How to apply for professional registration

There are several stages to filling in your application:

• Select which award you are applying for.
• Tell us about yourself – submit your personal details, your employer, your qualifications and CV.
• 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.
• Payment
• Complete your competence report
• Tell us about 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

Once this has been completed you can submit your finished application.

The academic and work experience requirements for professional registration depend on the register which you are applying for.

• RSciTech applicants must have a relevant level 3* qualification or equivalent learning and achievement and would have at least 1 year of recent, relevant work experience.
• RSci applicants must have a relevant level 5* qualification or equivalent learning and achievement and would have at least 2 years recent, relevant work experience.
• CSci applicants must have a relevant level 7* qualification or equivalent learning and achievement and would have at least 4 -5 years recent, relevant work.
• CSciTeach applicants must have both an Honours degree in science and a Master’s in Education (or equivalent) and would normally have 4 years teaching experience (after QTS is gained).

*(Level 3, 5 or 7 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Level 6, 8 or 11 in Scotland)

Relevant refers to science based qualifications and experience.

The Science Council have reviewed over 30 current apprenticeships and is assured that they match the competencies of either RSci or RSciTech.  These alignments are either against all of the competencies or a majority of them, resulting in a shortened application form.  If you have completed an eligible apprenticeships within the last 3 years you can apply for registration via our shortened route.

More information on apprenticeship shortened routes can be found here.

To complete your application you will need:

• An up to date CV
• Details of your qualifications including certificates
• Details of the person who will support your application

If you are using the Science Council application portal, you can select the register you want to apply for here.  Once you have chosen your register and created an account you can log in again at any time to continue with your application. You can save the work you have done and log out, it will be there for you next time you log in.

You can choose a Licensed Professional Body and start your membership application with them.

To apply for CSciTeach you will need to choose a Licensed Professional Body that offers CSciTeach and apply via them.

We provide monthly free online workshops to help you complete your application for professional registration.

Visit our support page to find out more.

You can also get in touch with the Science Council directly at [email protected] we will always be happy to help.

You are in control of how long you take to complete each section. If you are using the Science Council application portal you can save your progress as you move through the application.

After submitting your completed application, your supporter will be notified by automated email. Once your supporter submits their review the Science Council will complete some initial checks of your application.

Once the checks are completed, two assessors will be assigned to review your application. It can take from 3 to 12 weeks for the assessors to be assigned and complete the review of your application.

Once we receive the two assessors’ reviews, you will be advised of their recommendation.

The cost of professional registration will vary depending on your chosen award and the application route that you take.

See a detailed view of our fees and costing structure here.

Many employers are willing to cover the costs of these fees. Check what your employer’s policy is. If you pay your own fees, in most cases you can claim tax relief on fees for professional registration and professional body membership.

Please visit the webpage or contact the relevant Licensed Professional Body to check their charges.

We recommend around 300 words per competence.

For example, around 300 words for competence A1, 300 for competence A2 and so on.

For more support, attend one of our free virtual workshops here.

Your application needs to be supported by a someone who can attest to the information you have provided – the sort of person you would ask for a professional reference should you need one. They should be familiar with your work.

This will most likely be your line manager, however a colleague or client who knows the quality of your work may also be appropriate.

Your supporter should have enough scientific knowledge and expertise to be justified in supporting your application. If possible your supporter should be a member of a relevant professional body and hold either Registered or Chartered status with the Science Council, this may help you as they will understand what professional standards are required. Whoever you choose, you must get their permission before providing us with their contact details. If other people in your team are also applying for professional registration, your supporter may be supporting their applications as well. This is fine, but you may need to be sensitive to how busy they are.

If you are using the Science Council application portal, your supporter will be asked to log in to the application system to make their comments on your application.  You will be automatically notified when they have competed their input.  Supporters are busy people and may need reminding to complete their part.

Professional registration through the Science Council is open to scientific professionals anywhere, as long as they are members of a professional body or learned society that has a licence from the Science Council.

Prior to Brexit, the Science Council registers were accepted for the purposes of the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EC, as amended by 2013/55/EU) as a regulated profession with the Science Council appointed as the Competent Authority. Under the directive an individual fully qualified to practice a regulated profession in one member state should be treated, in principle, as qualified to practice that same profession in another Member State. Following Brexit this no longer applies to the UK.

However, professional registration, particularly chartership, is recognised as a standard of excellence around the world. The Science Council registers are open to professionals working in any country, providing parity between professionals in different countries as well as between the different scientific professions. If you are a registrant and you move to a different country, your registration will continue to be valid as long as you renew each year and maintain your CPD record.

Keeping your registration up to date is important for you. Luckily enough you should not miss out as you will be reminded by your Professional Body when it is time for renewing your registration.

When you get your reminder please pay your renewal registration fee and professional body membership fee and submit your annual CPD return to your Professional Body.

If you are looking for more information on your CPD you can find advice and support here.