How it works

 The steps towards accreditation are as follows: 

STEP 1: To get started

You can access the training materials at any time.  There is no need to create an account.  However if you wish to keep track of your progress through the training materials create an account.

STEP 2: Corporate Accreditations Only

Companies that have multiple staff to undertake the accreditation should email ras@mrs.org.uk

STEP 3: Training

Recruiters can access the online training materials and progress with the training at their own pace. The online system, if you have registered an account, will keep track of what training has been undertaken and what is outstanding.

It is advisable, even if you are an experienced recruiter, that you review all modules of the training before taking the assessment, in particular the modules: New and Emerging Recruitment Techniques and Data Protection and GDPR.

STEP 4: Assessment

Once ready to undertake the assessment recruiters can register for the online assessment. For non MRS members to undertake the assessment, they will need to become members of MRS. 

Existing MRS Members do not have to pay additional fees but will need to sign in to their MyMRS account, or create an account  if they don't have one already. 

Recruiters can take the online assessment whenever they are ready.  Notification of assessment results will be received shortly after completion of the online assessment.

STEP 5: Accreditation

When the RAS assessment has been undertaken, the assessment grade will be issued. Accreditation will be given automatically to individuals who pass the accreditation. With consent, the accredited recruiter's name will be added to the online register of accredited recruiters.  

For companies, accreditation of an organisation will be given once 50% or more of the organisations' recruiters have successfully achieved accreditation. 

For IQCS and/or ISO 20252 certified Telephone Units, accreditation will be given to the organisation once the Compliance/Quality Manager responsible for training and the quality standards has successfully achieved accreditation via the scheme.

STEP 6: Renew Accreditation

Accreditation is for a three year period, which is dependent on MRS membership being renewed on annual basis.

For RAS accredited companies accreditation is also for three years dependent on at least 50% of accredited recruiters within the organisation renewing their  MRS membership.

Steps to Accreditation Flowchart


 

How to become an accredited recruiter

There will be two routes to accreditation:

  • New and inexperienced recruiters will first have to undertake the comprehensive online training programme covering all aspects of qualitative research recruitment before being ready to undertake the online assessment.

  • Experienced recruiters are advised to review all modules of the training before taking the assessment, in particular the modules: New and Emerging Recruitment Techniques and Data Protection and GDPR.

Fees

Individual Recruiter Fees

Recruiters who are already a Member of MRS – No charge for accreditation

Recruiters who are Non-Members of MRS:

  • Option 1 - £167.50 - Includes the RAS assessment, accreditation, compliance regulation by MRS and access to the full suite of MRS membership benefits 
  • Option 2 - £84 - Includes the RAS assessment, accreditation and compliance regulation by MRS but no individual member benefits (a 50% reduction on membership fee)

The accreditation includes:

  • access to the training
  • access to the assessment 
  • accreditation 
  • MRS membership 
  • Certificate of accreditation
  • Logo of accreditation

Re-takes for failed assessments will cost £25 +VAT per re-assessment.

Thereafter there is an annual accreditation fee which includes MRS membership and continued accreditation.

The annual accreditation fee is based on the published membership fee for that year.

The period of accreditation is for three years.  In order to maintain accreditation after  three years recruiters are required to re-take the accreditation assessment.

 

Corporate Recruiter Fees

For companies, there are two types of accreditation. Organisations which undertake in-house recruitment only will achieve RAS Accreditation (In-house) once 50% or more of the organisations' staff undertaking recruitment have successfully achieved accreditation.  RAS Accreditation (In-house) will also apply to those organisations that have met the 50% staff requirement and have yet to achieve the criteria for External RAS Company accreditation.

For those organisations that use the services of external freelance recruiters RAS Accreditation (External) will be given once 50% or more of all in-house staff undertaking recruitment are RAS Accredited Recruiters and at least 50% of all external recruiters  (such as independent recruiters) that are used by the organisation are RAS Accredited Recruiters.  

Recruiters who are already a Member of MRS – No charge for accreditation

  • Option 1 - £167.50 - Includes the RAS assessment, accreditation, compliance regulation by MRS and access to the full suite of MRS membership benefits.
  • Option 2 - £84 -  Includes the RAS assessment, accreditation and compliance regulation by MRS but no individual member benefits (a 50% reduction on membership fee)

The accreditation fee includes:

  • access to the training for all recruiter staff within an organisation
  • access to the assessment for all recruiter staff within an organisation
  • accreditation for all recruiter staff within an organisation
  • MRS membership for accredited recruiters within an organisation
  • Certificate of accreditation (individuals and corporate)
  • Logo of accreditation

Re-takes for failed assessments will cost £25 + VAT per re-assessment.

Thereafter there is an annual accreditation fee which includes MRS membership and continued accreditation.

The annual accreditation fee is based on the published membership fee for that year.

The period of accreditation is for  three years.  In order to maintain accreditation after  three years recruiters are required to re-take the accreditation assessment.

 

IQCS and ISO 20252 Certified Telephone Units

It is recognised that for those telephone units which have had their telephone operations certified to ISO 20252 (*and either have 2012 Certification or have certified to Annex B for the 2019 standard) and/or IQCS, and the training and monitoring requirements that this place upon the telephone unit, will mean there is less need for all the recruiters to undertake accreditation.  

For IQCS and/or ISO 20252* Certified Telephone Units to become accredited as an In-House RAS Accredited Company requires only the Compliance/Quality Manager responsible for training and the quality standards to be accredited as an individual Accredited Recruiter, not 50% of the recruiter staff as for non IQCS and ISO 20252* organisations.  In these instances, the individual recruiter fees would apply.  This does not prevent more staff from a Telephone Unit being individually accredited if they wish to.