Official Certification as an alternative route

I have never had the chance to study for a formal recognised degree due to family and work time constraints and a lack of financial resources.

After nearly 20 years in the IT/Tech industry, I need some 'official proof' of what I know to further my career. Not having a suitable formal degree has been a problem.

Around one year ago I was advised (and started) going down the route of Chartered Status' in the United Kingdom.

After some expenditure (around the same cost as a first years study for a BSc at a UK university), many hours of work providing copies of school/college certificates, attending interviews and providing work and life-based proof of my skills and knowledge, backed by professional and personal references, I have achieved the following:

Full membership of the Institutue of Management (MCIM)
Full membership of the IEE (MIEE), soon to become the IET (MIET)
Full membership of the British Computer Society (MBCS)
Chartered IT Professional Status with the BCS (CITP)
Chartered EngTech Status with the IEE (EngTech)

In addition, I have:
Applied for membership of the IEEE (MIEE), as they have access to information / resrouces which the IEE/IET does not.
Taken the advice of a careers 'officer', applied for and been accepted as a Licentiateship of the City and Guilds in London (LCGI).

All this together has shown an immediate improvement in my current job, with a promotion and fair pay-increase and makes my CV look somewhat better.

The route I've taken proves, I believe, that anyone who can't afford the cost of or the time to study for a degree can follow alternative routes and achieve professional recognition.

 

Congrats on a job will done, you are very resourceful!

I was wondering how you achieved your LCGI? Did you have to do anything other then provide your credentials and work experience or did you have to do some kind of paper? I have the LCGI in Mech. Eng. and received it based upon my credentials and experience. I'm registered as a Cert. Member of ASCET - American Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, and I belong to the City and & Guilds Association too.

I'm interested in applying to the EC UK as an IEng and would like to pursue that title next. Did you have to travel to the UK for the LCGI or any of the other titles?

Thanks in advance,
MP8
BA, MBA, LCGI (MechEng), I.E., I.M.M.

 

The LCGI was granted based on my professional certification by the BCS. It would also have been granted on my professional certification by the IEE.

Luckily, all interviews were done by telephone, as I work v-e-r-y long hours.

I live in the UK, BTW!

Regards