Affiliate membership category

Affiliate Membership

The ITMA Council have been considering the implications of the new qualification system on the categories of membership and in particular the Affiliate category.

Under the old qualification system, the Affiliate category of membership was designed for those Student members who had passed all the foundation level papers (T1, T2, T5, Basic Law, Design & Copyright) and were working towards full qualification.

The ITMA Council is of the view that there is no comparable point within the new qualification system that lends itself to the Affiliate category of membership.  The Council has therefore taken the decision that there should be no new version of the Affiliate category of membership for candidates under the new system.

What does this mean for existing Affiliate members?

The category of membership will remain in existence for those that are already Affiliate members.  The decision to not allow entry into the category under the new qualification system will not change the existing provisions of members within this category.

What if I am a Student member and I have passed the foundation papers and am therefore eligible to become an Affiliate member?

The ITMA Council have decided that applications for Affiliate membership will remain open until 30 June 2011.  After that time the category will close and no further applications will be considered. Therefore, any existing Student member who has passed all the foundation level papers can apply to become an Affiliate member before 30 June 2011. In addition, any Student member who successfully passes all the foundation level papers as a result of the exams taken in November 2010 could also apply to become an Affiliate member by 30 June 2011.

As the exams held in 2010 were the last set of trade mark foundation level papers (T1, T2 and T5), the Council is of the opinion that the 30 June 2011 is a suitable date for closing entry into the Affiliate category of membership.

If anyone has any queries with regards to this notice or requires clarification as to what it might mean for them, please do not hesitate to contact the ITMA office (tm@itma.org.uk).