Chartered status is an internationally recognised badge of excellence, giving you parity with other chartered professionals you’ll encounter throughout your career. It demonstrates to your employers, customers and the wider public that you are a competent professional. Above all, chartered status will result in greater credibility and faster career progression.
Only Professional Membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters confers Chartered Forester or Chartered Arboriculturist status, allowing the use of the prestigious MICFor post-nominals.
Whether you are a graduate at the beginning of your professional journey, or an experienced forester or arboriculturist, staff at the Institute of Chartered Foresters will provide you with continued guidance and support on your route to chartered status.
Are you going through PME this year? Click here to access some short videos to guide you through the process.
Routes to Chartered Status
There are two routes to gaining chartered status: Professional Membership Entry (PME) and Assessed Professional Competence (APC).
PME is the standard route open to Associate members. APC is the non-standard route, available to senior forestry and arboriculture professionals not eligible to present via PME.
From Associate member to Professional Member and eventually Fellow. The attainment of Fellowship should be the goal of all members of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
Professional Membership Entry (PME)
PME is the standard route to obtaining chartered status. It is available only to Associate members of the Institute. This is a six-step assessment process:
- Two-year work record demonstrating professional competency
- Two-year CPD record, demonstrating a commitment to personal and professional development
- A career profile (extended CV)
- A Critical Analysis (3,000 – 3,500 words analysing professional conduct in a challenging situation at work)
- Professionalism in Arboriculture and Forestry E-Learning Module and Ethical Dilemma
- A Professional Interview
Full details about the requirements of each of these steps can be found in the PME Guidance Notes. Click here to access some short videos with tips to guide you through the process.
Eligibility for PME is assessed using a points-based system, where applicants must have obtained ten qualifying points before they can present. Points are awarded to a combination of academic qualification (a degree-level qualification scoring at least four points is required) and relevant professional experience (with one point awarded per year of full-time relevant work in a supervisory, managerial or scientific capacity).
Successful completion of relevant graduate schemes offered by Natural Resources Wales, Savills UK, Scottish Forestry, Scottish Woodlands, and Tilhill respectively now offers individuals two additional Professional Membership Entry (PME) qualifying points, meaning graduates without an honours degree specifically in forestry or arboriculture may be able to present for PME two years earlier than before (subject to eligibility).
Associate members of the Institute have up to ten years to complete PME but we advise starting to prepare for PME as soon as possible after joining.
Fees
The 2026 fee for PME is £475, payable in two instalments: £225 with the submission of the PME1 Registration Form by 1 June and £250 with the submission of the written elements of the assessment by 17:00 on 1 August.
PME terms and conditions
Failure to submit your full PME application by 17:00 on 1 August (after registering for PME and paying the assessment fees by 1 June) results in the applicant losing the assessment fees. If your employer has paid your registration fees directly to the Institute and you do not submit an application within the required timeframe, or you decide to withdraw from the process, we will be unable to provide a refund to your employer, and it is your responsibility to inform your employer that you did not submit an application within the required timeframe. In exceptional circumstances we may be able to carry over the first instalment of the assessment fees providing you contact us in advance to discuss. Should we allow you to carry over your assessment fees to following year and you are still unable to submit your PME application by 17:00 on 1 August, we will be unable to carry your fees forward to a future year and no refund will be issued.
To find out more about requirements for joining as an Associate member, please see our Membership Journey Planner or download our information guide below.
Assessed Professional Competence (APC)
APC is the non-standard route to obtaining chartered status. In general, it is only available to senior forestry and arboriculture professionals who are not eligible to present via PME. To be eligible to apply via APC, candidates must possess at least fifteen years of relevant experience and have held a position of senior, strategic responsibility for at least the last five of those years.
In addition, candidates applying for Professional Membership via APC must be able to demonstrate all of the following points in their application and, if invited, at professional interview:
- that they have achieved a position of leadership in their profession, where they are responsible for the strategic management and planning of their own work and usually that of colleagues;
- that their opinions are respected by others such that they are an acknowledged authority or an established name in their field;
- and that they have a professional influence that extends at a strategic level beyond their day-to-day work environment.
Fees
Please contact us directly regarding APC fees.
Deadline for Applications
The application form must be submitted by 17:00 on 1 June, and your Ethical Dilemma response must be submitted by 17:00 on 1 July. Full details can be found in the APC Guidance Notes.
Reinstatement
If you have been a member of the Institute previously, having resigned or let your membership lapse, and wish to be reinstated, please read our Guide for Reinstatement.
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