The Registered Organisation scheme is a unique quality assurance programme. It signifies a commitment to maintaining professional standards and competence.
Registered Organisations are committed to quality and integrity. The carry out their historic environment work in line with CIfA’s Code of conduct and current good practice. CIfA actively promotes the scheme to potential clients through advocacy work, publications and recruitment activities.
Becoming a Registered Organisation can
- attract new clients
- demonstrate the quality of your work
- provide networking and learning opportunities
- improve your business practices
- allow you to contribute to the development of the sector
Who can be a Registered Organisation?
Our Registered Organisation scheme is open to any business or individual carrying out archaeology services on a commercial basis, universities, museums, curatorial organisations at national and local level, and the voluntary sector.
What does registration involve?
The Registered Organisations scheme is a peer review scheme and supports continuous quality improvement. Registered Organisations’ compliance with CIfA regulations is monitored every three years through an application and inspection process.
In order to qualify for registration, you need to
- pass the following resolution that
"All [archaeological/historic environment] work of [the organisation] shall be carried out in accordance with the Code of conduct, the Charter, by-law and regulations of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists" - identify who your Responsible Post-holder within the organisation will be. The Responsible Post-holder must be a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (MCIfA).
This person is defined as holding
"a position within the management structure of an organisation which represents the highest level of specifically archaeological responsibility, whether or not any other archaeological posts are subordinate to that position" - there is an initial application fee (currently £225 for small businesses, £300 for turnover up to £1,000,000, £375 for turnover over £1,000,000) for the registration of your organisation. If your organisation is accepted, you will pay an annual subscription fee based on the financial turnover of your historic environment operations. Special offer! Organisations whose role is exclusively either as a Higher Education Institute or curatorial authority will be charged at the lowest subscription rate.
See applying to become a CIfA Registered Organisation - quick guide for more information.
What are the benefits of registration?
As well as a badge of commitment to professional standards and competence, as a Registered Organisation, you will:
- receive an annual registration certificate
- be able to use the CIfA Registered Organisation designation on your website
- use the CIfA Registered Organisations logo on promotional materials
- be listed on this website under 'Find a Registered Organisation'
- be able to attend our digital Responsible Post-holder information and networking meetings (4x per year)
- have access to unlimited free advertising in CIfA’s jobs, training and volunteering bulletin
- receive digital copies of The Archaeologist magazine (paper opt in), CIfA professional practice papers (paper opt in), CIfA Toolbox talk resources and all CIfA ebulletins
- staff discount at CIfA's April conference
Apply for registration
You can apply by emailing your application form and supporting information directly to kerry.wiggins@archaeologists.net copying in ellen.mcnamara@archaeologists.net
If you need further help or want to discuss your application, telephone 0118 966 2841 or email kerry.wiggins@archaeologists.net
Please read this further information before applying