Choose your membership

Experience, business insights and our behaviours are equally as important as qualifications in the management of risk. The criteria to join IIRSM is assessed against our Risk Management and Leadership Competence Framework, and we have routes linked to both qualifications and experience.

We have a pathway to membership for everyone – from students building their knowledge to Fellows using their experience and expertise to influence their professions and best practice.

Click on the grades below to choose which one is right for you.  If you wish to explore the membership benefits first you can do so here.

Student

Get free membership for the duration of your studies. It doesn’t matter if you’re about to start or halfway through your course. Join our community to get support with your studies or access people that can help you navigate the world of work. 

If you are studying one of our recognised qualifications, you are eligible for Student membership.

Click here to find out more and how to apply.

Affiliate

Whatever your role, you make decisions that involves identifying and managing risk. If you have an interest in risk and safety management and want to connect with our global network, access a wealth of online resources and advice, then why not be part of our community and become an Affiliate.

Click here to find out more and how to apply. 

Associate

You have at least a level 3 risk-related qualification and/or at least two years’ experience in managing risks, typically providing technical support, advice, and guidance to others across an organisation (or a client if a consultant) to support function and/or organisation-wide objectives and projects.

You can apply to be an Associate based on your:

• Qualifications, or
• Skills, competence and experience

Click here to find out which route is best for you. 

Member

You have at least a level 4 or 5 risk-related qualification and/or 3 years’ relevant experience typically managing operational change and procedures, contributing to policy development and responsible for managing risks within an area of responsibility or organisation-wide objectives and projects.

You can apply to be a Member based on your: 

• Qualifications
• Qualifications and experience
• Skills, competence and experience

Click here to find out which route is best for you.

Fellow

You are an experienced professional, combining strategic insight, risk expertise and business acumen and put the wellbeing of your people at the forefront to drive both individual and organisational performance.

Click here to find out more and how to apply.

Routes to membership for a diverse, inclusive profession

Technical ability is essential, but equally important, are business insights and our behaviour. All three are required to be able to make a positive impact. This is backed up by the research that informed the development of our Risk Management and Leadership Competence Framework, which underpins our new routes to membership.  

Our routes to membership recognise the breadth of roles and expertise involved in the effective management of risk, and that we do not all have access to the same learning opportunities or take the same career pathways. We want to give more people the opportunity to join and benefit from being part of a vibrant, global community and progress in their journey as a risk and safety professional.

So, while qualifications are important and demonstrate an individual’s knowledge, they don’t always reflect the application of that knowledge or evolving competence and experience. Our broadened routes are more inclusive, enabling someone to join and upgrade based on their qualifications and / or by demonstrating their skills, experience and competence within their area of work.

We believe diversifying our membership and being more inclusive provides richer learning and networking and reinforces the need for all risk fields to work collaboratively to drive integrated risk decision making.

Upgrade your membership

Depending on your levels of experience and qualifications, you may be eligible to upgrade your membership to the next level. Click here to find out more.

To find out more ...

You can find out more about the criteria for the different grades and how to join within this section.  If you wish to discuss your application or want to know more first, please contact us. We've also included a handy resource below that explains the journey through the IIRSM membership grades.