Frequently Asked Questions
General
- How do I become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner?
- How much will it cost to become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner?
- Where can I get more information regarding the upcoming training?
- Is there a limit to the number of planners the ministry will license?
- Do I have to be a Canadian citizen to become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner?
- Will education and/or work experience from outside of Canada meet the pre-requisites for becoming a licensed toxic substance reduction planner in Ontario?
- Can a resident from another province become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner in Ontario?
- Will the names of licensed planners be made public?
Course details
- What is included in the course?
- Where do I get information about the self-directed online training I need to take before the in-class training?
- What happens if I don’t complete the online training before I go to the classroom portion of the training?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- Will the training be held in an “accessible” location?
- When will the course be run again?
- Is there an equivalent course offered at a college or university?
Registration
- How will I know that I am registered for the program?
- How will I know that the date/location I chose to take the in-class training and exam is confirmed?
- What do I need to bring to the in-class training and exam session?
Taking the examination
- How do I register to write the examination?
- Can I use a calculator during the examination?
- What is the passing mark for the examination?
- Can I rewrite the examination if I fail? Is there a fee?
- What is the format for the examination? (I.e. types of questions, length, how often will it be scheduled?)
Planner licence
- When does the planner licence expire and what are the requirements for renewal?
- What if I don’t renew my toxic substance reduction planner licence on time?
- What do I do if I lose my licence certificate?
- Do I have to notify the ministry of a name or address change after my licence is issued?
- Can my licence be suspended or revoked?
- Will the ministry issue a wallet-sized licence?
- Would a planner licence allow me to work anywhere in Ontario? In Canada?
General
1. How do I become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner?
To become a licensed planner an individual must:
- meet specific education and/or work experience requirements:
- BSc/MSc/PhD in a related field plus four years of relevant full-time work experience or the part-time equivalent OR
- College diploma in a related field plus six years of relevant full-time work experience or the part-time equivalent OR
- eight years of relevant full-time work experience or the part time-equivalent (with at least two years in environmental management and two years in operational activities)
- submit the application form and pay the total fee
- complete the ministry-approved course
- pass the ministry-approved examination.
2. How much will it cost to become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner?
The training course, examination and licence fees total $2,100. The total fee must be paid by certified cheque or money order when an application is submitted.
Fee schedule:
| Training | $1,250 |
| Examination | $225 |
| Licence | $625 |
| Total Fee | $2,100 |
3. Where can I get more information regarding the upcoming training?
For more information about the upcoming training, please contact the Ministry of the Environment at picemail.moe@ontario.ca or 1-800-565-4923 or 416-325-4000, or check back at the planner licensing section.
4. Is there a limit to the number of planners the ministry will license?
No, there is no limit to the number of planners the ministry will license. Planners must take training and an exam before they can be licensed.
5. Do I have to be a Canadian citizen to become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner?
No. A non-Canadian citizen or permanent resident may apply for a licence.
6. Will education and/or work experience from outside of Canada meet the pre-requisites for becoming a licensed toxic substance reduction planner in Ontario?
The first part of the process for becoming a licensed toxic substance reduction planner is completing the application and paying the fee.
As part of the application, all applicants must verify that they meet education and/or work experience pre-requisites.
Education credentials obtained outside of Canada or the United States of America must be assessed for equivalency to the education requirements listed in the Toxics Reduction Act. Foreign credentials must be assessed by a recognized educational assessment agency. Proof of equivalency must be included with your application. For more information, please visit the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).
7. Can a resident from another province become a licensed toxic substance reduction planner in Ontario?
You do not have to be an Ontario resident to become a licensed planner.
To become a licensed planner an individual must:
- meet specific education and/or work experience requirements
- submit the application form and pay the total fee
- complete the ministry-approved course
- pass the ministry-approved examination.
8. Will the names of licensed planners be made public?
The ministry will maintain a list of licensed planners on the Ministry of the Environment web site.
Course details
9. What is included in the course?
The training course consists of two parts:
- self directed online training (2-3 days)
- instructor-led classroom training (2.5 days)
The exam will be administered immediately after the in-class training is completed, during the afternoon of the third day.
10. Where do I get information about the self-directed online training I need to take before the in-class training?
Applicants accepted into the program will receive a confirmation email from the Ministry of the Environment. The email will explain how access to the online portion of the training will be provided. The online modules must be completed prior to taking the in-class training and writing the exam.
Participants will need to allocate two to three days to complete the online modules.
11. What happens if I don't complete the online training before I go to the classroom portion of the training?
The online portion of the training is essential to successfully completing the training program and examination. The online modules must be completed prior to the in-class training. A online certificate of completion is available at the end of the online training. Participants must present a print-out of that certificate on the first in-class day to verify that they have completed the online modules.
12. What is the cancellation policy?
Applicants must provide two weeks written notice of cancellation. Please email picemail.moe@ontario.ca at least two weeks prior to the scheduled in-class session.
13. Will the training be held in an “accessible” location?
All in-class training will be held in an accessible location.
14. When will the course be run again?
The Ministry of the Environment expects to continue to offer the toxic substance reduction planner training once per year.
15. Is there an equivalent course offered at a college or university?
The Ministry of the Environment is currently offering the only toxic substance reduction planner courses in Ontario that is director-approved.
Registration
16. How will I know that I am registered for the program?
Applicants accepted into the program will receive a confirmation email from the Ministry of the Environment. The email will include details about the time, date and location of your in-class training.
17. How will I know that the date/location I chose to take the in-class training and exam is confirmed?
Applicants indicate their preferred training sessions, in order of preference. The ministry will make every effort to accommodate these. If you are accepted into the program, you will receive a confirmation email from the Ministry of the Environment. The email will include details about the time, date and location of your in-class training as well as how access to the online training will be provided.
18. What do I need to bring to the in-class training and exam session?
Training participants must bring a piece of government-issued photo ID. Confirmation of completion of the online training should also be printed and brought to the class.
Taking the examination
19. How do I register to write the examination?
Applicants register for the examination when they register for the training. The final afternoon of in-class training will be reserved for writing the licensing examination.
20. Can I use a calculator during the examination?
Non-programmable calculators are allowed during the examination.
21. What is the passing mark for the examination?
Participants will be required to achieve a mark of 70 per cent or higher in order to receive a Toxic Substance Reduction Planner Licence.
22. Can I rewrite the examination if I fail? Is there a fee?
If you fail the examination on your first time, you can re-write it free of charge. However, if you fail it twice, you will be charged a fee of $225.00 to re-write it again.
If you fail the examination three times, you will be required to wait one year from the date of your last examination and then re-apply to the program. You will be required to take the entire training course and pay all applicable fees again. At the end of that in-class training, you may re-take the examination.
23. What is the format for the examination? (I.e. types of questions, length, how often will it be scheduled?)
The examination will be closed book, multiple choice and based on course content and other knowledge a planner is expected to have in order to become licensed.
Examinations will be offered at the end of each in-class session. Re-take examination sessions will be offered at alternate times. For times and locations for alternate examinations, contact the ministry at picemail.moe@ontario.ca.
Planner licence
24. When does the planner licence expire and what are the requirements for renewal?
The Toxic Substance Reduction Planner Licence expires five years after it is issued.
In order to renew a licence, a planner must submit the application form, pay the total renewal fee ($275) and have obtained a total of 60 professional development credits over the five-year licence period (one hour equals one credit):
- At least 30 credits (one hour equals one credit) must be from attending an educational course, in one of the fields of study or areas of operation listed for planner qualifications that relates to the functions of a toxic substance reduction planner and contributes to the professional knowledge and ability to perform the functions of a toxic substance reduction planner.
- One credit to come from each hour the planner is engaged in teaching and presentations that contribute to the professional knowledge and ability to perform the functions of a toxic substance reduction planner.
- Two credits for each written and published article that contributes to the professional knowledge and ability to perform the functions of a toxic substance reduction planner (up to a maximum of 10 credits).
- Five credits for preparing a plan or performing one or more functions of a planner (maximum five credits per plan).
25. What if I don’t renew my toxic substance reduction planner licence on time?
Planners are required to retake the course and examination if their licence expires. A planner may request an extension of up to 90 days by contacting the ministry prior to the licence expiration.
26. What do I do if I lose my licence certificate?
Please notify the Ministry of the Environment at picemail.moe@ontario.ca when you become aware of the loss.
Licenses can be replaced upon payment of a $75 fee.
27. Do I have to notify the ministry of a name or address change after my licence is issued?
Please notify the Ministry of the Environment at picemail.moe@ontario.ca, if you change your name and/or address. The replacement fee of $75 will apply for a name change.
28. Can my licence be suspended or revoked?
The Ministry of the Environment may refuse to issue or renew a licence and may suspend or revoke a licence if:
- The planner or applicant knowingly submits false information as part of the initial application for a licence or for a request for renewal.
- The planner or applicant has been convicted of an offence under the act.
29. Will the ministry issue a wallet-sized licence?
The ministry will issue an 8.5” X 11” Toxic Substance Reduction Planner Licence.
30. Would a planner licence allow me to work anywhere in Ontario? In Canada?
Planner licenses are issued pursuant to Ontario legal requirements and are valid only in Ontario. An Ontario licensed toxic substance reduction planner is able to make recommendations to improve a plan and certify the plan of any regulated facility in the Province of Ontario.
