MEMBERSHIP GRADES

The information given below for each grade provides a broad outline of the requirements with some indication of how these By-laws are normally interpreted by the Institute's Membership Committee and Council.

Honorary Fellow
In very broad terms, Honorary Fellowship is by special invitation of Council and is restricted to extremely distinguished individuals in the field of acoustics who have made an outstanding contribution to the art and science of acoustics or similarly distinguished persons who have given outstanding or exceptional service to the Institute.

Fellow
The grade of Fellow is the senior professional class, granted to those normally over thirty-five years of age who have made significant contributions to the field in responsible acoustical work. In addition, the applicant must fulfil all the requirements for Corporate membership of the Institute as set out for the grade of Member below.

Member
The grade of Member, which is the junior professional class of Corporate membership, is granted to individuals who are at least twenty five years old, who satisfy Council as being suitably qualified educationally and who have a minimum of three years experience of responsible work in acoustics.

The qualifications that are normally considered acceptable for Corporate membership are a degree in acoustics, the Institute's Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control or some other degree level qualification where the course included a significant element or module in acoustics. Where the applicant does not hold such qualifications, Council may be prepared to accept evidence of a long period of responsible work in the field of acoustics in lieu of a formal qualification.

Associate Member
The Associate Member grade is open to persons of twenty-one years of age or more who satisfy Council as being suitably qualified educationally in acoustics or have an appropriate period of experience in acoustics in lieu of such qualification. This class of membership is aimed primarily at persons who have obtained the appropriate academic qualifications for the grade of Member but who do not (yet) have the relevant period of experience in the profession for the grade of Member.

The qualifications that are normally considered acceptable are those described above for Member. Where the applicant does not hold an appropriate qualification, Council may be prepared to accept evidence of a significant period of professional experience in lieu of a qualification.

Technician Member
The Technician Member grade is open to persons who are twenty-one years of age or more and who satisfy Council as being suitably qualified educationally in acoustics and have a minimum of one years' experience of work in acoustics. This grade of membership is intended for practitioners working in a wide variety of areas who wish to be involved in the profession or to be able to access the services provided by the Institute to its members but who are not yet able to qualify for Associate Member or Member grades. This could include acoustics support staff within Local Authority Environmental Health Departments, technicians in speech and audiology departments, people involved in noise monitoring, sound insulation and vibration testing and those working in the audio industry.

For this grade, the Institute will accept a relatively broad range of general educational qualifications at NVQ level 3 or higher, supplemented by an acoustics related qualification such as one or more of the Institute's Certificate courses. In technical areas where there are currently no Institute of Acoustics courses, a relevant award such as the BTECs in Music Technology or Sound Engineering would be acceptable. An alternative, experience-based, route would also be considered for those with no formal qualifications.

Affiliate
The grade of Affiliate is open to persons of eighteen or more years of age who satisfy Council that they have a serious interest or involvement in acoustics or a related discipline. No formal qualifications in acoustics are required.

Student
The Student grade of membership is open to people normally at least sixteen years old and normally no more than twenty-five, who are bona-fide students in acoustics or a related subject involving acoustics and whose general education is of a standard acceptable to Council.

Sponsor
Sponsor membership is open to firms, organisations or individuals engaged in or having an interest in acoustics and whose support can advance the aims and objects of the Institute.

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