What does your membership category mean?
Professionals provide crucial contributions to society and few are more essential to today’s society than those who work in the chemical sciences. Professionalism is a blend of skills, understanding, attitude and personal qualities that provides an individual with the competencies required to perform a role with integrity and confidence. As someone who is part of our community, you exhibit professionalism in your day to day-to-day role and your Royal Society of Chemistry membership provides you with the recognition you deserve to formally demonstrate your commitment to the profession.
At the Royal Society of Chemistry, our membership categories reflect your knowledge and experience and provide a career pathway to progress along, no matter where you begin. All of our membership categories receive a range of benefits as well as the recognition from being part of our community.
Affiliate membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry represents those who do not have a formal chemical sciences qualification, but do have an interest in the chemical sciences and want to join our community. If you are an affiliate member you may be interested in our professional awards, Registered Scientist (RSci) and Registered Science Technician (RSciTech), to find out more go to rsc.li/chartered-status.
Student membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry is a category available for any member of our community who is currently in full time education. This could be working towards an undergraduate degree or working towards vocational qualification such as an apprenticeship. Becoming a member at this stage in your career is a clear indication of your commitment to the chemical sciences and identifies to potential employers that you are dedicated to your personal and professional development.
We then have our professional categories, representing those who work in the chemical sciences.
The first of these is Associate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Those who have achieved an appropriate level of chemical knowledge are admitted to this category of membership, often progressing from the student member category. As a primary benefit you are able to use the designatory letters (often known as post-nominals) of AMRSC. Using these after your name when submitting a CV or when networking concisely demonstrates the knowledge you have acquired and its application in a formal setting.
The reason I upgraded my membership is because the Royal Society of Chemistry accredited my undergraduate degree (Biological Chemistry, MChem at the University of Sheffield). As soon as I started my PhD I was aware that I could upgrade my membership status and get my designatory letters, whilst still getting a student discount on my membership. I am aware that once I enter the job market, in two years' time, the RSC can provide lots of assistance to help me in my career. I feel having the letters shows you are a professional, committed member of the chemical community.
Our second professional category is Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. As well as the knowledge requirements for membership, this category shows proven professional experience of at least three years. The designatory letters associated with this category are MRSC. They elevate your professional status to acknowledge the skills and understanding that you have earned since your qualification.
I formed a company of analytical chemists in 1987, now employing 10 chemistry graduates amongst other business support personnel. I thus meet and interact with Clients who are mainly chemists or of other similar professions such as engineers, lawyers and accountants. I became a chemist through the old ONCHNC-Diploma to LRIC. After the merger of the RIC and Chem. Soc., through a period of counselled experience I converted to Chem. MRSC. Not having academic qualifications, membership of the RSC is vital. Whilst being a chartered chemist demonstrates my academic abilities as a chemist and chartered scientist as a competent scientist, I regard being a Fellow as recognition by the membership and officers of the RSC that I have attained a high professional standing not just within chemistry but also to the wider community.
Our third professional category is Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The purpose of this category is to recognise the experience of those who have been in a senior position for at least five years. The designatory letters FRSC display your strategic input into your organisation and a depth of experience that has been earned through considerable career progression.
Complementing our professional membership categories, we also have our professional awards, ranging from Registered Science Technician, through to Chartered Chemist. These awards are evidence of your abilities to plan and organise your work, take the lead and manage others, as well as solve complex problems and effective communication.
They are part of a clear development framework which demonstrates you have achieved an externally regulated level of competence and in attaining them, support your progression through the membership categories. For more information on our professional awards, go to rsc.li/chartered-status.
In our 2016 member survey, designatory letters were selected by you as the membership feature that you are most satisfied with and was the second most widely used. This indicates the great value that exists in effectively and proudly displaying the letters that you have earned, and it is easy to add them to your email signature or CV. It is also easy to upgrade your membership when you have reached the criteria for each category, simply access rsc.li/member-upgrade and get the recognition you deserve.
If you have any questions please contact us and if you’ve recently upgraded your membership we’d love to hear from you about why you did on our 175 minutes for chemistry page.
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