Which Professional Body is right for me?
There are various Professional Bodies in science, all with something slightly different to offer. However, they all aim to support you in your professional development.
They may offer any or all of the following:
- Training and education in the form of courses, lectures, workshops or online resources
- Information on the scientific discipline in the form of journals and magazines or online resources
- Networking opportunities
- Career advice
- Support for the non-science skills required to develop your career
- Volunteering opportunities
- Library facilities
- Meeting facilities
Depending on the level of membership you achieve you may be able to signify that with postnominals.
In choosing you may want to join a body that focuses on the scientific discipline you were trained in or now work in. Examples are bodies such as:
- The Royal Society of Biology
- The Royal Society of Chemistry
- The Institute of Physics (IoP)
- The Geological Society (GeolSoc)
- The British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
- Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod)
- Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES)
- Society of Cosmetic Scientists (SCS)
However there also bodies that focus on those working in an industry sector, for example:
- The Institute of Water (IoW)
- The Nuclear Institute (NI)
- Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
- Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
- British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)
Some bodies focus on the type of employment:
- Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB)
- Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
- Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)
- Association for Science Education (ASE)
- Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH)
- Institute of Corrosion (ICorr)
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
- Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
Some on the type of employee:
- Association of Neurophysiological Scientists (ANS)
- Institute of Science and Technology (IST)
- Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology (AAPT)
- Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
- The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA)
Some focus on the skill used:
Some Professional Bodies cover more than one aspect.
To become a registrant, you will need to be or become a member of a licensed Professional Body. You can do that as part of your application.
If you are not sure which body to choose, pick the one that seems relevant to you. Try it out for a year and then, if you want, change to another. You can keep your registration so long as you choose another licensed body.