Here you can find answers to many of the common questions we are asked about the Registered Organisation scheme. However, if you have a specific question or need support to help you through the process, please contact us and we will be happy to help!
Registered Organisation FAQs
New organisations can apply at any time during the year. Once we receive your application documents, we will contact you to arrange an inspection date.
Current Registered Organisations must apply by 1 April.
With your application form, please include an organisational chart, your organisational training plan, and a list of grey literature reports from the last two years.
You should also send information about your publications and your plan for dealing with any archive backlog.
Your project list must include the project name, date, location and the type of project. This helps the panel choose examples to review.
You will need to have completed enough work for the inspection panel to make a fair decision. For most organisations, this is usually about two years of activity.
You do not need to have every policy in place before you apply. The registration team and the inspection panel can help you develop anything that is missing.
No. The Responsible Post-holder must be the person in your organisation who has the highest level of responsibility for historic environment work.
They must also be accredited at MCIfA level.
You can contact the Membership team at any time. Kerry and Ellen are available to support you through the process.
Inspections
We will contact you directly to arrange your inspection date. You will then receive an Outlook calendar invitation.
A list of inspection dates is also available on the website.
If you are unsure about your date, please get in touch.
Your application form and supporting documents must be submitted by 1 April.
If your form is late, your inspection may be cancelled. We may not be able to reschedule. Missing the inspection means your organisation will not be registered at the start of the next year.
There is no set limit. Please write enough detail for the panel to understand how your organisation works. If a question does not apply to your organisation, say so on the form.
If you are unsure whether you have included enough information, send it anyway and we can advise you.
We will confirm the panel members before your inspection date.
There are usually three panel members and one CIfA representative.
Panel members may include a historic environment adviser, Institute members with relevant technical knowledge, senior staff from other Registered Organisations, and historic environment specialists who are not Institute members.
Please tell us about any potential conflicts when we arrange your date.
If a conflict of interest is confirmed after we have set the panel, we will appoint a different panel member.
Guidance on our website explains the full inspection process in simple terms. It includes an outline of the day and guidance for the project talk‑through
If your organisation carries out intrusive archaeology, a site visit is required before registration.
Site visits often cause delays, so please contact us as soon as you have a suitable site available.
Fees and decisions
There is a one‑off application fee for new organisations. This is currently £225.
Annual fees depend on the turnover of your historic environment work. Up‑to‑date fee information is published on the website each year.
The Registration Committee meets in March, July, September and December.
We will let you know the outcome within 14 days of the meeting.
Recommendations are suggestions for improvement.
Some are optional and marked “To be considered”. Others are marked “To be implemented”.
These are actions designed to strengthen quality management and ensure you meet the Code of conduct and Standards and guidance. A deadline may be set for completing these actions.
A condition must be met.
Your organisation must make the required improvements within the given timescale to stay on the register.
You have the right to appeal. The appeals process is set out in section 11 of the Regulations for the registration of organisations.
Annual updates
Yes. Every organisation must submit the annual update form. This allows us to keep records accurate and process subscription fees.
Please email us with the details.
You must also send an updated organogram showing that the new Responsible Post-holder is still the person with the highest level of historic environment responsibility.
Please email admin@archaeologists.net and ask for your database record to be updated.