Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Has anyone tried using the RPL route to gain a CISRS card?
I have tried but got nowhere as CISRS consistantly break the law by refusing to deal with this EU directive.
See copy of letter earlier this year.
My request was dismissed out of hand.
From: Dennis Greenll
Sent: 19 January 2011 14:06
To:
enquiries@cisrs.org.uk
Subject: Recognition of Prior Learning
*
Sirs/Mesdames,
************* I am resident in the Republic of Ireland and I am writing to you both as a registered scaffolding trainer and as a safety officer for a number of scaffolding companies based here.
* A good number of scaffolders are reporting that CISRS are refusing to acknowledge any prior learning of scaffolders from the Republic of Ireland and are stating that they have to start again at the lowest level.
I also understand that you scrapped the "Route of Entry" programme a number of years ago.
Could you please outline, in writing, what CISRS are doing by way of the RPL legislation in relation for scaffolders from other member states and from Ireland in particular?
When can I expect you to have your system in place?
Now that you have established a precedent with the approval of an internation providor in the Phillipines, will you now be consider the possibility of letting a scaffolding trainer, suitably qualified, registered and monitored, run CISRS approved courses in the Republic of Ireland?
I also wish to note that as part of a bi-lateral agreement between FÁS and the CITB, it is understood that there is already recognition which is still displayed in the FÁS trainers manual and on the
www.FÁS.ie website (see attached)
Here is an outline of the Directive. ********
The main mechanism by which professional qualifications are recognised is set down in EU Directive 2005/36 on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. The purpose of the Directive, which came into force in October 2007, is to help make labour markets more flexible, further liberalise the provision of services, encourage more automatic recognition of qualifications, and simplify administrative procedures. Under the Directive, provisions are made whereby Professionals qualified in one (home) Member State can seek professional recognition of their qualifications in another (host) Member State for the purpose of practising their profession in that host Member State.
Here is the relevant extract
DIRECTIVE 2005/36/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 7 September 2005
on the recognition of professional qualifications
TITLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Purpose
This Directive establishes rules according to which a Member
State which makes access to or pursuit of a regulated profession
in its territory contingent upon possession of specific
professional qualifications (referred to hereinafter as the host
Member State) shall recognise professional qualifications
obtained in one or more other Member States (referred to hereinafter
as the home Member State) and which allow the holder
of the said qualifications to pursue the same profession there,
for access to and pursuit of that profession.
Article 2
Scope
1. This Directive shall apply to all nationals of a Member
State wishing to pursue a regulated profession in a Member
State, including those belonging to the liberal professions,
other than that in which they obtained their professional qualifications,
on either a self-employed or employed basis.
2. Each Member State may permit Member State nationals
in possession of evidence of professional qualifications not
obtained in a Member State to pursue a regulated profession
within the meaning of Article 3(1)(a) on its territory in accordance
with its rules. In the case of professions covered by
Title III, Chapter III, this initial recognition shall respect the
minimum training conditions laid down in that Chapter.
1. For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions
apply:
(a) ‘regulated profession’: a professional activity or group of
professional activities, access to which, the pursuit of
which, or one of the modes of pursuit of which is subject,
directly or indirectly, by virtue of legislative, regulatory or
administrative provisions to the possession of specific
professional qualifications; in particular, the use of a professional
title limited by legislative, regulatory or administrative
provisions to holders of a given professional qualification
shall constitute a mode of pursuit. Where the first
sentence of this definition does not apply, a profession
referred to in paragraph 2 shall be treated as a regulated
profession;
(b) ‘professional qualifications’: qualifications attested by
evidence of formal qualifications, an attestation of competence
referred to in Article 11, point (a) (i) and/or professional
experience;
(c) ‘evidence of formal qualifications’: diplomas, certificates and
other evidence issued by an authority in a Member State
designated pursuant to legislative, regulatory or administrative
provisions of that Member State and certifying
successful completion of professional training obtained
mainly in the Community. Where the first sentence of this
definition does not apply, evidence of formal qualifications
referred to in paragraph 3 shall be treated as evidence of
formal qualifications;
(d) ‘competent authority’: any authority or body empowered
by a Member State specifically to issue or receive training
diplomas and other documents or information and to
receive the applications, and take the decisions, referred to
in this Directive;
(e) ‘regulated education and training’: any training which is
specifically geared to the pursuit of a given profession and
which comprises a course or courses complemented, where
appropriate, by professional training, or probationary or
professional practice.
The structure and level of the professional training, probationary
or professional practice shall be determined by the
laws, regulations or administrative provisions of the
Member State concerned or monitored or approved by the
authority designated for that purpose;
Looking forward to an early and comprehensive response,
Yours faithfully,
Dennis Greenall
