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Registration with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions

Presentation to the South African Society for Agricultural Extension, University of the Free State,

4 June 2013

Dr Rolf Becker Pr.Sci.Nat.Executive Director

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NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT OF 2003

• The current Act (No. 27 of 2003) replaced the Natural Scientific Professions Act of 1993

• 1993 Act = Voluntary registration• 2003 Act = Compulsory registration

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NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT OF 2003

• Section 18 (2) A person may not practise in any of the fields of practice listed in Schedule I unless he or she is registered in a category listed in subsection (1).

• Section 20 (1) Only a registered person may practise in a consulting capacity.

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Fields of Practice

• Agricultural Science• Animal Science• Biological Science• Botanical Science• Chemical Science• Earth Science• Ecological Science• Environmental Science• Food Science

• Geological Science• Geospatial Science• Mathematical Science• Microbiological Science• Physical Science• Toxicological Science• Water Resource Science• Zoological Science• Agricultural Extension

Science

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WHY SHOULD REGISTRATION BE NECESSARY?

Professionals provide a service to the public.

The public has a right to be protected.

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WHY SHOULD REGISTRATION BE NECESSARY?

Professionals provide a service to the public.

The profession has a right to be protected.

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WHAT IS SACNASP’s FUNCTION?

• To register natural scientists. • To hold the registered persons to a Code of Conduct.• To represent the practitioners of the natural sciences

and to campaign on their behalf.• To ensure maintenance of acceptable standards of

training. • To advise the Minister on matters relating to the

natural scientific professions.TO ENSURE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE PRACTICE BY

REGISTERED SCIENTISTS

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Whom and what does SACNASP represent?

• Professional Natural Scientists• The Community• Wide range of Intellectual Capital• A major investment in South Africa’s future“Education and research are for tomorrow, not today. These are the investments society makes in its future”

(Casey NH, Livestock Science, 2011)

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What does SACNASP believe?

• That scientific evidence should be used as a matter of routine to inform decision and shape policy.

• That the sciences must be protected from the influences of money and politics.

• That the importance of knowledge, rationality, logic and deduction is paramount to our professions.

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CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION

• Certificated Natural Scientist (Cert.Sci.Nat.)• Candidate Natural Scientist (Cand.Sci.Nat.)• Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.)• Associate Natural Scientist (Assoc.Sci.Nat.)

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REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATIONCert.Sci.Nat.• Recognised 3 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT and

between one to five years experience.Cand.Sci.Nat.• Recognised 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT with no

experience.Pr.Sci.Nat.• Recognised 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT plus three

years experience.Assoc.Sci.Nat. • To be determined by relevant Professional Advisory Committee

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Certificated Natural Scientist

Level AA recognised 3-year National Diploma (N. Dip.) or 3-year Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc.) or the equivalent thereof with a minimum of one year appropriate work experience.

Level BA recognised 2- or 3-year National Diploma or the equivalent thereof, followed by 3 years of work experience in the event of the 3-year qualification and 5 years work experience in the event of the 2-year qualification.

The strict requirements for the basic sciences are not considered a prerequisite for registration at this level.

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WHY REGISTER ???• Register and be recognised!

– By Peers– Endorsed backing of unbiased Council– Public

• Enjoy Professional status• Protect and strengthen your Profession

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WHY REGISTER ??? (cntd.)

• No work identified under the Act may be done by persons who are not registered with SACNASP.

• Required for OSD!

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HOW DO I REGISTER?www.sacnasp.org.za

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The Registration Process• Complete application received• Professional Advisory Committee (PAC)• Registration Committee (RC)• Qualifications Assessment Committee (QAC)• Council• Appeal Process• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

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NUMBERS as at 31 January 2013

• 363 Certificated Natural Scientists (+26%)• 483 Candidate Natural Scientists (+56%)• 4629 Professional Natural Scientists (+7%)

• 5514 Total (+576 since 30 April 2012; +12%)

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DISTRIBUTION IN FIELDS OF PRACTISE

• 27% Geological Science• 10% Earth Science• 9% Environmental Science• 9% Agricultural Science• 8% Animal Science• 7% Chemical Science• 4% Ecological Science

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CURRENT PROJECTS

• Strengthen SACNASP• Become more relevant• Rejuvenating the Act• Revising the Rules• Enhancing our visibility• Educate scientists and public

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CURRENT PROJECTS

• Continuous Professional Development (CPD)– Geology– Animal Science

• Modernise registration process • Streamline administration procedures• Marketing campaign

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IMPROVED SERVICE• Frequent communication through regular

newsletters• Personal Indemnity Insurance• Support conferences and symposia• Regional breakfast sessions• Employment opportunities through website• Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS• Geospatial Science – new Field of Practice• Trainee Certificated Natural Scientist• Specialist Natural Scientist• Associate Natural Scientist– Palaeontology– Agricultural Extension– Competent Valuator

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FUTURE PROJECTS

• Greater involvement in the development of curricula for the natural sciences

• Accreditation of training centres• Step up media coverage• Start to engage the youth

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Thank you

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STATISTICSTABLE 2

SACNASP age distribution for all categories from 30 April 2006 to 30 April 2012 31 Jan

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Age distribution (%)

60-plus 18 18 18 18 17 17 15 15

50-59 23 22 21 22 22 22 21 20

40-49 28 28 28 27 27 27 26 25

30-39 24 25 26 27 27 28 30 31

20-29 7 7 6 6 6 6 8 9

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STATISTICS

TABLE 3

SACNASP gender distribution from 30 April 2006 to 30 April 2012

31 Jan

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Gender (%)

Male 82 80 78 78 77 75 73 71Female 18 20 22 22 23 25 27 29

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STATISTICS

TABLE 4SACNASP distribution by Race from 30 April 2006 to 30 April 2012 31 Jan

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Distribution by Race (%)

White 87 86 84 83 81 77 71 66

Black 8 9 11 12 14 17 23 28

Asian 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4Coloured 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

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NUMBERSTABLE 1 SACNASP numbers from 30 April 2006 - 30 April

2013 31 Jan

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013Cand 170 145 158 174 179 220 310 483Cert 58 78 103 108 107 151 288 363Prof 2966 3180 3380 3549 3655 3867 4340 4629

Total 3194 3403 3641 3831 3941 4238 4938 5514

Annual increase

217 209 238 190 110 297 700 576

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