5.1 Applications for membership

5.1.1 All applications for membership are to be completed online at www.ser-ltd.com. Once payment has been made the applicant must sign and date and send to SER Ltd. hj

5.2 Assessment of applications for membership

5.2.1 SER Admin check applicant’s declarations of Chartered membership with the relevant Institution, as well as checking the online application for completeness. 5.2.2 Two members of the Scottish Registration Board are nominated to assess each application for membership of the Scheme.

5.2.3 Members of the Scottish Registration Board must declare any current or past conflict of interest in contributing to the assessment of an applicant.

5.2.4 The Assessors will grade each application in one of three ways: 1. Does not satisfy the criteria for membership 2. Satisfies the criteria for membership 3. Cannot be decided: call for more information or applicant for interview

5.2.5 Following this grading, submission of further information and any interview, the Assessors submit their recommendations to the Scottish Registration Board for approval of their decisions. The recommendations of the Scottish Registration Board are subject to ratification by the SER Board of Directors. Decisions are reported to the applicant by the Head of Certification.

5.2.6 All personal information is collected and stored in accordance with the Privacy Policy available on the SER website at https://www.ser-ltd.com

5.3 Maintaining membership

5.3.1 Membership must be renewed annually by paying the appropriate fee. If renewal fees for an Approved Certifier or Approved Body are not paid by the due date their ability to generate certificates is disabled. If fees remain unpaid for three months, the membership of the Approved Certifier or Approved Body is terminated. A full re-application is required prior to reinstatement.

5.3.2 Approved Certifiers who fail to provide a CPD return by the required date may have their membership suspended until a return is provided.

5.3.3 Approved Certifiers who wish to amend their declaration of competence may do so as part of the annual renewal process.

5.3.4 Any member who wishes to resign their membership must inform SER who will notify BSD.

5.3.5 Membership may be terminated, or other disciplinary action taken, at any time following properly conducted appeals and disciplinary procedures (see 4.7). SER will notify BSD by the end of the next working day.

5.4 Auditing of Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers

5.4.1 SER audits the activities of Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers who are members of the Scheme.

5.4.2 Details of SER’s procedures for auditing may be found in Procedures for Auditing the Activities of Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers available from www.ser-ltd.com.

5.5 Auditing of SER

5.5.1 The management of the Scheme by SER, including membership assessment and auditing is subject to audit by the BSD on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. Reports of these audits are available from www.gov.scot