BCS embraces professional contractors

Members of the Professional Contractors Group (PCG) can now fast-track themselves into the upper echelons of the British Computer Society (BCS), thanks to a deal between the two groups.

This is, as ever, another move towards making IT a more professional profession, something the BCS has been campaigning for for as long as we can remember, and something the PCG is quite keen on too.

PCG chairman Simon Juden says that demand from clients and employers for professional accreditation is increasing: "The professional status of freelancers, consultants and contractors is becoming an important differentiator and we encourage all PCG members to invest in building their technical and business credentials," he said.

The scheme is open to PCG members who want to upgrade an existing standard BCS membership, as well as to those who want to go straight in at the Professional level.

There is already a strong link between the two organisations. A survey of PCG members found that 25 per cent are already members of the BCS as well.

PCG members can apply here, safe in the knowledge that the BCS promises to process applications for Chartered membership within four weeks. ®