You're on your way to Chartership!
Two for one!
When you apply for Registered Membership, you're also applying for Chartered status. They go hand in hand at this point, in one application.
For always
You keep your Registered Membership forever. Or until you upgrade to Fellowship (or until you leave us) - whichever comes first.
Lifelong learning
By submitting evidence of your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) each year, you'll keep your Chartered status forever too!
Recognition
You'll become a 'Chartered Ergonomist & Human Factors Specialist', and can use a special logo and the post nominals C.ErgHF and MCIEHF.
What's needed?
If you work across the discipline using a broad range of knowledge and skills, this could be the right membership grade for you. Click on each item below to find out more about the different requirements for your application.
Education
Main requirement
You need a minimum of a National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 6 which equates to a graduate degree, a BTEC level 6 or an NVQ level 4. If you have alternative qualifications, please contact us to discuss.
Work Experience
Main requirement
You'll need to have carried out at least 10 significant ergonomics/ human factors activities or projects.
How to show this in your application
You'll need to complete a log book detailing your activities or projects. Your log book is a key part of your application as it demonstrates to the assessors the ergonomics that you have undertaken over your minimum period of work experience. Ideally you should start your log book as soon as you start working professionally. The following criteria must be met:
1. Your log book must contain between 10 and 20 separate records covering a minimum of:
- 300 days over a minimum of 3 years for a graduate from a Qualifying Course, including a minimum of 1 year (at least 150 days) of mentored activity.
- 400 days over a minimum of 4 years for a graduate from a non-Qualifying Course, including a minimum of 2 years (at least 300 days) of mentored activity.
- 600 days over a minimum of 6 years for all others.
2. The entries in the log book must demonstrate your ergonomics and human factors expertise and your professional development. Each record should include:
- A brief summary, with detailed documentation in an appendix.
- Discussion of the components of the human factors/ergonomics involved. For example, provide a list of reports that you have produced, the names of particular methods, tools and techniques that you used. Include reference to conference proceedings or journal articles relating to your log book entry.
- Discussion of the personal and professional/technical skills involved.
- An indication of your degree of responsibility, level of authority and description of your role in the project.
- Reflection on the successful and less successful features of each project.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have any log book examples?
Yes, we have examples that give you guidance in the level of detail required to satisfy the assessors that your knowledge and competence levels meet the criteria required for successful Registered Member application. Download the log book example.
Can I complete my log book retrospectively?
Yes you can, your log book can reflect work you have already done.
Does work experience as an undergraduate count?
Yes, you can include work undertaken during a period of work experience as part of your degree. It counts at a rate of 50% (i.e. one year’s industrial placement counts as 6 months’ qualifying experience) but to be eligible it must be suitably supervised, with mentor’s comments. If you have relevant work experience from before your degree, you can count that towards your total experience time at a rate of 75%.
Evidence
Main requirement
You will need at least 1 documented example from each year of your experience as evidence of your competence.
How to show this in your application
You must submit supporting evidence for some of your log book entries. The minimum number of pieces of evidence is:
- 3 for a graduate from a Qualifying Course.
- 4 for a graduate from a non-Qualifying Course.
- 6 for all others.
Note that a multi-authored report can be difficult to assess as evidence, so you must be explicit about your contribution to such a report.
Frequently asked questions
Some of my reports are confidential, what should I do?
We deal with all files relating to applications as securely as possible. You can be assured that all our assessors are used to dealing with confidential reports, and they have all signed Non-Disclosure Agreements. Only the two assessors dealing with your application will see the reports, and they (and we) will delete all reports after completion of your application. If that's not sufficient, you can redact sensitive information from the reports and submit them without specific details like client and company names, product details, locations etc. The assessors are looking for evidence of human factors expertise, application and practice so would not be concerned if that information was missing.
What counts as evidence?
Many different things can count as evidence for example, project reports you've been involved in, conference papers and posters you've written, book chapters you've contributed to, guidance and training material you've designed and webinar presentations you've given. This list is not exhaustive. The assessors may ask for more information if your contribution to the evidence is not clear or if the evidence is not strong enough.
Mentoring
Main requirement
Not all applications for Registered Membership have to include a period of mentored supervision – you can apply without being mentored as long as you have the minimum period of qualifying experience.
How to show this in your application
Your mentor should have professional experience within your particular area of work, so you should firstly look for a mentor from within your own organisation. Mentors would normally need to be a CIEHF Chartered Member, but if you're not based in the UK, for example, they may be a professional member of another ergonomics society. See all our Chartered members. If your mentor is not Chartered, please contact us as soon as possible, and prior to your application. As long as they have significant expertise in human factors then the partnership should work well. Note that your mentor cannot also be one of your referees.
If you don’t know anyone who could be your mentor, you could attend a Regional Group event in your area to meet more people locally, or go to the CIEHF’s own Ergonomics & Human Factors conference where there will be lots of people who might be able to help you. If you are really struggling to find anyone, consider joining the Mentoring Hub. See more details about the Hub.
Your mentor should give you independent advice and guidance as a qualified and experienced ergonomist/human factors expert on your professional development. They should review your log book at least four times per year. Ideally, this will involve the mentor and you meeting at least twice per year, perhaps with other reviews taking place at a distance. When you apply for Registered Membership, your mentor must endorse your log book activities with a written report on work and progress. Download our mentor report example.
The mentor’s contribution to your application for Registered Membership is vital. The assessors don't know you, so rely on the evidence provided by you and your mentor to assess your eligibility for membership. The assessors are looking for the mentor to have guided you, and to report your progress and approach on the mentor report form and to have ensured that you have adopted ‘an ergonomics approach’ in that you think and work like a professional ergonomist.
Find out more about mentoring.
Frequently asked questions
I’ve been working for years, do I still need a mentor?
Depending on the number of years you have been practising ergonomics and human factors, you may be eligible to apply for Registered Membership without needing a period of mentored supervision. You need to be able to demonstrate that you have accrued 6 years or equivalent full time work experience. As part of your application, you will need to include a logbook covering a minimum total of 600 days’ full time work and 6 supporting reports.
Competence
Main requirement
I have proficiency levels 3-5 in the majority of competencies listed in the CIEHF Professional Competency Checklist and at least proficiency level 2 in all the rest.
How to show this in your application
The checklist has been developed by CIEHF as a guide to expected competencies for qualification as an ergonomist and human factors specialist. It is already in use as an assessment tool for CIEHF accreditation of degree courses. It can be used in conjunction with a proficiency scale to show progress in breadth and depth of skills and expertise as your career progresses.
The checklist now forms part of the application for Registered Membership to help demonstrate breadth (through the number) and depth (through levels of proficiency) of claimed competencies. If you are planning to upgrade to Registered Membership, it might help you to complete the checklist as soon as you can. This will allow you to see any areas where you are particularly strong which might guide your log book entries or where you might need to fill any gaps. You will need to give evidence for all proficiency claims at level 4 or 5. Examples of these could be log book entries, training courses or a publication.
See the checklist and the guidance.
If you have any feedback on the checklist, we'd love to hear from you. Email us
CPD
Main requirement
You'll need to provide an up-to-date CPD record.
How to show this in your application
All successful Registered Member applicants will also be awarded Chartered status. Maintenance of Chartered status is dependent on suitable CPD activities being recorded each year. More instructions about CPD can be found on the application form.
Once you become a Registered Member with Chartered status, you will be able to use the post-nominal C.ErgHF MCIEHF. You will also receive a certificate indicating your new status.
Frequently asked questions
Once I’ve got my Chartered status, will I need to renew it or do I keep it forever?
Provided you maintain up to date acceptable CPD submissions each year and pay your membership subscriptions when they become due, then you will keep your status. If you let your CPD submissions lapse, then you may lose it.
Referees
Main requirement
You'll need to find three referees (or two if you've been mentored) who are Registered Members or Fellows of the CIEHF (or equivalent in a related professional body), and at least 1 of whom works outside your organisation.
How to show this in your application
Your referees must know you well enough to form a robust opinion of your professional work and status. Their reports are an important part of your application and must show strong support for it. This is especially true where you don't have a mentor's report to back up your application. Download our referee report example.
Assessment
How your application is assessed
Two suitably qualified members of the Institute’s Professional Affairs Board (PAB) will assess your application. They might ask you to submit additional information if they feel there are any areas that need clarification.
In order for your application to have the best chance of success, make sure it contains enough information for the assessors to answer positively all the following questions:
- Have you completed the necessary minimum time for professional experience?
- Have you demonstrated sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge?
- Do your log book and reports contain sufficient work to enable the assessment to be done?
- Does the mentor’s report confirm your mentored experience?
- Does the mentor’s report confirm acceptable levels of performance in the use of ergonomics and human factors concepts and techniques and professional behaviour?
- Have you demonstrated sufficient experience?
- Have you demonstrated sufficient professional development?
- Have you demonstrated a systems approach to your work?
- Are your referees reports adequate and supportive?
During the assessment of your application, all assessors follow specific written guidance and complete a checklist to ensure they work consistently and we maintain a clear record of your application. You should read these too before you apply to understand what the assessors are looking for and how they do their assessment.
Download the assessor guidance.
Download the assessor checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the assessment process take?
That depends on several things such as the quality and completeness of your application, and the speed with which we receive your referees reports. The assessors are all volunteers so must find time to assess your application, though they will endeavour to do this as quickly as possible. If all goes well, we hope to have your application processed within 6 weeks.
If my application is successful, what happens then?
Congratulate yourself! If your application is accepted, we will let you know straight away and you will be sent confirmation of the decision. You will also get a certificate and will be able to use the post-nominal MCIEHF, as recognition of your professional status.
What if my application is rejected?
You will be given guidance as to the areas in which it was felt that your application was lacking, so that you get a chance to improve the material so you can reapply in the future. Alternatively, you have the option, if you wish, to appeal a decision to reject your application. In which case, within 6 weeks of the decision being sent to you, should contact us by email to [email protected]. We will then guide you through the process.
Questions you might have
Why is Chartered status important?
Chartered status brings you recognition, more income and better career prospects. It enhances your standing among your peers and shows that you have demonstrated competence across the breadth of ergonomics and human factors. Find out more
Can I get my Chartered status back if I lose it one year?
Yes, your CPD can be assessed the following year and if successful, you'll then regain your Chartered status.
What do I pay if I upgrade before my membership renewal is due?
If you're already a member and have paid a subscription for the year, we'll work out a pro rata amount to make sure you don't pay twice for the same time period!
I'm coming up to retirement, what will happen to my membership?
When you retire, just let us know and we'll convert your membership to Retired status. You'll just need to declare that you receive no financial income from practice in the discipline. With Retired status, you'll pay a reduced subscription of £36 per year. Your membership grade will remain and you'll still have access to all the same member benefits. To apply for Retired status, please email us.
Ready to apply?
If you think you're ready to apply, this is what you'll need to do.
- Complete the Professional Competency Checklist. Download the checklist.
- Create your log book entries. Download the log book template.
- Gather the evidence to back up your log book entries.
- Fill in an application form.
- Email the application form to us, together with the Checklist, log book and evidence.
- Contact your mentor (if you have one) and ask them to prepare and send us their mentor report. Download the mentor report form to send to them.
- Contact your referees and ask them to prepare and send us their referee reports. Download the referee report form to send to them.
- Pay the £60 application fee when you receive our invoice.
Not quite there yet?
If you're not quite ready, join now as an Associate Member to get all the benefits while you continue to work towards Registered Membership!