub-requirements.

VI. Stewardship
Workshop
Community Leadership and Stewardship Workshop: no waiver.

Stewardship Project
No waiver.

VII. Knowledge of Local Natural Resources and Facilities
Site Orientations
No waiver.

Journal
No waiver.