Chartered Professionals have reached a high level of ability and professional standing. If you become Chartered it is like a gold stamp of approval on your CV, and can be very important to career progression. Royal Charters are awarded to organisations known as Professional Bodies, and Chartership can then only be given to professionals who meet certain strict standards. The most famous Chartered professionals are probably Chartered Accountants; however you can also become a Chartered Mathematician, which is awarded by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). If you become a Chartered Mathematician, then you can use the letters CMath after your name.
Why is Chartered registration important?
- Employers value Chartership as it is an external benchmark which validates the quality and integrity of their employees’ work. It is valued by clients and it can support internal career progression. An indication of its importance to employers is that many contribute to or even reimburse all fees to do with membership of Professional Bodies and Chartered Registration.
- Chartership recognises your abilities and commitment, particularly among your peers. It can enhance your self-confidence as well as enabling you to belong to a community of professional mathematicians.
- If you work within a small team of mathematicians inside a much larger company then being a Chartered Mathematician means that your skills can be properly recognised.
If I am still a student, then why should I be interested in being a Chartered Mathematician?
Becoming a Chartered Mathematician might seem like a long way off when you are a student, however it is possible to become Chartered within just five years of graduation.
While you are a student you can still become a Student Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA). This will look great on your CV and will also mean that once you graduate you can get an initial reduction on your membership. Being a Student Member only costs £10 a year, but comes with great benefits including six hard-copy magazines per year. How to join the IMA.
Becoming a Student Member of the IMA is a fantastic first step on the road to becoming a Chartered Mathematician one day.
Further information about Chartership with the IMA
The IMA offers three routes to professional registration, meaning that you could become a Chartered Mathematician, Chartered Scientist or Chartered Maths Teacher.
To apply for professional registration, you need first to be a Member or Fellow of the IMA, and demonstrate the educational requirements which can be:
- Approved MMath Honours
- Approved BSc Hons Maths plus higher-level research or taught degree – maths/cognate subject
- Approved BSc Hons Maths plus training/work experience – equivalent QAA competencies for taught masters
- BSc or Masters undergrad pass in maths/high maths content plus training/work experience – equivalent QAA competencies for taught masters
You will need at least 5 years ‘Professional Training and Experience’ requiring application of maths knowledge including at least 2 years in employment. This should enable you to develop your training or work experience and demonstrate readiness for professional registration by showing evidence of meeting the required competencies. There are three mathematical ones such as applying mathematical techniques to practical problem solving and 13 generic competencies such as project planning and management.
Quotes from people who have become Chartered Mathematicians.
“Becoming a Chartered Mathematician has enabled me to progress my career both in academia and industry. It shows everyone I communicate with my mathematical background which is valued by employers. The application procedure encouraged me to reflect on my experience and career to date which is always a rewarding exercise.”
Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Senior Data Scientist, Sainsbury’s Argos
“Working toward my chartership gave structure and goals to my professional development during my initial years in employment. I was lucky to be able to spend my first two years on an IMA accredited graduate scheme and benefit from the advice and experience of a mentor.”
Dr Jenny Macey CMath, CPhys, CSci, FIMA, MInstP, Computational Physicist and IMA Councillor
“Chartered status was a significant advantage in advancing my career in the railway industry”
Malcolm Savage, Owner and Director Savoir Ltd
“Chartership gave me confidence in working with client organisations. The process of working through my CV with my mentor, helped me to see the value I have to offer from an outside perspective and where I could usefully continue my professional development.”
Dr Martine J. Barons CMath MIMA, Director of the Applied Statistics and Risk Unit, University of Warwick
“I wanted to become a Chartered mathematician because I wanted to continue on contributing and being part of mathematics. When I went into industry I felt that I lost that a little bit and I wanted to keep the link between my academic passion and deploying mathematics in a business sense”
Michael Holmes, Finance Industry
“The support provided by the IMA for achieving Chartered Mathematician status is very well structured, and I feel well-prepared for when I submit an application for the accreditation”
Nathan Turner, Rolls-Royce plc
“I want to go for Chartered mathematician first and foremost because that’s what my undergraduate degree is in and is probably where I’ve got my largest area of interest… mathematics is really where the passion lies”
Simon Noel, QinetiQ
Image Credits
“Working” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Hatoriz
“career” (CC BY 2.0) by a loves dc
