Troll applies to join the IFA

[the invisible man]

I suspect that the IFA Validation Committee will turn down an application for an inappropriate grade. An application for a grade higher than is appropriate for any individual is likely to result in acceptance at a lower, more apprpriate grade. In the reverse situation, as appears to be the case here, I imagine that the applicant would be invited to re-submit their application for the higher grade. It might be interesting to see what happens.



We owe the dead nothing but the truth.

[troll]

When I do apply for membership at affiliate level (if I ever do get paid that is) I would expect to achieve that level.I don`t for a moment expect the IFA to impose a level of membership that they see as more "appropriate". That said, I`m more than willing to apply for student membership instead!The point is a simple one-a workforce signed up to the IFA would expect action from the IFA when it`s needed.Not only that, ridiculous requests from grown-ups of all flavours could then be refused on the basis of guideline/standard contraventions.The validation system is another issue entirely-my aim is simply to ask as many site workers as possible to sign up to standards and impose them on the ground.

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[the invisible man]

You have to be a student to be accepted as a Student Member, according to the Articles of Association 11.2. This grade of membership can be retained for a short time after ceasing to be a student.

The Applicants Handbook, October 2002 (no doubt revised since) states that the "Validation Committee may accept an applicaion, deref a decision for further information, offer a class of membership other than that applied for, or refuse admission" (para. 2.4).

I am interested as I presume that this proviso was intended for those applying for a grade higher than appropriate, rather than lower.



We owe the dead nothing but the truth.

[Cautionary Tale]

I'm curious about the specific impact in Troll's case of becoming a student would have on the fees payable. If he was a full time student, his income (excluding grant/loan/selling hair - miss the dreads ya know ) may be beneath the £5k threshold meaning that for a corporate grade comensurate with his experience he would be paying £17.50 a year.....about the same as a student membership but with all the corporate bells and whistles. Just a thought (while acknowledging that money is not the only consideration).

Of the Clan Sutton

[troll]

Invisible-again, I`m not concerned with level of membership-just signing up to and working to standards.Should my application for affiliate level be refused, I don`t join.My views on the past/current validation system lead me to the conclusion that I simply have no intention in taking part in such a process.Barnsey-greetings and I hope you are well! Dreads were a pain in the arse-people kept throwing spare change at me!

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[historic building]

I cannot honestly see why anyone would be refused for applying at affiliate level. Now if you apply for a corporate level, for example, as a PIFA but your application indicates that your level of responsibility and experience is MIFA, then, I would assume you would be offered PIFA, but possibly the IFA may suggest that you may qualify as MIFA and ask whether you would defer your application and send in the further materials necessary for a MIFA application. I cannot see anyone being refused for applying for a too low level as obviously this would impact on the many corporate members who have probably advanced in their career yet have not advanced their membership level appropriately.

[the invisible man]

Very true HB, fair point.

We owe the dead nothing but the truth.

[troll]

For me, level of membership is largely as meaningless as optional standards.The main point is that when I finally do apply (and if accepted), I will work strictly within IFA guidelines.The IFA and various apologists have for years banged on about full membership for the "profession".Ok. Lets do it.If after such a quantum shift, the IFA continue to bury their head in the sand then I would argue that we have every right to ask them to either evolve or stand aside.

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[Cautionary Tale]

Had a few minutes to look over this thread last night and am slightly coming round to Troll's view. If the workforce did join in high numbers and stuck to the standards and codes like glue (and refused to do otherwise as Troll has suggested), then this would have the effect of driving up the (perceived or otherwise) standards of fieldwork.

One thing does bother me though, and maybe I can be reassurred by responses: in the three months since Troll aired this view, has any non IFA type on the forum been motivated to apply at affiliate [?]

Desiderate le fritture con quello?

[troll]

G`day Barnsey-hope your well. I do hope that it can be as simple as that sire.I suppose that after years of ranting-I should be surprised that we did`nt see it sooner! Doh! It just seems to be the only way that standards can be taken seriously and further; as the caveat "under-resourced and under-funded" seems to suffice as a univeral anti-venom to anything remotely constructive, it would seem that the buck has been well and truly passed down to the field. If this is the case (I believe it is-verily!) then full membership and adherence to IFA standards and guidelines has to be the way to go.Do-it yerself standards no less. Any membership of the IFA means that we are all subject to the same standards. The policing thereof cannot therefore be simply miopic and uni-directional.Stuff rolls downhill but conversely, stuff floats to the top too

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)