Become a PRI assessor

What is a PRI?

Professional registers are a valuable tool to help individuals demonstrate their competence and professional knowledge to the wider world. The right to use certain letters after a person's name (e.g. CMarTech or CEng) immediately demonstrates the fact that they excel at their work. Professional registration shows your commitment to the profession and may also lead to better job prospects and a higher earning potential because your abilities have been appraised by an independent body. You do not necessarily need academic qualifications to gain professional registration.

As part of an application for professional registration or Fellowship with the Institute, individuals will usually be required to attend a Professional Review Interview (PRI) where they will be assessed against specific competences.The PRI will normally be conducted by two specially trained assessors who will also be professionally registered at a level that is the same or higher than the one being applied for.

Why should I become a PRI Assessor?

“Being a PRI assessor has been a fascinating process enabling me to learn more about the breadth and diversity of our profession. It has allowed me to experience the enthusiasm and innovative ideas of younger members and to help assess my own performance, adaptability and receptiveness to change. This would be impossible without regular interaction with people from outside my particular branch of marine science. It has undoubtedly helped me progress in my own career, and I would heartily recommend becoming a PRI assessor as a means to be fully engaged in fostering the future of our sector.

To be a good PRI assessor you need to be a good listener, able to draw out experiences and anecdotes from individuals who might ‘hide their light under a bushel’. It is also important to have a broad understanding of the wide range of activities carried out by our institute membership. It definitely helps if you are a friendly, outgoing person able to put the candidate at ease, and not to scare them into silence or into only providing short, bland answers. Smile, enjoy the experience, and be prepared to learn as much from the candidate as they might learn from you.”

Stephen Hall, FIMarEST

How do I become a PRI Assessor?

• PRI assessors  must hold one of the registrations for which PRI’s are conducted.

• You will need to observe a minimum of two PRI’s taking place. You are welcome to observe as many as you need to feel comfortable with the process.

• You will need good communication and interviewing skills.

• Be aware that a PRI is designed to develop into a discussion between three professionals, it should not be conducted as a Q&A session or a job interview. The candidate should always do most of the talking.

• To ensure best practice, PRI Observers are selected to observe assessors and to confirm that the process remains fit for purpose.

If you’re interested in becoming a PRI assessor, email membership@imarest.org. You will then receive an introductory pack to begin your training.