Fake Qualification, Bought ones too Options

[SarahSax1986]

So, does anyone on here have any fake qualifications that mean they can put letters after their name, or qualifications they have bought?

I myself am able to put letters after my name....

Sarah ?????? Hkt.B

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Edit/ Also does anyone know of qualifications than one can simply buy?

[AmandaL]

How can one be allowed to have letters after their name for a "qualification" that comprises of merely joining an organisation? Is that not a bit pointless?

But that isn't a qualification. It is a membership - just as one might be a MInstP in the science world.

David

Excuse me, but can we cut out this 'merely joining an organisation'! I wish to set the record straight.

I am a physics graduate and to hold AMInstP (Associate Member of the Institute of Physics), for which one requires a BSc Physics.

MInstP and FInstP require post-graduate physics qualifications or a good number of years relevant experience at the same level. Proof of your academic status is required before any membership is granted, and as you pass up through the ranks other members have to supply professional references as to your suitability for acceptance.

The Institute of Physics DOES NOT just hand out memberships to those who fancy sticking a few letters after their name. I have AMInstP and this verifies not only that I have an accredited qualification in physics, but that I also hold professional recognition of the same.

Similarly FRAS (Fellow of the Royal Astonomical Society) is only granted on those who have contributed to some work that is professionally recognised and therefore you are nominated by another Fellow.

However, Members of the Royal Institution (the place that runs the Christamas Lectures that are shown on Channel 4) are allowed to put MRI or FRI (for fellows) after their name, simply by joining that organistion and paying their annual fee. For this reason, I am not a member.

[AnotherPianist]

The Institute of Physics DOES NOT just hand out memberships to those who fancy sticking a few letters after their name. I have AMInstP and this verifies not only that I have an accredited qualification in physics, but that I also hold professional recognition of the same.

I agree with your point entirely, memberships that represent something and have meaningful entrance requirements do have a use. Many of these are helpful to people when applying for jobs: certain professsions require certain memberships, which aren't easy to come by; and in many others one has an advantage through posessing a respected membership. If they represent an accredited degree plus some level of experience then they are useful and will be considered by employers. The same with the MA(Oxon) et. al. most people know what that means and it does have to be earnt: requires a degree from one of these institutions after all. It's not a masters degree, but I don't think that most people would count it as one.

I personally could not understand why anyone would put memberships that are simply bought (with no, or very trivial entry requirements) as postnominals following their names though. What's the point? As soon as someone asks 'what did you do for that' one has to say 'I paid £5 a year for it' and quite frankly looks rather silly, or has to try and make up something to make it sound like one has done something. Using these letters really does detract from the real qualifications in there too: how many memberships will one look up and find out to be pay for only before just assuming the rest will be similar.