CIOB Membership Grades

CIOB provides two types of Chartered grades that are open for applications. They are fellows and members. However, there is also a Non-Chartered Student grade, which is for current students.

Let’s know about all these grades one by one to have a better understanding.

Membership grades:

The following is a list of the membership grades:

Member:

The Chartered Membership grade comes with many benefits. One of these benefits is the use of MCIOB as a post-nominal designation. You can also pick between the descriptor of Chartered Construction Manager and Chartered Builder. As a Chartered Member, you will get the right to vote and apply to become a Trustee. Thus, you will be capable of taking part in the management of the CIOB.

A Chartered Member also gets other benefits. These benefits include access to:

Over 500 events every year,
Free CPD resources from the CIOB Academy
Its Library Information Service
Complimentary subscription to Construction Manager Magazine

A Chartered Member can use the CIOB logo as well as a number of services and products.

Fellow:

The Fellowship grade is the highest award that the CIOB offers. Its Fellows are amongst the most knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the construction industry. Moreover, these professionals have global recognition for their skills and attainments throughout their careers.

Besides that, the related post-nominal FCIOB is well respected and sought after. Entry to Fellowship is focused on fulfilling a unique set of leadership competencies and behaviours at the strategic level. It reflects the highest professional competence level.

Assessed at Level 7 by ENIC and equivalent to Master’s degree level, Fellowship applications are open to senior professionals. This level is for those seniors who have more than five years of experience in leading an organization. Besides that, they must be experienced in leading people and contributing to the industry, society and/or communities.

Besides receiving the benefits of Chartered Membership, being a Fellow can bring considerable extra rewards. These rewards include the following:

Employer achievement recognition
Career progression
Promotion
Higher salaries
A broader range of job opportunities

When retiring, a Chartered Member and Fellow can apply for the Retired Grade. On acceptance, you can use new designations like Ret MCIOB, for members, and Ret FCIOB, for Fellows.

Applicant:

The non-chartered grade of Applicant is an entry for those ones who don’t have an existing ACIOB/ICIOB membership. However, these people want to become Chartered. You have to satisfy the eligibility requirements and be admitted to this grade. Only after doing this, you will be able to take further steps to becoming Chartered.

The Applicant grade doesn’t offer any entitlement to post-nominals or designations. However, by progressing through the most appropriate pathway to membership, you can gain your Chartered Membership. After attaining this membership, you will enjoy all the benefits coming with being MCIOB.

Student:

Student membership is an entry point to membership if you are studying with the CIOB or in education. This status doesn’t offer any entitlement to post-nominals or designations. However, by progressing through the most appropriate pathway to membership, you will be able to gain your Chartered Membership. After attaining this membership, you will enjoy the benefits that a holder of MCIOB status does.

Student membership gives you instant access to many resources that will definitely support your transition to a valuable career.

Discontinued grades:

We find it necessary to let you know about the discontinued grades. So, read about these grades as well:

The Associate (ACIOB) and Incorporated (ICIOB) grades closed to new members in the year 2015. They were supporting towards Chartered status. For current ACIOB and ICIOB members, the status will not change until June 2025. At this point, CIOB expects that you would have upgraded to Chartered status.

Associate membership was often for those in a management position for a couple of years with an academic qualification. This qualification was equivalent to an HNC or other Level 4 qualification.

On the other hand, the Incorporated grade was one step above the Associate grade. The Incorporated grade was for fairly experienced managers with the equivalent of a foundation degree, HND or Level 5 qualification.

Professional Review:

The last stage to attaining Chartered Membership for most candidates is the CIOB Professional Review. It evaluates that you have the right knowledge, experience and skills in the three major areas of competence. These three areas are occupational, management and professionalism. When you succeed in this assessment, you will become a Chartered Member. After that, you will be able to use the designation MCIOB.