2. Dr Rolf Becker Pr.Sci.Nat.
Registration with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions
Presentation to the South African Society for Agricultural Extension, University of the Free State,
4 June 2013
Dr Rolf Becker Pr.Sci.Nat.
Executive Director

3. NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT OF 2003
The current Act (No. 27 of 2003) replaced the Natural Scientific Professions Act of 1993
1993 Act = Voluntary registration
2003 Act = Compulsory registration

4. NATURAL SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS ACT OF 2003
Section 18 (2) A person may not practise in any of the fields of practice listed in Schedule I unless he or she is registered in a category listed in subsection (1).
Section 20 (1) Only a registered person may practise in a consulting capacity.

5. Fields of Practice Agricultural Science Animal Science
Biological Science
Botanical Science
Chemical Science
Earth Science
Ecological Science
Environmental Science
Food Science
Geological Science
Geospatial Science
Mathematical Science
Microbiological Science
Physical Science
Toxicological Science
Water Resource Science
Zoological Science
Agricultural Extension Science

6. WHY SHOULD REGISTRATION BE NECESSARY?
Professionals provide a service to the public.
The public has a right to be protected.

7. WHY SHOULD REGISTRATION BE NECESSARY?
Professionals provide a service to the public.
The profession has a right to be protected.

8. WHAT IS SACNASP’s FUNCTION?
To register natural scientists.
To hold the registered persons to a Code of Conduct.
To represent the practitioners of the natural sciences and to campaign on their behalf.
To ensure maintenance of acceptable standards of training.
To advise the Minister on matters relating to the natural scientific professions.
TO ENSURE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE PRACTICE BY REGISTERED SCIENTISTS

9. Whom and what does SACNASP represent?
Professional Natural Scientists
The Community
Wide range of Intellectual Capital
A major investment in South Africa’s future
“Education and research are for tomorrow, not today. These are the investments society makes in its future”
(Casey NH, Livestock Science, 2011)

10. What does SACNASP believe?
That scientific evidence should be used as a matter of routine to inform decision and shape policy.
That the sciences must be protected from the influences of money and politics.
That the importance of knowledge, rationality, logic and deduction is paramount to our professions.

11. CATEGORIES OF REGISTRATION
Certificated Natural Scientist (Cert.Sci.Nat.)
Candidate Natural Scientist (Cand.Sci.Nat.)
Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.)
Associate Natural Scientist (Assoc.Sci.Nat.)

12. REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION
Cert.Sci.Nat.
Recognised 3 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT and between one to five years experience.
Cand.Sci.Nat.
Recognised 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT with no experience.
Pr.Sci.Nat.
Recognised 4 YEAR DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT plus three years experience.
Assoc.Sci.Nat.
To be determined by relevant Professional Advisory Committee

13. Certificated Natural Scientist
Level A A recognised 3-year National Diploma (N. Dip.) or 3-year Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc.) or the equivalent thereof with a minimum of one year appropriate work experience.
Level B A recognised 2- or 3-year National Diploma or the equivalent thereof, followed by 3 years of work experience in the event of the 3-year qualification and 5 years work experience in the event of the 2-year qualification. The strict requirements for the basic sciences are not considered a prerequisite for registration at this level.

14. WHY REGISTER ??? Enjoy Professional status Register and be recognised!
By Peers
Endorsed backing of unbiased Council
Public
Enjoy Professional status
Protect and strengthen your Profession

15. WHY REGISTER ??? (cntd.)
No work identified under the Act may be done by persons who are not registered with SACNASP.
Required for OSD!

16. HOW DO I REGISTER?

17. The Registration Process
Complete application received
Professional Advisory Committee (PAC)
Registration Committee (RC)
Qualifications Assessment Committee (QAC)
Council
Appeal Process
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

18. NUMBERS as at 31 January 2013
363 Certificated Natural Scientists (+26%)
483 Candidate Natural Scientists (+56%)
4629 Professional Natural Scientists (+7%)
5514 Total (+576 since 30 April 2012; +12%)

19. DISTRIBUTION IN FIELDS OF PRACTISE
27% Geological Science
10% Earth Science
9% Environmental Science
9% Agricultural Science
8% Animal Science
7% Chemical Science
4% Ecological Science

20. CURRENT PROJECTS Strengthen SACNASP Become more relevant
Rejuvenating the Act
Revising the Rules
Enhancing our visibility
Educate scientists and public

21. CURRENT PROJECTS Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Geology
Animal Science
Modernise registration process
Streamline administration procedures
Marketing campaign

22. IMPROVED SERVICE Frequent communication through regular newsletters
Personal Indemnity Insurance
Support conferences and symposia
Regional breakfast sessions
Employment opportunities through website
Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn

23. NEW DEVELOPMENTS Geospatial Science – new Field of Practice
Trainee Certificated Natural Scientist
Specialist Natural Scientist
Associate Natural Scientist
Palaeontology
Agricultural Extension
Competent Valuator

24. FUTURE PROJECTS
Greater involvement in the development of curricula for the natural sciences
Accreditation of training centres
Step up media coverage
Start to engage the youth

25. Thank you

28. STATISTICS
TABLE 2
SACNASP age distribution for all categories from 30 April 2006 to 30 April 2012
31 Jan
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Age distribution (%)
60-plus 18 17 15
50-59 23 22 21 20
40-49 28 27 26 25
30-39 24 30 31
20-29 7 6 8 9

29. STATISTICS TABLE 3 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Gender (%)
SACNASP gender distribution from 30 April to 30 April 2012
31 Jan
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Gender (%)
Male 82 80 78 77 75 73 71
Female 18 20 22 23 25 27 29

30. STATISTICS
TABLE 4
SACNASP distribution by Race from 30 April 2006 to 30 April 2012
31 Jan
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Distribution by Race (%)
White 87 86 84 83 81 77 71 66
Black 8 9 11 12 14 17 23 28
Asian 3 4
Coloured 2

31. NUMBERS
TABLE 1
SACNASP numbers from 30 April April 2013
31 Jan
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Cand
170
145
158
174
179
220
310
483
Cert 58 78
103
108
107
151
288
363
Prof
2966
3180
3380
3549
3655
3867
4340
4629
Total
3194
3403
3641
3831
3941
4238
4938
5514
Annual increase
217
209
238
190
110
297
700
576