Fellow member (FCIWEM)

Becoming a Fellow member (FCIWEM)

Fellowship of CIWEM provides the ultimate recognition of your career achievements and will create a step change in the opportunities available to you. Fellows are sought after when the very best contributions are required on the most interesting and engaging activities.

Around the world, people face new and challenging water and environmental problems every day. FCIWEM demonstrates that you have made a significant contribution to addressing these issues. This prestigious qualification acknowledges the positive impact you have made on the profession. Becoming a Fellow of CIWEM enables you to continue to inspire others and help future generations.

As a successful applicant you will be entitled to use the internationally-recognised post-nominal designations of FCIWEM.

If you are unsure which route to FCIWEM is right for you, you can find further guidance here.

Who can join?

Fellow is our highest grade of membership and is designed for those who have a significant level of experience in a senior role. CIWEM Fellows are highly respected professionals, having reached a level of demonstrable professional excellence and achievement in the sustainable management of our environment. You will need to be able to demonstrate your career progression and leadership skills to a senior level.

Application requirements

There are four routes to Fellowship at CIWEM: Direct Entry (FCIWEM C.WEM or FCIWEM only), Transfer to Fellow (FCIWEM C.WEM) and Nominated Fellow (FCIWEM).

You can find further guidance on these routes and find out which route is right for you in our additional guidance document, this can be download here.

Transfer to Fellow

If you're already a CIWEM Chartered Member and transferring to Fellow, you'll need to be able to demonstrate your career progression to a senior level.

If you have already undergone a Professional Review Interview through CIWEM you won't have to undergo a further review in order to be awarded this grade of membership.

To apply for fellowship through the 'Transfer to Fellow' route you will need to

• Complete the application form: Chartered Fellow (C.WEM FCIWEM) or Fellow (FCIWEM)
• Submit a copy of your most up-to-date CV
• Have three sponsors who meet the FCIWEM sponsor requirements who can review your application. You will need to submit a signed letter from each of your sponsors alongside your application confirming they have done this
• Complete your 1,000 word (maximum) supporting statement which details their achievements against the FCIWEM criteria. You should show evidence of their specific personal contributions, achievements, and the associated impact of this. Applicants are required to demonstrate achievement in four of the five Fellowship criteria, this should include all compulsory criteria and one optional criterion.
• Submit your training and CPD record for the last three years

Direct Entry to Fellow (FCIWEM C.WEM or FCIWEM only)

If you are new to CIWEM you will need apply via the Direct Entry route, here you can also complete your Chartership application to achieve C.WEM and any external registrations you also seek.

Please note that the application requirements for Chartered Membership include an Honours Degree or demonstrable equivalence, professional experience (at a senior level for fellows), as well as the successful demonstration of all 14 of CIWEM’s Mandatory Competences.

Find out more about the application requirements for chartership

To apply for fellowship through the 'Direct Entry' route you will need to

• Complete the application form: Chartered Fellow (C.WEM FCIWEM) or Fellow (FCIWEM)
• Submit a copy of your most up-to-date CV
• Submit copies of relevant certificates signed by your sponsors
• Have three sponsors who meet the FCIWEM sponsor requirements who can review your application. You will need to submit a signed letter from each of your sponsors alongside your application confirming they have done this. Chartered Membership does not require sponsors to be fellows, however if you're applying directly for fellowship, all three sponsors need to be meet the FCIWEM sponsor requirements.
• Submit your training and CPD record for the last three years. You can find further guidance on what is required here.
• Complete your 4,000 word Mandatory Competence Attainment Report (if applying for C.WEM)
• Complete your 1,000 word (maximum) supporting statement which details their achievements against the FCIWEM criteria. You should show evidence of their specific personal contributions, achievements, and the associated impact of this. Applicants are required to demonstrate achievement in four of the five Fellowship criteria, this should include all compulsory criteria and one optional criterion.

Nominated Fellow

If you do not hold C.WEM and are currently a leader in the water and/or environment sector but do not have a career in the sector apply via the Nominated Fellow (FCIWEM) route.

For advice on applying through this route or if you are unsure whether you qualify, please contact membership@ciwem.org. Please note if you currently hold C.WEM all applications for FCIWEM must be made by the 'Transfer to Fellow' route.

All applications for Nominated Fellow will undergo initial assessment upon submission, applicants may be recommended to apply via the Direct Entry FCIWEM route, here additional documentation including a CPD record may be requested.

CPD

Potential Fellow applications will be expected to provide an exemplary reflective CPD record, demonstrating an individual's maintenance of competence at a Fellowship level and following CIWEM's CPD guidance for applicants.

Applications may not be successful if submitted CPD records do not clearly evidence an ongoing commitment to CPD and demonstrate engagement with CPD activities undertaken through reflection and forward planning.

All Fellow applicants are required to submit a three year reflective CPD record containing a minimum of 90 hours of CPD (a minimum of 15 hours should be attributed to a single year during the three year period).

How to get started

For those who are not currently CIWEM Chartered members, please follow the steps for chartership.

Need advice?

We’re with you every step of your application and throughout your membership, get detailed advice on your membership application from completing your mandatory competencies and preparing for your professional review interview to supporting you with your CPD. Just call +44(0)207 8313110 or email membership@ciwem.org and someone will be delighted to help.