Chartered status is an internationally recognised badge of excellence, giving you parity with other chartered professionals you’ll encounter throughout your career. It demonstrates to your employers, customers and the wider public that you are a competent professional. Above all, chartered status will result in greater credibility and faster career progression.
Only Professional Membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters confers Chartered Forester or Chartered Arboriculturist status, allowing the use of the prestigious MICFor post-nominals.
Whether you are a graduate at the beginning of your professional journey, or an experienced forester or arboriculturist, staff at the Institute of Chartered Foresters will provide you with continued guidance and support on your route to chartered status.
Routes to Chartered Status
There are two routes to gaining chartered status: Professional Membership Entry (PME) and Assessed Professional Competence (APC).
PME is the standard route open to Associate members. APC is the non-standard route, available to senior forestry and arboriculture professionals not eligible to present via PME.
From Associate member to Professional Member and eventually Fellow. The attainment of Fellowship should be the goal of all members of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
Professional Membership Entry (PME)
PME is the standard route to obtaining chartered status. It is available only to Associate members of the Institute. This is a six-step assessment process:
- Two-year work record demonstrating professional competency
- Two-year CPD record, demonstrating a commitment to personal and professional development
- A career profile (extended CV)
- A Critical Analysis (3,000 – 3,500 words analysing professional conduct in a challenging situation at work)
- A Professional Interview
- New from 2022: Professionalism & Ethics E-Learning Module
Full details about the requirements of each of these steps can be found in the PME Guidance Notes.
Eligibility for PME is assessed using a points-based system, where applicants must have obtained 10 qualifying points before they can present. Points are awarded to a combination of academic qualification (a degree-level qualification scoring at least 4 points is required) and relevant professional experience (with 1 point awarded per year of full-time relevant work in a supervisory, managerial or scientific capacity).
Successful completion of relevant graduate schemes offered by Savills UK, Scottish Woodlands, and Tilhill respectively now offers individuals two additional Professional Membership Entry (PME) qualifying points, meaning graduates without an honours degree specifically in forestry or arboriculture may be able to present for PME two years earlier than before (subject to eligibility).
Associate members of the Institute have up to 10 years to complete PME but we advise starting to prepare for PME as soon as possible after joining.
Fees
The 2023 fee for PME is £475.00, payable in two instalments: £225.00 with the submission of the PME1 Registration Form by 1 June and £250.00 with the submission of the written elements of the assessment by 1 August.
To find out more about requirements for joining as an Associate member, please see our Membership Journey Planner or download our information guide via the link below:
Assessed Professional Competence (APC)
APC is the non-standard route to obtaining chartered status. In general, it is only available to senior forestry and arboriculture professionals who are not eligible to present via PME. To be eligible to apply via APC, candidates must possess at least fifteen years of relevant experience and have held a position of senior, strategic responsibility for at least the last five of those years.
In addition, candidates applying for Professional Membership via APC must be able to demonstrate all of the following points in their application and, if invited, at professional interview:
- that they have achieved a position of leadership in their profession, where they are responsible for the strategic management and planning of their own work and usually that of colleagues;
- that their opinions are respected by others such that they are an acknowledged authority or an established name in their field;
- and that they have a professional influence that extends at a strategic level beyond their day-to-day work environment.
Fees
Please contact us directly regarding APC fees.
Deadline for Application
Applications may be submitted at any time. Those received before 1 August in any year will be assessed ahead of the professional interviews in November.
If sufficient applications are received before 1 April, an additional round of professional interviews may be held in the early summer.
Fellowship
Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Foresters is an honoured position, nonetheless, the attainment of Fellowship should be the ambition of all members of the Institute. Fellowship is an acknowledgement of an individual’s dedication, experience and achievements.
The Council is keen to see Professional Members progress to Fellowship and welcomes applications from members of all branches of the profession.
The application process focuses on your achievements. Your application will take the form of a self-assessment, using the Fellowship Application Form attached, with the support of two Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. There is no upper or lower age limit for applicants, subject to the criteria set out below.
This Guidance Note sets out the criteria for Fellowship and how to prepare and submit your application. Your application will be assessed by a panel of senior members from the Professional & Educational Standards Committee (PESC) based on the information you provide.
The assessors will make their decision based solely on the information within your application. For this reason, it is vital that you carefully consider this guidance and provide a comprehensive and accurate submission.
Criteria for Fellowship
In applying for Fellowship, applicants are expected to show the highest level of accomplishment during their career in:
- Post-qualification professional experience
- Managerial responsibilities
- Structured and planned professional development
- Significant contribution to the profession.
Reinstatement
If you have been a member of the Institute previously, having resigned or let your membership lapse, and wish to be reinstated, please read our Guide for Reinstatement.
Already hold professional status in the EU?
Further advice and information for individuals who hold professional status outside of the UK is available by contacting us directly.
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