IfA - A Chartered Institute

[kevin wooldridge]

I disagree in principle with Doug's synopsis. The Charter prospect in itself will make little difference to archaeologists. Even within the IfA there will be Chartered and non-chartered archaeologists (if Chartered status is to be seen as a level of attainment vis a vis the institutions aims and professed qualifications). Sure it might well piss some people off, but so what!! Many people have been pissed off for the past 30 years that the IfA has the temerity to exist let alone regulate archaeology, so no change expected there. If 'Charter' happens (and it is still speculation) there will still be no compulsion or coercion to join the IfA and it is unimaginable that the organisation will have the power to enforce membership.

Where it will make a difference could be, as David suggests, if the sponsors and regulators of archaeology ask for Chartered status as a pre-qualification for tenders and/or contracts. How that might affect individuals is hard to assess, but it would certainly have an effect on contracting organisations. The IfA says it has received advice that limiting tenderers by dint of professional accreditation is legal and as we said earlier in this thread, opponents can only test that through legal challenge....will that happen? Doubt it!!