26th February 2008, 09:59 PM
I would have seen any potential chartership being more encompassing of the whole historic environment sector - we are criticised by government for being too split up and therefore we don't get our voice heard. I don't think this is going to change much in the near future as the IHBC and IFA are not likely to merge - that is the reason why the IFA published a statement last year stating that it was going to undertake major reform.
As a Chartered HIstoric Environment Professional (don't shoot me!!) you could encompass everyone within the broader industry. It would work in a similar way to the Chartered Environmentalist who might be an ecologist, water quality specialist, EIA professional etc. and you can still call yourself an archaeologist/geophysicist etc. There several professional bodies 'club together' and you can be a member of the professional bodies at various grades working your way up to their top levels at which point you have the opportunity to gain additional Chartered status by submitting extra work and an interview (I think - know there is a bit of extra work).
When the Chartered Environmentalist title got set up there was a grandfather clause to allow those already working within the profession at the higher levels to gain membership - it wasn't just a blanket send everyone a certificate though - I remember people compiling statements etc.
I don't think that Chartered status is the magic bullet some people think it will be, but raising the professional bar another notch certainly wouldn't do any harm.
As a Chartered HIstoric Environment Professional (don't shoot me!!) you could encompass everyone within the broader industry. It would work in a similar way to the Chartered Environmentalist who might be an ecologist, water quality specialist, EIA professional etc. and you can still call yourself an archaeologist/geophysicist etc. There several professional bodies 'club together' and you can be a member of the professional bodies at various grades working your way up to their top levels at which point you have the opportunity to gain additional Chartered status by submitting extra work and an interview (I think - know there is a bit of extra work).
When the Chartered Environmentalist title got set up there was a grandfather clause to allow those already working within the profession at the higher levels to gain membership - it wasn't just a blanket send everyone a certificate though - I remember people compiling statements etc.
I don't think that Chartered status is the magic bullet some people think it will be, but raising the professional bar another notch certainly wouldn't do any harm.