Chartered Member

Chartered membership is the gold standard of professional recognition in the resources and waste sector. It demonstrates your expertise, leadership, and commitment to high professional standards. 

Why choose Chartered membership?

As a Chartered member, you have access to:

  • Dedicated post-nominals (MCIWM or CRWM)  
  • A weekly member newsletter featuring industry news, insights, and opportunities  
  • A quarterly issue of Circular magazine  
  • Access to the CIWM Knowledge Centre  
  • Opportunities to mentor and support other members  
  • Exclusive savings on CIWM events and training  
  • Eligibility for senior volunteering positions and valuable networking opportunities 

Who is Chartered membership for? 

  • Professionals with two or more years of industry experience  
  • Individuals looking to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and expertise  
  • Those who want opportunities to influence the sector and give back to the profession 

Get started today

If you aren't already a member, to help you achieve success, we recommend joining CIWM as an Affiliate member, giving you access to our host of benefits to support your journey to becoming a Chartered member.

APPLY FOR CHARTERED MEMBERSHIP

 

DOWNLOAD GUIDANCE NOTES

From a personal and professional perspective, there is huge range of benefits of being part of CIWM. Having an internationally recognised qualification based on my experience in the industry is highly rewarding and humbling, and it’s a great talking point with people I met in the industry.

Daniel Yallop MCIWM

To apply for Chartered membership, you must meet the qualification and experience requirements for one of the five routes below. 

Route Qualification Experience in Resources & Waste
A CIWM accredited degree level or higher qualification 3 years (post undergraduate degree qualification)
B Other relevant degree level of higher qualification 4 years (post undergraduate degree qualification)
C Chartered member of another relevant professional body 2 years
D Relevant non-degree level qualification, E.g. CIWM (WAMITAB) 5 years
E Significant experience in a relevant field 5 years

Chartered Membership is assessed against the following seven competencies. As part of the application process, applicants are required to complete a Personal Statement demonstrating how their knowledge, expertise, and experience meet these requirements. Examples can be found in our Chartered Membership Application Guidance.

Knowledge and understanding of the resources and wastes management industry.

A1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of current and impending legislation relating to the wastes and resource management industry in the country where you work.

  1. Critically apply understanding of the implications of current and impending legislation relevant to the area of specialism you currently work within.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of current and impending legislation relevant to the wider wastes and resource management industry and how this may impact your sector and others.

A2 Show an understanding of any relevant government strategies that affect the waste and resource sector.

  1. Discuss the relevant current Government Strategies.
  2. Explain how the relevant strategies may influence policy, legislation now or in the future.
  3. Identify how the strategies may impact on your own sector.

A3 Understand current topical issues relating to wastes and resource.

  1. Discuss topical issues relating to wastes and resources.
  2. Critically assess how they may impact on your area of work. 

A4 Understand the structure of the wastes and resource industry in terms of key organisations, their roles and how they interact with each other.

  1. Describe the different elements, types of organisations, and bodies that together form the wastes and resource sector.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of the overarching key roles each play in ensuring wastes and resources are managed sustainably.
  3. Know how your specific sector fits into this structure and how you/ or your organisation interacts with other parts of the structure. 

Ability to develop and implement practical solutions.

B1 Identify and critically assess problems. This may include problems of a personnel, administrative or technical nature.

  1. Identify problems that arise within your area of responsibility and understand your role in resolving them.
  2. Critically assess problems to understand issues, involving others as appropriate.

B2 Ability to develop and implement practical solutions.

  1. Identify appropriate solutions to problems within your area of responsibility.
  2. Actively seek and employ innovative, creative solutions.
  3. Evaluate options and input into decision making.
  4. Implement solutions effectively utilising internal and external resources as needed. 

Effective leadership and management skills

C1 Demonstrate effective leadership and management skills.

  1. Effective input to decision making.
  2. Provide support to others as a team member or leader.
  3. Effective delivery and/or management of projects.
  4. Manage or support change effectively, including new ways of working or opportunities.


C2 Demonstrate understanding and commitment to customers and other stakeholders.

  1. Rationalise the needs of stakeholders, including customers, alongside organisational objectives.
  2. Manage relationships appropriately.


C3 Demonstrate financial acumen. 

  1. Consider budgets when making day to day decisions or delivering tasks within your role.
  2. Provide appropriate input to financial decisions. 

Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

D1 Communicate effectively with others.

  1. Use appropriate language and style for the audience.
  2. Articulate messages using a range of media as appropriate to the issue.
  3. Lead and contribute to effective meetings and group discussions.
  4. Appropriate sharing of information and intelligence.


D2 Effective report writing skills.

  1. Identify data and information required for a balanced report.
  2. Analyse, evaluate, and summarise information effectively.
  3. Write structured reports or relevant technical publications, delivering specified objectives.


D3 Ability to manage potential conflict and influence others.

  1. Seek, listen to and respect opinions of others.
  2. Positively manage differences of opinions to achieve a suitable outcome.
  3. Capacity to develop and maintain good working relationships.


D4 Embrace Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity (EID).

  1. Promote and demonstrate EID.
  2. Take steps to understand and mitigate for the potential effect of unconscious bias.

D5 Network effectively with others. 

Personal commitment to professional standards.

E1 Comply with relevant codes of conduct and practice.

  1. Adhere to Institution ethics and code of conduct.
  2. Comply with relevant environmental legislation.

 

E2 Maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

  1. Identify your own requirements for CPD each year, seeking input from line manager and peers as appropriate.
  2. Undertake and record appropriate CPD.
  3. Support others in their CPD. 

Demonstrates and encourages good practice and sustainability

  1. Demonstrate how the three pillars of sustainability can be applied to your organisation/sector.
  2. Display and encourage forward and innovative thinking to encourage sustainable waste and resource management (SWRM).
  3. Encourage good and innovative practice for SWRM by others e.g. through coaching and mentoring.
  4. Share good practice and continually develop within your sector. 

Demonstrates and promotes safe working practices

  1. Understand the roles and responsibilities for health and safety management in your organisation.
  2. Identify risks and take appropriate actions.
  3. Continually look for improvements in H&S practices and procedures.
  4. Promote continuous improvement and awareness of H&S issues within the workplace. 

This template can be used to set out how you meet the competencies listed above in your application.

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To become a Chartered Resource and Waste Manager, you must demonstrate competence across the following seven areas: 

  • Knowledge and understanding of the wastes and resources management industry
  • Ability to analyse and evaluate problems and develop practical solutions
  • Effective leadership and management skills
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills
  • Shows personal commitment to Professional Standards
  • Demonstrates and encourages good practice and sustainability
  • Demonstrates and promote safe working practices 

Our Skills Matrix can help you identify the areas to focus on within your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), as well as the training and development activities that can support your progression towards Chartered membership. 

EXPLORE THE SKILLS MATRIX

There are four steps to the Chartered membership application process.

 

Application Form

To apply for Chartered membership, you’ll need to complete an online application form. You’ll be asked to provide details of your current role, along with a copy of your CV, to demonstrate that you meet the entry criteria. 

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should explain how you meet the Chartered competences, supported by practical examples that demonstrate how you have applied them in your work. It's important to address all the sub-competences below the main competency heading.

Development Log

As part of your application, you’ll need to submit a record of the learning and development activities you’ve completed during the 24 months prior to applying. This demonstrates your commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 

Once you become a Chartered member, you’ll be expected to complete 30 hours of CPD activity each year. 

Sponsors

You’ll be asked to provide contact details for two sponsors who know you professionally and who can confirm your suitability for Chartered membership. Wherever possible, your sponsors should be Chartered Resource and Waste Managers themselves. 

Guidance Notes

Further information on the Chartered Resource & Waste Manager Standards, application checklist, and CIWM’s Professional Conduct Regulations can be found in the guidance notes. 

We may contact you for additional information to support your application.

 

There are three stages to the assessment process.

How applications are processed

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed to ensure you meet both the entry criteria and the required Chartered competences. At this stage, you may be asked to provide additional information in support of your application. 

If you successfully meet the criteria and competences, you’ll be invited to attend an online Professional Interview consisting of a presentation and professional discussion. 

We aim to notify applicants of the outcome within five working days. 

Your Professional Interview

If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to attend a professional interview. 

The interview lasts up to one hour and includes: 

  1. Candidate presentation (exactly 10 minutes)
  2. Questions on your presentation (approximately 10 min)
  3. Questions on a relevant area of expertise (approximately 10 minutes)
  4. Questions on industry knowledge (approximately 10 minutes)
  5. Questions about CIWM (approximately 10 minutes)
  6. Candidate questions (approximately 10 minutes) 

You’ll be informed of the panel’s decision within five working days. 

Interview Outcomes

Following your interview, you'll be informed of the panels decision - either success or referred.

Success: You have successfully achieved Chartered status. You’ll receive a certificate confirming your achievement, together with a welcome pack to help you make the most of your Chartered membership. 

Referred: If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll provide feedback to help you identify the areas requiring further development. We’re committed to supporting you in strengthening these areas and progressing towards Chartered status. 

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We regularly run online workshops designed to help you understand the benefits of Chartered membership and guide you through the application process. 

These free workshops provide an excellent opportunity to: 

  • Gain insight into the application and interview process  
  • Hear directly from experienced interview panellists  
  • Receive practical advice and top tips from members who have recently achieved Chartered status  

Upcoming Chartered workshops can be found in our event directory. 

FIND A WORKSHOP

For those who are applying to become Chartered members of CIWM, there is an interview fee of £125 which is payable once you have been approved for interview.

The 2026 membership fee is £234, which is pro rated for those joining mid-year.

Spread the cost of your membership when you pay by Direct Debit:

  • £58.50 (quarterly Direct Debit)
  • £19.50 (monthly Direct Debit)

There are four application windows each year. Below are this year's application deadline and interview dates.

Session Application Deadline Interview Date
Session 3 Thursday 27th August Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd September
Session 4 Wednesday 11th November Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th December

Chartered membership recognises your achievements and positions you for senior leadership, with the opportunity to progress to Fellow.  

Already a member and looking to upgrade?

We recently launched a new website as part of our ongoing commitment to providing CIWM members and the wider sector with an improved digital experience. We are currently unable to accept membership uppgrade applications online and are continuing to develop additional online functionality, including the ability for existing members to submit upgrade applications digitally.

In the meantime, please email us for more information about how to upgrade your membership.

EMAIL US


Thank you for your patience and understanding while we continue to enhance our online services.

We're here to help

Not sure which membership grade is right for you? Our handy grade finder tool can point you in the right direction. Need more information about membership? Our membership FAQs are a good place to start.

If you'd prefer to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01604 620426 or email membership@ciwm.co.uk. We're always happy to answer your questions and help you take the next step in your professional journey.