How to apply
Applying through the Science Council
The Science Council is a membership organisation made up of professional bodies and learned societies from across the full range of science-based disciplines. Through its member Licensed Professional Bodies, it holds the national registers of Registered Science Technicians (RSciTech), Registered Scientists (RSci), Chartered Scientists (CSci) and Chartered Science Teachers. Furthermore, the Science Council works closely with the Engineering Council on joint licensing of professional bodies, meaning that individuals interested in EngTech, IEng, CEng, and ICT Tech can also apply through the Science Council.
The Science Council developed a Common Application Process (CAP) – a way for individuals to apply for both professional body membership and registration through the Science Council. To register, you will need to be a member of a professional body – if that is something you have not done yet, the Science Council can help find the one most suited to you in the online application process and you can apply at the same time as completing your professional registration application. The application system will also help you decide which professional registration level to go for –please click here for a detailed description of what is expected at each level.
1. Initial steps
It is important to leave enough time to complete the professional registration process. Before you start your application, you will need
- Details of your employment history (useful CV templates are available on the Europass website)
- Details of your qualifications including certificates
- Get permission from your supporter to use their contact details. Your supporter is most likely your manager, but a senior colleague who knows the quality of your work may also be appropriate.
2. Applying through the Online Application System
There are several stages of filling in your online application:
- Initial questions – a few questions about you and your motivation for applying
- Select which award you are applying for
- Professional Body membership – either provide your membership ID (if you are already a member of a professional Body licensed to award the registration you’re applying for), or select which Licensed Professional Body you would like to join
- Submit your personal details, your employer, your qualifications and career profile.
- Select your assessment route (online or face to face)
- Complete your competence report
The competence report usually takes the longest to complete of each of the sections. In the report, you need to demonstrate that you meet the following competencies:
- A – Application of knowledge and understanding
- B- Personal responsibility
- C - Interpersonal skills
- D – Professional practice
- E – Professionalism
The Science Council's competency matrix provides a useful guide to the requirements at each level of registration and their blog features helpful articles on completing the competence report.
The following video also provides a short guide on how to write your report :
- Details of your supporter - you will be asked to provide their name, job title, employer and work email address.
- Declaration - sign up to the CPD standards and registrant code of conduct
3. Face to face, or online assessment
At the final stage of your application, Science Council-trained assessors will assess your application; you have an option to choose between online and face to face assessment.
An online assessment requires you to provide enough evidence in your competence report for the assessors to decide whether you meet the registration award standards.
In contrast, if you choose a face to face assessment, your competence report is used to help the assessors prepare for the face to face interview; they will then make a decision based on the evidence you provide in the interview. Therefore, your competence report needs to be less comprehensive than for an online assessment.
Applying through a Licensed Professional Body
Frequently Asked Questions
What competencies do I have to possess?
The Science Council requires applicants to demonstrate in writing, or at a face to face interview, that they meet the following competencies:
- A – Application of knowledge and understanding
- B- Personal responsibility
- C - Interpersonal skills
- D – Professional practice
- E – Professionalism
The Competency Matrix provides a useful guide to the requirements at each level of registration.
The Engineering Council’s UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) sets out five generic areas of competence and commitment for all registrants, which broadly cover:
- A – Knowledge and understanding
- B – Design and development of processes, systems, services and products
- C – Responsibility, management or leadership
- D – Communication and inter-personal skills
- E – Professional commitment
What counts as Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?
CPD encompasses all kinds of learning activities, not just formal training courses. You will have already engaged in a lot of these activities, for example:
- Reading technical papers and journals
- Acquiring new skills
- Refining existing skills
- Implementing improvements to existing practices
- Mentoring junior colleagues
- Attending conferences/seminars/lectures
- Other: voluntary work, non-work related studies, public service
Please visit the Science Council website for a full list of learning activities.
What help does the College provide in the registration process?
In 2018, the College is planning to organise the following activities to promote professional registration:
- A CV writing and written presentation skills training workshop
- An understanding competencies and CPD requirements workshop
- And run a session to provide support with completing the competence report.
Furthermore, the College is aiming to establish a Professional Registration Mentoring Scheme. As a part of this scheme, all technicians applying for professional registration will be assigned a mentor, who will guide them through the process and answer their questions.
More information will be published soon; please keep checking the Technicians’ Portal to keep up-to-date with our events. If you have further questions about the registration process, please e-mail Lindsay Comalie at staffdevelopment@imperial.ac.uk.