Transcript Professional Natural Scientist

1
Registration with the South African
Council for Natural Scientific
Professions
Presentation to the South African Society for
Agricultural Extension, University of the Free State,
4 June 2013
Dr Rolf Becker Pr.Sci.Nat.
Executive Director
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NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS
ACT OF 2003
• The current Act (No. 27 of 2003) replaced the
Natural Scientific Professions Act of 1993
• 1993 Act = Voluntary registration
• 2003 Act = Compulsory registration
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NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS
ACT OF 2003
• Section 18 (2) A person may not practise in
any of the fields of practice listed in Schedule
I unless he or she is registered in a category
listed in subsection (1).
• Section 20 (1) Only a registered person may
practise in a consulting capacity.
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Fields of Practice
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Agricultural Science
Animal Science
Biological Science
Botanical Science
Chemical Science
Earth Science
Ecological Science
Environmental Science
Food Science
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Geological Science
Geospatial Science
Mathematical Science
Microbiological Science
Physical Science
Toxicological Science
Water Resource Science
Zoological Science
Agricultural Extension
Science
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WHY SHOULD REGISTRATION BE
NECESSARY?
Professionals provide a service to the
public.
The public has a right to be
protected.
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WHY SHOULD REGISTRATION BE
NECESSARY?
Professionals provide a service to the
public.
The profession has a right to be
protected.
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WHAT IS SACNASP’s FUNCTION?
• To register natural scientists.
• To hold the registered persons to a Code of Conduct.
• To represent the practitioners of the natural sciences
and to campaign on their behalf.
• To ensure maintenance of acceptable standards of
training.
• To advise the Minister on matters relating to the
natural scientific professions.
TO ENSURE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE PRACTICE BY
REGISTERED SCIENTISTS
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Whom and what does SACNASP
represent?
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Professional Natural Scientists
The Community
Wide range of Intellectual Capital
A major investment in South Africa’s future
“Education and research are for tomorrow, not today.
These are the investments society makes in its future”
(Casey NH, Livestock Science, 2011)
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What does SACNASP believe?
• That scientific evidence should be used as a
matter of routine to inform decision and
shape policy.
• That the sciences must be protected from the
influences of money and politics.
• That the importance of knowledge,
rationality, logic and deduction is paramount
to our professions.
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CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION
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Certificated Natural Scientist (Cert.Sci.Nat.)
Candidate Natural Scientist (Cand.Sci.Nat.)
Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.)
Associate Natural Scientist (Assoc.Sci.Nat.)
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REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION
Cert.Sci.Nat.
• Recognised 3 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT
and between one to five years experience.
Cand.Sci.Nat.
• Recognised 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT
with no experience.
Pr.Sci.Nat.
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Recognised 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT plus
three years experience.
Assoc.Sci.Nat.
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To be determined by relevant Professional Advisory Committee
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Certificated Natural Scientist
Level A
A recognised 3-year National
Diploma (N. Dip.) or 3-year
Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc.) or
the equivalent thereof with a
minimum of one year
appropriate work experience.
Level B
A recognised 2- or 3-year
National Diploma or the
equivalent thereof, followed
by 3 years of work experience
in the event of the 3-year
qualification and 5 years work
experience in the event of the
2-year qualification.
The strict requirements for
the basic sciences are not
considered a prerequisite for
registration at this level.
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WHY REGISTER ???
• Register and be recognised!
– By Peers
– Endorsed backing of unbiased Council
– Public
• Enjoy Professional status
• Protect and strengthen your Profession
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WHY REGISTER ??? (cntd.)
• No work identified under the Act may be
done by persons who are not registered with
SACNASP.
• Required for OSD!
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HOW DO I REGISTER?
www.sacnasp.org.za
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The Registration Process
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Complete application received
Professional Advisory Committee (PAC)
Registration Committee (RC)
Qualifications Assessment Committee (QAC)
Council
Appeal Process
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
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NUMBERS as at 31 January 2013
• 363 Certificated Natural Scientists (+26%)
• 483 Candidate Natural Scientists (+56%)
• 4629 Professional Natural Scientists (+7%)
• 5514 Total (+576 since 30 April 2012; +12%)
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DISTRIBUTION IN FIELDS OF PRACTISE
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27% Geological Science
10% Earth Science
9% Environmental Science
9% Agricultural Science
8% Animal Science
7% Chemical Science
4% Ecological Science
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CURRENT PROJECTS
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Strengthen SACNASP
Become more relevant
Rejuvenating the Act
Revising the Rules
Enhancing our visibility
Educate scientists and public
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CURRENT PROJECTS
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
– Geology
– Animal Science
• Modernise registration process
• Streamline administration procedures
• Marketing campaign
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IMPROVED SERVICE
• Frequent communication through regular
newsletters
• Personal Indemnity Insurance
• Support conferences and symposia
• Regional breakfast sessions
• Employment opportunities through website
• Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS
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Geospatial Science – new Field of Practice
Trainee Certificated Natural Scientist
Specialist Natural Scientist
Associate Natural Scientist
– Palaeontology
– Agricultural Extension
– Competent Valuator
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FUTURE PROJECTS
• Greater involvement in the development of
curricula for the natural sciences
• Accreditation of training centres
• Step up media coverage
• Start to engage the youth
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Thank you
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STATISTICS
TABLE 2
SACNASP age distribution for all categories from 30 April
2006 to 30 April 2012
2006
31 Jan
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Age
distribution (%)
60-plus
18
18
18
18
17
17
15
15
50-59
23
22
21
22
22
22
21
20
40-49
28
28
28
27
27
27
26
25
30-39
24
25
26
27
27
28
30
31
20-29
7
7
6
6
6
6
8
9
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STATISTICS
TABLE
3
SACNASP gender distribution from 30 April 2006 to
30 April 2012
31 Jan
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
82
80
78
78
77
75
73
71
18
20
22
22
23
25
27
29
Gende
r (%)
Male
Femal
e
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STATISTICS
SACNASP distribution by Race from 30 April
TABLE 4 2006 to 30 April 2012
2006
Distribution by
Race (%)
31 Jan
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
White
87
86
84
83
81
77
71
66
Black
8
9
11
12
14
17
23
28
Asian
Coloure
d
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
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NUMBERS
TABLE 1
SACNASP numbers from 30 April 2006 - 30 April
2013
31
Jan
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Cand
170
145
158
174
179
220
310
483
Cert
58
78
103
108
107
151
288
363
Prof
2966 3180 3380 3549 3655 3867 4340 4629
Total
3194 3403 3641 3831 3941 4238 4938 5514
Annual
increase
217
209
238
190
110
297
700
576
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