How to Get into BCS and What is there once you are Inside Jane Littlehales MBCS CEng

Grades Available Fellow Member Most appropriate/useful Apply for Chartered Engineer status at same time Associate On the way to becoming member Affiliate, Business Affiliate, Student, Graduate, Companion … Worth the fee?

Costs £49 Basic subscription to Graduate membership while processing form £55 Processing Fee Total £104 Takes 2-3 months to process £105 annual fee if accepted for membership

Applying Membership grades based on points Academic qualifications Experience CPD Self assessment form on Web Form Guidance notes FAQs

Next Complete Professional Membership Application form Need two supporters to validate your form One must be BCS member I’ll validate anyone You send form to BCS Copies sent back to you to give to supporters Supporters fill in their bits They give the sealed envelopes to you to send to BCS

More BCS will invite you to an interview Approx. time, place chosen by you on form Panel of 3 members May not have experiences similar to yours

Typical Questions CDP pursued Responsibilities for people and technology Reporting chanels System development, programming Standards worked to Qualitative and quantitative measures of effectiveness Are you professional enough? Are you in IT enough?

And then Can take several more months to hear May need to pay more membership fees if have run out! Letter and Certificates for MBCS and Chartered Engineer Hoorah! My initial application in January 2000 Achieved full membership in September 2000

What Benefits? Oxon BCS meetings open to all Usual branded ties, scarves, coasters More letters after your name BCS use all your letters in all correspondence Computer Bulletin magazine Special interest groups SIG publications

More Benefits New e-bulletin Mailing lists Discounts on useful publications Recognition Nationally and internationally Proof of professionalism

The taste of things to come … BCS is changing See latest and next Bulletin, Web Recognise that image and services are wrong Changes are being described now Some already in place Others in November Looks like it could be good

New Features Less emphasis on software engineering and management More on training, support roles New forums – one on Education Membership structure and application requirements overhauled New SIGs

Is it worth it? For me, yes Like to be thought of as professional Work not mainstream IT Keep in touch with wider IT world Other fields Outside University Pass on info to others

Conclusions Do the self assessment Read the (new, improved) Web pages Attend a few Oxon BCS meetings Decide Are you committed to CPD? Do you want to pay £105 a year? Do you want the recognition? Go for it! Or not

Thanks Any questions?