Changes to PFPH Membership Criteria & Application Requirements

At the end of 2015 the Faculty of Public Health Board agreed that Practitioner Membership (PFPH) should be opened to registered practitioners with the UKPHR and to practitioners who are registered with a relevant professional regulator (including the AHCS) who are working in core public health. This process has now been updated, please read below for further information.

Dr Kerry Tinkler

AHCS

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Changes to Practitioner Membership Criteria and Application Requirements

At the end of 2015 the FPH Board agreed that Practitioner Membership (PFPH) should be opened to registered practitioners with the UKPHR and to practitioners who are registered with a relevant professional regulator who are working in core public health. The initial criteria and application process published in February 2016 has now been updated to provide a clearer and more robust application process.

The new guidance found on our website provides full details of these changes and is accompanied by an application form and an informal presentation outlining the benefits of Practitioner Membership.

You can also download them directly using these links:

• Practitioner Membership Information
• Practitioner Membership Guidance
• Practitioner Membership Application Form

Please also note that applications from practitioners without UKPHR practitioner registration now require a referral by an existing FPH Member (MFPH) or Fellow (FFPH).

As such, your practitioner colleagues and teams are now dependent on the support of their public health specialist colleagues to provide assurance for the level of work that they conduct.

A snapshot of the Criteria

Practitioners may join FPH if they can demonstrate that they meet the following criteria and have this assured by an existing FPH Member or Fellow.

Ø  A relevant professional registration (details contained in the attached guidance)

Ø  A Graduate qualification in a relevant field or equivalent

Ø  Current experience working at the level of a practitioner for at least 3 years

Applying for Practitioner Membership

Applicants can apply for Practitioner Membership as follows:

1. Complete and return an application form
2. If an applicant requires an FPH Member or Fellow to act as a referee but does not have any members available to provide this reference then their application will be forwarded to the Local Board Member or Faculty Adviser for the region in which they work at the time of applying and these FPH Fellows will be asked to act as a referee.
3. If neither the Local Board Member nor Faculty Adviser is willing or able to act as a referee then the application will be referred to an assessment panel for consideration.
4. If an application is successful then admission details will be sent to the applicant

Practitioner Membership through Distinction

FPH intends to provide a route to Practitioner Membership for those who are not expected to go through the UKPHR practitioner registration process, or another applicable professional registration process. This is likely to be for applicants wishing to join FPH as a practitioner from outside of the UK and from those who are have reached very senior levels throughout their career thus far.

This route to membership will be opening in July/August 2016 in line with next annual round of Distinction and Honorary Membership nominations for FPH Membership and Fellowship categories.

We hope that this new guidance should create a simple process for new members to join FPH with the assurance that they are working at the level appropriate for practitioner membership. However, if you require further information about these changes or have feedback please contact feel free to ask me any question.