Safeguarding the public
Our specialist qualifications promote public safety and support professionalism in the chemical sciences
Andrea McGhee and Jane McLauchlin, Royal Society of Chemistry
Whether it’s recognising people’s scientific achievements and contributions through awards and professional registers or providing our members with opportunities to develop their skills through mentoring, training and continuing professional development, we support professionalism in our community in a many different ways. In fact, our work in this area is deeply embedded in our mission, with our Royal Charter stating that one of our objectives is "to establish, uphold and advance the standards of qualification, competence and conduct of those who practise chemistry as a profession".
A professional chemical science community is a community that has the right people with the right skills. And we want to make sure that anyone who works with chemistry has the right tools and resources, knowledge and skills, and training and support to be professional in everything they do. One of the ways in which we do this is by providing our members with the opportunity to achieve a range of different professional accolades that allow individuals to clearly demonstrate the professional standards they have reached.
Ranging from chartered chemist (CChem), chartered scientist (CSci) and chartered science teacher (CSciTeach) status to the registered scientist (RSci) and registered science technician (RSciTech) registers, professional designations indicate an accredited standard of competence beyond official qualifications. In addition to these broad designations, we also award a number of specialist qualifications, including the Qualified Person (QP) register and the Mastership in Chemical Analysis (MChemA), that indicate that an individual demonstrates the necessary skills to carry out their role in safeguarding quality and public safety.
Safeguarding the quality of medicines
Anyone manufacturing pharmaceutical products is legally bound to have a QP who controls the quality and safety of medicines and certifies their release for public use. Any pharmaceutical product manufactured in or imported into the EU requires a licence from the regulatory authority, and it is the QP who is responsible for ensuring that the final product complies with it. The QP designation was first introduced in the EU in 1975 with the aim of improving the safety of drugs after adverse effects of drugs like thalidomide coming onto the market.
In the UK, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 describes the requirements for the QP and the role of the professional bodies. Together with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Society of Biology we jointly assess the eligibility of our members to act as QP on behalf of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate). In addition, we maintain a register of all those members who are eligible to act as QP.
Reaching QP status
Candidates who would like to qualify as QP have to satisfy the legislative requirements for qualifications and experience and need to demonstrate a certain level of expert knowledge and experience in pharmaceutical manufacture. Following the submission of their application form providing a detailed account of their relevant knowledge and experience, all candidates are invited to attend a professional interview. In order to support their application, candidates must be supported by a sponsor – usually a QP themselves – who can attest to the candidate’s experience and advise on training and the assessment.
Our Register of Eligible Qualified Persons currently includes around 600 QPs. Find out more information about applying to become a QP.
For information on the latest regulatory requirements, take a look at our study guide.
Maintaining the safety of our food
Following the horse meat scandal in the UK, in which horse meat was substituted for beef, the work of Public Analysts has entered the spotlight. They are highly-skilled analytical scientists who are responsible for the safety and quality of our foods. They also test a wide range of consumer goods, water and air samples that may have an effect on human health or the environment.
In the UK, each Local Authority (including other Food Authorities) must appoint one or more Public Analysts, who, in turn, must hold an MChemA, which we award in line with the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 2013. In addition, Public Analysts get involved in a range of different activities, and they are named in about 30 other pieces of UK legislation.
How to obtain MChemA
We have offered the MChemA qualification for more than 100 years. Initially, it was awarded as the Branch E Fellowship of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, and has been designated the MChemA since 1968. The qualification is run by the MChemA Examinations Board, which consists of Public Analysts and other Royal Society of Chemistry members who are experienced in analytical science and regulation.
Candidates take a three stage exam. Part A and Part B cover general analytical chemistry and the applications of analytical chemistry, both of which are essential to the work of a Public Analysts. The final part comprises a detailed portfolio of the candidate’s knowledge, experience and skills, and a one-day practical examination to test the candidate’s investigative and problem-solving skills. For regulations, take a look at the syllabus and guidance notes.
Championing professional development
One of the things that is common to all of the professional qualifications we award – whether QP, MChemA or one of the other designations – is continuing professional development (CPD). The holders of any professional qualification are committed to maintaining, improving and broadening their knowledge and skills to ensure continuing competence as a professional throughout their career. In practice, this means that all members with professional qualifications are expected to keep their knowledge and skills up to date and that we might ask them to provide evidence of this on an annually basis.
More than 60% of our eligible members hold CChem status, and interest in this and other designations continues to increase. But whether you are part of the group of 16,000 CChem holders or one of the 600 QPs listed in our registers, you can rightly be proud of your professional qualifications. Having obtained them, you are clearly demonstrating to your employers, your clients and the general public that you take your role as scientist seriously and act in an informed, responsible and professional manner in order to safeguard our everyday lives.
