The new NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT Why should

The new NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT – Why should you register? Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

SUMMARY • • • The New Act Changes to old Act Composition of Council Categories of Registration Fields of Practice Identification of work Professional conduct Programme accreditation Why register ? ? Your Society ? Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

PROFESSION • According to Webster: • A profession is “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive training” • Professionalism is “the conduct. aims, or qualities that caracterize or mark a profession or a professional person” Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT OF 2003 • The new Act (Act 27 of 2003) was approved on 26 August 2003 to replace the Natural Scientific Professions Act of 1993 • The 1993 Act needed to be reviewed to address a number of limitations • The Act had to be brought in line with changes in the Higher Education Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

CHANGES TO THE 1993 ACT • • Composition and election of Council Officials of Council Involvement in Higher Education Categories of Registration Voluntary Associations Compulsory vs voluntary registration “Continuous Professional Development” (CPD) Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

NEW COUNCIL IN TOTAL a minimum of 20 and maximum of 30 members • Minimum of 12 and maximumof 18 persons nominated by voluntary associations • Minimum 4 and maximum 6 persons nominated by the State • Minimum of 4 and maximum 6 members of the public Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION • “Professional Natural Scientist” • “Candidate Natural Scientist” • “Certificated Natural Scientist” (Note: “Professional Natural Science Technologist” falls away) Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

AUTHORISED TITLES • Certificated Natural Scientists • Cert. Nat. Sci. • Candidate Natural Scientists • Cand. Nat. Sci. • Professional Natural Scientist • Pr. Sci. Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

WHO IS ENTITLED TO WHAT? • Only registered persons may use the titles and affix the prescribed abbreviations after their names • “Certificated Natural Scientists” and “Candidate Natural Scientists” may only perform work in the Natural Scientific Professions under the supervision and control of a “Professional Natural Scientist” Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION Cert. Nat. Sci. • 3 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA plus one year experience Cand. Nat. Sci. • 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA with no experience Pr. Sci. Nat. • 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA plus three years experience Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

FIELDS OF PRACTICE - 1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Agricultural Science Animal Science Biological Science Botanical Science Chemical Science Earth Science Ecological Science Environmental Science Food Science Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

FIELDS OF PRACTICE - 2 10. Forensic Science 11. Forestry Science 12. Geographical Science 13. Geological Science 14. Hydrological Science 15. Industrial Science 16. Marine Science 17. Material Science 18. Mathematical Science Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

FIELDS OF PRACTICE - 3 19. Mathematical Educ Science 20. Metallurgical Science 21. Microbiological Science 22. Natural Science Educ Science 23. Physical Science 24. Radiation Science 25. Water Care Science 26. Zoological Scince Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS • Council must determine the requirements for recognition • Voluntary Associations may apply to Council for recognition • Council to issue a certificate of recognition ( must be dispayed) Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS (Transitional provisions) • For the purpose of nominations of the first council, the organisations mentioned in section 3 of Act No 106 of 1993 are deemed to be recognised as voluntary asociations The 1993 Act include organisations such as • The South African Chemical Institute • The Liaison Committee of Scientific Societies concerned with Agriculture Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

COUNCIL MUST CONSULT WITH VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS : • To identify the type of natural scientific work which may be performed by registered persons • To determine guideline professional fees • To draw up a code of conduct for registered persons Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

COUNCIL SHOULD CONSULT WITH VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS : • To determine registration requirements • To assist with the assessment of qualifications for registration purposes • To assist during accreditation visits in collaboration with the HEQC • To determine requirements for Personal Professional Development Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

IDENTIFICATION OF WORK • The council must identify the type of natural scientific work which may be performed by registered persons (must consult with all voluntary associations) • Recognize other Acts (e. g. ECSA) Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

A PERSON WHO IS NOT REGISTERED IN TERMS OF THIS ACT, MAY NOT - • Perform any kind of work identified for registered persons • Pretend to be a person registered in terms of this act • Use the name of any registered person or any name or title referred to in this act Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES • A person convicted of an offence in terms of section 27(3) on identified work is liable to a maximum fine equal to double the renumeration received by him or her for work done in contravention thereof, or to a maximum of three years income Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION • Council may determine conditions for renewal of registration (Section 23) • Possible introduction of PPD (Personal Professional Development) • Voluntary Associations to assist Council to determine conditions for each group Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

INVOLVEMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION • May perform functions within the framework of the SAQA Act and the Higher Education Act as may be required • Must consult with HEQC with regard to the above • May give advise to HE-institutions with regard to training of natural scientist Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

WHY REGISTER ? ? ? • No work identified under the Act may be done by persons who are not regsitered (Section 27) • The name or title of “Natural Scientist” reserved for persons registered in terms of this Act (Section 27) • “Only persons registered may practice in a consultancy capacity” (Section 20) Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

WHY REGISTER ? ? ? • Use official title as Professional Natural Scientist (Pr. Sci. Nat. ) • Enjoy “Professional” status and participate in benefits offered by financial institutions • Enjoy the backing of the Council – unbiased guarantee of your competency • Protect the profession • Strengthen the profession Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

Enjoy the lowest annual fees Engineers (Pr. Ing. ) R 3000 Medical Practicioners R 1090 Dentists R 1091 Veterinarian R 1190 Natural Scientists Natural (Pr. Sci. Nat) R 665 Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

WHAT CAN YOUR SOCIETY DO ? • Get involved in the interest of the YOUR profession • To assist Council with the requirements for registration of Scientists • To assist Council with the assessment of University programmes • To assist Council with disciplinary cases • To assist Council to identify work to be performed by Scientists Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003

THANK YOU Natural Scientific Professions ACT of 2003