New apprentice gets off to a flying start

Nothing to do with what you knew - just what your existing qualifications exempted you from/

When my father had to leave Germany in 1933, he was a fully qualified doctor, the equivalent of a consultant in the NHS. The UK medical profession made him re-qualify before they would allow him to practise. He just got on with it.

whereas Laura K's grandfather finished his medical studies at Rdinburgh.

Similar to a school chums Mother whose qualifications as a midwife gained in the Netherlands in 1943 were not accepted as they were issued under the German occupation . She had to go on a course and get UK ones .

GH

And she is probably now too young for me.

I thought *in*experience came at a higher price?

Owain

This has to be the funniest few posts I've seen on here for like... 20 years. Then again my memory might be showing signs of age related degeneration.

"Okay Mr Khan, I'd like another free kebab please."

Owain

it's the IET now it change in 2006.

Yes, you now only have to be interested in Electricity to join,

I joined with minimal fuss many years ago. At least I get the occasional interesting meeting, the magazine is very good, and free coffee if I'm around the Embankment!

Strangely, my CEng isn't with them, but with the BCS (they have good coffee too).

Eh? Do you know what IET stands for?

There's "associate" that doesn't need any qualifications - albeit doesn't give any letters to go with the BH Calcutta (failed)

yes, I'm a Member - and I got my 50 year badge some years ago.

We get free badges and other free stuff to hand out to the students. There's various ways of becoming some sort of memeber I was asked and then they put me off by mentioning a membership fee.

I used to be a member of the Institute of Physics, but it did nothing for me. I used the letters after my name precisely once (actually in a Building Regs consultation response for Part P). One year, the IoP accused me of not paying towards the end of the year. I checked and I had, but I couldn't be bothered to follow it up, and it seemed like a convenient way to stop the pointless annual payment.

In my industry in the UK, professional membership carries no status at all. Status is all about your achievements and reputation, just as it should be. It's those without either who tend to string the letters after their names.

Then I don't understand your comment!

So there _was_ a benefit to the BCS then... shame I almost never go to London. I dumped my membership. Never used it. And as my degree is Biology I could get CEng. Apparently what I learned over 3 years 40 years ago matters more than the 40 years since.

Andy

I go fairly frequently. In fact, I'm going on Thursday!

And I'm Chair of the Kent branch of BCS...