Mature Candidate Route to Membership

The Mature Candidate Route (MCR) is designed to provide a route to membership at the IFE Technician, Graduate and Member grades, to those who do not have the required academic qualifications but who are able to demonstrate that in later life, they have achieved a standard of professional competence comparable to their contemporaries who have achieved those grades by academic attainment.

Applicants are required to do this by submitting a technical paper, The MCR is only available to applicants over the age of 35 years, with the appropriate period of increasing responsibility. The MCR is not an easy option; the burden of proof is with the applicant and is stringent.

The process comprises three phases:

Phase one

An application form is completed and submitted together with a proposal for a technical paper.

Phase two

The Institution will review your application at this stage to ensure the essential requirements in respect of training, experience and responsibility can be met. The review will also consider the appropriateness of the proposal for the technical paper. It is important, therefore, that you do not start work on a paper before this stage is completed.

Phase three

The applicant writes their technical paper which is then assessed by members of the Membership Applications Assessment Panel. Click here for further information

Click here to download a copy of the Mature Candidate Route guidance notes.