One of the objects of the Hong Kong Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment is to promote the advancement of the knowledge and management of environmental impact assessment. To this end, and subject to the approval of the Institute, Corporate Members can be listed as Accredited Monitoring Professionals and use the acronym AMP.In order to gain accreditation, in addition to corporate membership, applicants must be knowledgeable regarding (a) environmental regulations in Hong Kong and (b) EM & A methodologies; they must have 3 years of practical experience in the undertaking and management of these methodologies and show an understanding and appreciation of the background and aims of EM & A; and, finally, they must be able to show not less than 15 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training within the previous 12 months.Applications for accreditation (the fee for which is $200) are considered by an Accreditation Panel and are renewed each year on the basis of 15 hours of CPD in that year. From 2005 onwards, there is no longer a separate fee charged for AMP membership renewal. AMPs are simply required to submit at the beginning of each year their 15 hours of CPD in the previous year.Accredited Monitoring Professionals are expected to maintain the integrity and status of the profession but also to represent it to the public and the Government. Elsewhere, such professionals have become a link between project managers and approval authorities, as the person whose signature attests to the standard of reports and other documentation. Under the EIA Ordinance in Hong Kong such a niche exists.