CL:AIRE is a UK charity committed to providing a valuable service for all those involved in sustainable land reuse.
We develop training resources, disseminate information and act as a credible resource for all stakeholders, ensuring we remain at the cutting-edge of best practice and innovation.
Improving efficiency & raising standards
Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP), National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Affected by Contamination (NQMS), Asbestos in Soil, SuRF...
Supporting our Members
Find out about the benefits of becoming a CL:AIRE Principal or Supporter Member:- Member discounts, Networking, Working Groups, ...
Sharing Knowledge & Developing People
Water and Land Library ( WALL), Continuing Professional development through Training and workshops...
CL:AIRE works with its Members to raise awareness and pursue shared objectives in land, water and environmental management by collecting strategic industry information and developing industry initiatives that improve efficiency and save money.
The GPVS seeks to raise standards in membrane inspection, verification and reporting and provide confidence that risks associated with ground gases have been adequately managed.
The Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) provides a clear, consistent and efficient process which enables the reuse of excavated materials on-site or their movement between sites.
| Find out more... | Register of materials... |
| Make a declaration... |
The National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management (NQMS) is developed by the National Brownfield Forum to provide visible identification of documents that have been checked for quality.
Qualified Person Assessment: Topics
Qualified Person online assessment
All Qualified Persons (QPs) and new applicants are required to take and pass the following assessment.
Existing Qualified Persons must re-sit this assessment every five years as part of the renewal process.
The assessment is a series of multiple choice or true/false questions which will be automatically marked and your mark will be given when you submit your answers at the end.
If unsuccessful on the first attempt, QPs or applicants will be locked out of the assessment and will have to wait one week before making a second attempt. For existing QPs, a second failure will trigger the need for a discussion with CL:AIRE to identify the
best course of action for further training.
best course of action for further training.
New applicants who fail on the second attempt will automatically be prevented from a 3rd and final attempt for 90 days during which time it is strongly recommended that you review the DoWCoP documentation. New applicants who fail this 3rd and final attempt will need to attend DoWCoP training again at their own expense.
The entire assessment consists of 20 short answer questions with a 30-minute time limit. The pass mark is 80%.
This assessment may be taken as an open book test, however, please be aware of the time limit and we strongly recommend that you are sufficiently familiar with the following documents prior to starting.
The questions have been derived from:
- DoWCoP V2
- Cluster Guide
- FAQs
- CLR11
- BS10175:2011+A2:2017 - Investigation of Potentially Contaminated Sites - Code of Practice
- DEFRA Guidance on the Legal Definition of Waste and its Application
Click on the link below to start the assessment.
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Contamination & Land Remediation Expo is coming to the NEC Birmingham on 16-17 September
Part of the Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS Expo), the Contamination & Land Remediation Expo (CLR Expo) will bring together 2,800+ professionals from across the contamination, remediation, and geoenvironmental...May 2026 -
CL:AIRE TRG Annual Report 2025 and new ECP
CL:AIRE has now published the 2025 Technology and Research Group (TRG) Annual Report and it is available to download. The TRG is also pleased to welcome a new Early Career...May 2026 -
SURRI publishes useful series of podcasts about preparing EU project proposals
The European Project SURRI (Sustainable Remediation of Radionuclide Impacts on Land and Critical Materials Recovery) has published a series of podcasts to understand more about EU project proposal building. They...May 2026 -
ISO draft international standard on determination of inorganic arsenic species in soils has been published for comment
ISO DIS 25251 Soil Quality - Determination of inorganic arsenic species in soils and soil-like materials has been published for comment. Comments should be submitted to Joanna Macnamara by 10 July 2026.May 2026 -
POST publishes research briefing on Nature-based flood and drought resilience
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has published a research briefing on Nature-based flood and drought resilience. The POSTnote outlines the evidence, challenges and benefits for implementing catchment scale...May 2026 -
Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme - expressions of interest closing soon
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced an Expression of Interest opportunity for the Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme (LRPS). LRPS is a £80 million pilot scheme funded by Defra...April 2026 -
Publication of MCERTS performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil
On 27 April 2026, the Environment Agency published new guidance called MCERTS: performance standard for rapid measurement techniques for the chemical testing of soil. The guidance describes the certification process...April 2026 -
The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) - last call for nominations from land remediation industry
The Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement Awards (the EMMAs) will take place on Wednesday 16 September on the first evening of Contamination & Land Remediation Expo (CLR Expo). The EMMAs...April 2026 -
New CL:AIRE Research Bulletin (RB22) published on legacy wastes in the coastal zone
CL:AIRE is pleased to publish a new research bulletin RB22: Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone which is available to download here. Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone: Environmental Risks and Management...April 2026 -
EPA Ireland consults on developing national guidance for brownfield soil and stone by-product material
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland has published a position paper for consultation as part of the development of national guidance for brownfield soil and stone by-product material. The guidance...April 2026 -
UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee publishes its PFAS report
The UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee has now published its report Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) following its inquiry and call for evidence in April 2025.April 2026 -
National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes now published
The National Brownfield Forum March 2026 meeting notes have now been published and are available to download here.April 2026 -
Defra consults on BNG and targeted exemptions for brownfield residential developments
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is consulting on a possible exemption from biodiversity net gain (BNG) for certain residential developments on brownfield land. Further information is available here.April 2026 -
HSE launches consultation on Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) and it is now open for comments. The consultation seeks...April 2026 -
Phase 2 of DoE Industry Profiles project is now complete
A project to update 15 of the Department of Environment (DoE) series of 47 industry profiles has now finished with funding from the Environment Agency, Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental...March 2026 -
Defra publishes Land Use Framework for England
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Land Use Framework for England. It sets out how England can use its land more effectively. The Framework has...March 2026 -
CL:AIRE connects the industry: Bristol networking evening sets the scene for summer event
CL:AIRE hosted another successful members' networking event, this time in Bristol at Racks Bar and Kitchen. The evening brought together professionals from across the sector for relaxed, informal conversation. CL:AIRE Members...March 2026 -
Environment Agency publishes national groundwater nitrogen inventory for England
The Environment Agency Chief Scientist's Group has published outputs from a research project: National groundwater nitrogen inventory for England (SC210008). The project developed and tested new approaches to assess national-scale...March 2026 -
Defra consults on amendments to the POPs regulation 2026
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on proposed changes to the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation, including drafted legislation to prohibit five new POPs to...March 2026 -
RBKC Lead Modelling Tool published on WALL
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Lead (Pb) values and modelling tool has been made available for all to use on the CL:AIRE Water and Land Library (WALL).March 2026 -
BSI publishes document on ecological soil functions
British Standards Institution (BSI) has recently published PD ISO/TS 18721:2026 Ecological soil functions - Characteristics, indicators and methods. Further information and purchase options available here.March 2026