Chartered Mathematician Status

Requirements

Applicants for admission to the register of Chartered Mathematicians must be a Fellow or Member of the Institute and meet the requirements in the following four components:

      Education

      Postgraduate training and experience

      Professional standing

      Continuing Professional Development

Applicants should provide suitable documentary evidence to demonstrate that they have met these requirements, which are detailed below.

Education

The educational requirements can be met by one of the following.

  

i)    An approved MMath honours degree.

ii)   An approved BSc honours degree in mathematics followed by a higher level taught or research degree in mathematics or a cognate subject.

iii)   An approved BSc honours degree in mathematics followed by subsequent training and experience in employment to obtain equivalent competences to those specified by the QAA for taught masters degrees.

iv)  A BSc or Masters undergraduate pass degree in mathematics followed by subsequent acquisition in education or employment of mathematical competences equivalent to those in i, ii, or iii above.

v)   A BSc or Masters undergraduate degree in mathematics which is taken in combination with one or more other subjects, or in a discipline with a high mathematics content such as engineering or a physical science, followed by subsequent acquisition in education or employment of mathematical competences equivalent to those in i, ii, or iii above.

Degrees in mathematics are approved by the Institute’s Higher Education Service Area on the basis of consideration of the specification, correspondence and visits as appropriate. Mathematical topics must constitute at least two-thirds of the total content at each stage of the course.

The QAA competences for taught masters degrees are detailed in Chartered designations: Appendix A.

Postgraduate Training and Experience

Applicants are required to have at least five years postgraduate training and experience, including employment for a minimum of two years, requiring the application of mathematical knowledge.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have developed a series of mathematical, generic and specific competences as described in Chartered designations: Appendix B.

Applicants who can demonstrate that they have successfully completed an approved Graduate Training Scheme, or followed the Initial Professional Development Scheme, will have met the postgraduate training and experience requirements for obtaining the Chartered Mathematician designation. Compliance over several years with the requirements of the Continuing Professional Development Scheme will provide strong supporting evidence that applicants have met the training and experience requirements.

Professional Standing

An applicant must have been employed at an appropriate level of professional standing for a minimum period of two years in which the professional skills of a chartered mathematician are pertinent to the execution of the duties of the post. A summary of expectations for posts in education, science, technology, commerce, engineering and finance is contained in Chartered designations: Appendix C.

Continuing Professional Development

Applicants are required to make a commitment to maintaining their continuing professional development throughout their careers.

Details of the Institute’s CPD scheme may be found on the Institute’s website Continuing Professional Development Scheme. This scheme is not obligatory.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete and sign an Institute application form and supply transcript(s) of degree(s).  The signature constitutes a contract to abide by the requirements of the designation.  A properly completed application will not be processed until the appropriate fees are received.  See the subscription section for the current fees. See also Further Information below.

The application must include a statement outlining current and previous professional activities.  The statement is the most important part of the application and should make the case for acceptance by the Membership Committee.  Additional information, for example a summary publication list, may be enclosed, but should not normally exceed four sides of A4 paper.

Applicants for the designation should show the application form to two referees who must read and sign it.  The referees must be people who can confirm that the information on the application form is correct and who can comment on the extent that the requirements for postgraduate training and experience, and the professional standing of the applicant’s recent employment have been met.  A signature is taken to mean that in that referee's opinion the applicant meets the requirements for the designation.  Referees will later be invited to write references in support of the application.

Referees should have a detailed knowledge of the applicant’s work and be more senior than the applicant, or of equal seniority but working for a different organisation.

Ideally, at least one referee should be a Chartered Mathematician or failing that a senior member of a relevant professional body.  At least one referee should, in general, be from the applicant’s current employment.

Applications for the Chartered Mathematician designation are considered by the Membership Committee.  Applications usually take two to three months to process from receipt at Catherine Richards House

Designatory Letters

All chartered mathematicians are entitled to use the title 'Chartered Mathematician' with CMath as a prefix to membership grade (i.e. CMath MIMA or CMath FIMA)

Further Information

Applicants may apply for corporate membership and the Chartered Mathematician designation simultaneously.

Chartered Mathematicians may purchase the chartered mathematician diploma.

A non-refundable entrance fee must be enclosed with the application, but the annual Chartered Mathematician subscription fee first becomes due at the same time as the applicant’s annual membership subscription fee.

Chartered designations: Appendix A 

Frameworks for higher education qualifications in England, Wales, and in Scotland have been published. These contain the following common descriptor for masters degrees awarded within UK.

Masters degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

1. a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of academic discipline, field of study, or area of professional practice.

2. a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship;

3. originality in their application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline.

4. conceptual understanding that enables the student:

·  to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline;

and

·  to evaluate methodologies and develop difficult critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

1. deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgments in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

2. demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level

3. continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level

And will have

4. the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

· the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility

·  decision making in complex and unpredictable situations

and

· the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development.

Chartered designations: Appendix B

COMPETENCES

Competences can be classified under three main headings

i. Mathematical

ii. Generic – these will be common with those expected of science and technology professionals in other disciplines.

iii. Specific – those relevant to particular employment e.g. finance, teaching, and personal aspirations.

Mathematical Competences

A mathematician seeking a Chartered designation status will need to demonstrate employment experience requiring the application of mathematical skills gained during a degree course.  For some this will involve advancing mathematics through fundamental research but for most this involvement will be in applying mathematical skills to the development and provision of products, processes and services.

Most mathematical employment will be based on the application of a subset of knowledge gained in a degree course.  This knowledge may require enhancement and an understanding of its applications in the employer’s areas of business.  Effective use of mathematics may require an understanding and some training in these business areas.

All mathematicians will apply their skills of problem analysis, definition and solution.

Generic Competences

All chartered members are expected to acquire and demonstrate by applying a combination of their knowledge, training, and experience the following competences:

i. Deal with complex issues, both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements, and communicate conclusions clearly to specialists and non specialists.

ii. Use theoretical and practical methods in the analysis and solution of problems.

iii. Communicate effectively through verbal and written forms including letters, proposals, presentations, and reports.

iv. Plan and organise projects effectively and be aware of project management methodology.

v. Work effectively in a team, including the ability to provide leadership as appropriate. Have an appreciation of personnel selection and recruitment methodology and staff assessment and appraisal procedures.

vi. Use influencing and negotiating skills in relations with colleagues, the providers of funds, suppliers, regulators, and clients or customers.

vii. Develop reliable estimating skills and apply sound cost and time management skills. Have an appropriate level of understanding of financial, management, and cost accounting, financial planning and budgetary control.

viii. Have an appropriate level of understanding of contract and other legal procedures including intellectual property rights.

ix. Develop and extend general and specific IT skills and an appreciation of methods of access to information. 

x. Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Health and Safety and where appropriate environmental issues and legislation. 

xi. Be aware of equal opportunities and employment legislation and the policies and procedures adopted by their employers.

xii. Comply with IMA Code of Conduct and always behave with integrity and in an ethical manner.

xiii. Demonstrate a commitment to Continuing Professional Development.

Specific Competences

Mathematicians work in a wide range of different employment areas in commerce, industry, the public sector, and education. All mathematicians will require knowledge of the organisation, objectives, mission statement of their employers and an understanding of the employer’s areas of business, and for commercial organisations their clients, suppliers and competitors. Depending on the nature of employment mathematicians will require additional mathematical knowledge, a greater level of attainment in some generic competences, and competences specific to the employment. A full statement of specific competences in all areas of employment is not feasible but illustrative examples are provided below.

Some employment will require additional formal qualifications, for instance

· Accountancy and actuaries

· Teachers in schools and further education

· Banking and insurance.

These qualifications are based on training, education, and work based experience leading to formal examinations.

Other employment that requires the gaining of additional competences include:

· Patent, information, and publishing work – enhanced knowledge of intellectual property rights

· Financial quantitative analysis – enhanced knowledge of financial mathematics and the pricing of derivatives

· Aerospace – understanding of relevant knowledge of physics and engineering aspects of work.

Chartered designations: Appendix C

Typical expectations of applicants for Chartered designation.

Higher Education – Research Fellows

It will be assumed that all research fellows have obtained a PhD or equivalent.  Research fellows may participate in some lecturing or other teaching activities.

• Conducting research on own initiative and in collaboration with others

• Presenting papers at conferences and symposia

• Publishing results in scientific journals

Higher Education – Lecturers

• Lecturing and tutorial activities
• Contribution to the development of undergraduate and postgraduate courses
• Supervision of research and research activities similar to those carried out by research fellows
• Involvement in admissions, examinations and other departmental activities
• Work with colleagues in other disciplines
• Have an empathy with students

Schools and FE Teaching and Lecturing

It will be assumed that all applicants from schools and FE will have Qualified Teacher Status.

• Teaching to post GCSE standard and/or have a post of special responsibility for mathematics

• Contribute to curricula development and extra curricula mathematical activities

• Have a good understanding of national curriculum issues and other government initiatives

• Have an awareness of opportunities for mathematics students in higher education and employment

• Have an empathy with students and young people.

In the Commerce, Engineering, Finance sectors, Science and Technology

• Hold a position of professional standing within their organisation
• Have implemented a project involving the application of mathematics related to the employment.
• Can demonstrate relevant commercial, communication and management expertise