Becoming Chartered by the Institute
Chartered Scientist (CSci)
The designation Chartered Scientist (CSci) ensures high and improving standards across all scientific disciplines. Chartered Scientist reflects best practice in science and is set at a benchmark level throughout the profession. It is set apart from other designations by the fact holders need to revalidate by the submission of a CPD return every 5 years. To apply for Chartered Scientist through the Institute of Physics, candidates must already be, or qualify for Member status or be a member of an organisation with which the Institute has an agreement. Non-physicists working outside physics will be advised to contact their relevant professional body to make an application.
Navigate to the page you want:
- What are the requirements for CSci?
- Application form and guidelines.
- Guidance on supporters
- How will CPD be monitored?
- Professional standards procedures
- Contact the Professional Development Team
- Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for CSci?
The benchmark for CSci is an accredited integrated master's degree (such as an MPhys/MSci) in physics or a related subject coupled with approximately 5 years work experience, 2 years of which should demonstrate responsible experience. If you do not hold an accredited integrated master's degree, then the basic requirements are that you have an accredited degree in physics or a related subject and demonstrate the missing part of your degree through a Master's equivalence report; this is a technical project which is undertaken in the 4th year of an integrated master's degree and should demonstrate the depth and breadth of your Physics (or a related subject) knowledge in application.
To check whether you degree is accredited please look at Section 5 - Is your degree accredited? below.
Application form and guidelines
The Institute requires all CSci candidates to use this Professional Review Report template and Master's Equivalence template (where applicable). Candidates not wishing to use Microsoft Word to write their report should use the same section headings and include all the information requested. Reports not in this format will be returned to the candidate for rewriting. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Download the full CSci application guidelines and form.
Download an editable Professional Review Report template (MS Word document).
Download an editable Master's Equivalence Template (MS Word document).
Guidance on supporters
Candidates for Chartered Scientist should nominate 2 supporters. Supporters must not be the candidate's line manager/supervisor and at least 1 must be from outside the candidate's organisation. Supporters must be Chartered Members or Fellows of an Institution and at least 1 must be a member of the Institute of Physics.
This document gives guidance on choosing your supporters.
All applicants are advised to search amongst their network of contacts and/or to attend local IOP Group and Branch meetings in order to nurture suitable relationships. You could also find yourself a mentor, who, over time, may get to know you well enough to provide support. We provide a mentor/mentee matching service to help with this. If you genuinely can not locate suitable supporters in their network the Professional Development team can nominate a supporter for you. However, this option is always closely scrutinised and queried by the assessing panel.
How will CPD be monitored?
CSci status includes a commitment to maintain CPD records and have these monitored every 5 years. Our current policy on CPD monitoring can be found here as a pdf file.
Professional standards procedures
Click here to access the procedures for the professional standards activities. These include interview proformas and guidance for interviewers and panel members.
Contact the Professional Development Team
Please e-mail cpd@iop.org or call +44 (0)20 7470 4800 for further guidance or to talk to somebody about getting chartered.
Frequently Asked Questions (pdf 35 KB)
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