Revalidation

Part of being a Chartered professional is a commitment to maintaining expertise through professional development.  To reflect this, the RSC implemented a mandatory revalidation step for all it's Chartered Chemists and Chartered Scientists.

Revalidation is linked to the annual membership renewal process and was piloted in the 2011 subscription cycle.  Every member holding CChem and/or CSci must now verify that they are maintaining professional standards through continuing professional development activities. The reference standards are described by the 12 CChem professional attributes and the Science Council's 5 learning activities.

Subsequently 2.5% of those who revalidate their CChem or CSci are randomly selected and asked to provide a short reflective summary of their professional development activity.  The summary should be in relation to the reference standards.

Members need to demonstrate activity in at least 3 of the following 5 activities.

1. Work based learning (e.g. supervising staff/students, reflective practice)
2. Professional activity (e.g. involvement in a professional body, mentoring)
3. Formal/Educational (e.g. writing reports/papers/articles, further education)
4. Self-directed learning (e.g. reading journals, reviewing books/articles)
5. Other (e.g. voluntary work, engagement with public) 

Members who are not in full time employment, (e.g. retired members, career break) are expected to demonstrate 2 of the activities.

If a member is unable to suitably evidence such activity and remedial measures are not successful, they can be removed from the CChem or CSci register.