The following Standards for Professionals in Soil Science identify the competencies that can reasonably be expected of a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) in addition to the other requirements for accreditation, which can be found on the Soil Science Australia website under the CPSS tab.
Section 1 #
You must satisfy 7 of the following 10 competencies.
| PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (minimum 2 of 4 competencies) | |
| CPSS 1.1 | Prepares and provides a demonstrably significant contribution to papers given at national conferences, published in soil journals, or publicly available technical reports of a similar standard. |
| CPSS 1.2 | Provides sound recommendations and management of social, ethical and environmental considerations in soil science. |
| CPSS 1.3 | Provides management and application of regulations and legal requirements relating to individuals and industries operating in soil science. |
| CPSS 1.4 | Initiates and formally contributes to discussions affecting the soil science profession through participation in, and committee membership of, professional and/or industry groups or associations. |
| PROJECT MANAGEMENT (minimum 1 of 3 competencies) | |
| CPSS 2.1 | Manages a soil work program with responsibility for effective and efficient performance of the soils team, and/or manages financial and resource plans for soils programs and projects ensuring satisfactory progress. |
| CPSS 2.2 | Develops and implements effective quality assurance procedures and systems for soil programs. |
| CPSS 2.3 | Supervises and/or manages the planning, implementation, reporting and evaluation of soil projects using recognised scientific principles. |
| PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (minimum 1 of 3 competencies) | |
| CPSS 3.1 | Expands knowledge and skills via higher level continuing professional development activities and contributes to the provision of professional development activities in the practice of soil science. |
| CPSS 3.2 | Maintains and applies up-to-date knowledge of relevant specialised research findings. |
| CPSS 3.3 | Maintains a network of experienced soil scientists and provides mentoring to less experienced soil scientists. |
Section 2 #
You must satisfy 10 of the following 13 competencies.
| SOIL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY (minimum 3 of 4 competencies) | |
| CPSS 4.1 | Interprets, applies and contributes to developing soil science knowledge. |
| CPSS 4.2 | Develops sound proposals for determining needs and priorities in soil monitoring and scientific work. |
| CPSS 4.3 | Manages the acquisition and implementation of new soil science techniques (including modelling) and improvements to established protocols, methods and practices, exercising innovation and judgment. |
| CPSS 4.4 | Develops and manages the commissioning and delivery of research and/or development of commercial soil science products or services. |
| SOIL MONITORING, ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATION (minimum 4 of 6 competencies) | |
| CPSS 5.1 | Investigates and analyses soil science-based problems and opportunities, and prepares relevant reports, documents and papers containing justifiable, rational conclusions. |
| CPSS 5.2 | Supervises and/or manages the collection and preparation of soil data, analyses soil data, and makes sound recommendations on soil function and management. |
| CPSS 5.3 | Implements procedures for the safe and effective use of soil laboratory or field instruments/equipment (e.g. Safe Work Method Statements) |
| CPSS 5.4 | Conducts and manages complex analyses of soil chemical, physical and/or biological properties. |
| CPSS 5.5 | Investigates and models scientific processes involving soils with one or more of water, plants, animals and the environment. |
| CPSS 5.6 | Selects and manages appropriate techniques to maintain or improve soil function. |
| SOIL ADVISORY, TRAINING, EDUCATION SERVICES (minimum 1 of 3 competencies) | |
| CPSS 6.1 | Provides authoritative soil advice to improve soil and/or land management decisions of stakeholders. |
| CPSS 6.2 | Provides authoritative technical presentations at field days, field excursions, group discussions, seminars or demonstrations using appropriate soil knowledge to meet the objectives of participants. |
| CPSS 6.3 | Lectures students on soil science subjects at tertiary level. |