Many professional bodies in the U.K., Canada, Australia, the U.S. and elsewhere run examinations leading to the award of different memberships, which under many circumstances, are degree equivalents. I wish to know if there are anyone in this forum who knows if there are any agencies, governmental or private, which assess professional qualifications? Thank you!
In the UK, those professional qualifications granted by Chartered bodies are a sign of quality and well recognized. Those Chartered professional bodies include The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, The Chartered Institute of Bankers, The Chartered Institute of Marketing, etc..... (i.e. with the word of "Chartered" in the name of professional bodies). Such qualifications are generally recognized as a first degree and the holders are eligible for master degree studies. Of course, some non-chartered professional qualifications may also be accepted by universities as first degrees. On the safe side, one should choose the "Chartered" qualifications if possible.
In Australia the short answer is "NO" The entry these days to the professional graded membership is via a specific degree or a degree with specific content. I have accountancy, engineering and banking & finance senior graded memberships - equal to the 'chartered' memberships that Yan refers to. To attain these memberships today [mine date back to 1960's] requires a degree in each case. However the fact that i have what today requires a degree doesn't give me 3 degrees or the equivelance of them. What it does do is allow me to practice along sde of present graudates, enter a masters program as they can. It is nice to quote our degrees, but unless they are purely for window dressing purposes, the utility of those very degrees must be evidenced by the recognition of the respective professional bodies.
From Dormuk In the US the professional exam qualifications such as engineering, accounting, law and others, are not considered degree equivalents, but rather as skill and knoweldge level verifications. In most cases you need either an accredited degree or years of experience to even take the test. And then it is only valid in the state or jurisdiction in which it was granted. My engineering qulification is only god for work done in Arizona or states with comity with Arizona, andt then only in Mining. My contractor license is only good in California and then only for heavy industrial construction. Neither one is any equivilent to a degree, or would even count towards a degree.
I don't know how useful this will be but City and Guilds in the UK have a senior awards scheme that recognises prior experience, qualifications, competence, etc. It might be possible for you to use your other qualifications to gain this particular award. Check it out at: http://www.city-and-guilds.co.uk/pls/CG/CITYANDGUILDS.prc_frameset?p_pagename=SHOW_CHANGE_JOIN Paul
In the US, the American Council on Education has its College Credit Recommendation Service (CCRS (formerly Panel on Non-Scholastic Sponsored Instruction (PONSI) ) ). http://www.acenet.edu/calec/corporate/certif-exam.cfm Regards. TommyK
