Chartered Scientist

Demonstrate your regulatory competence with a professional registration

What is Chartered Scientist?

Chartered Scientist is a professional registration that recognises a high level of skill and experience independent of discipline. It provides recognition for professional practice and experience and thus complements the academic qualifications you might also have. Typically professionals need to have been working for 5 years to achieve this and must either have a Masters level qualification or be able to demonstrate that they are working at this level.

As it is independent of scientific discipline, it provides parity across the different scientific careers.

It is based on 5 broad areas of scientific competence and to apply you need to demonstrate and evidence how you meet all of these competencies in your daily work.

Professional registration as a Chartered Scientist is accepted by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as a suitable professional body registration for inclusion in the register of Responsible Persons (Import) under The Human Medicines (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 45AB – 2c.

Meet some of our Chartered Scientists

	Gabriela Fok MTOPRA CSci Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager, Ipsen UK Limited Meet Gabriela	Philip Kelly MTOPRA CSci IVDR Project Manager, HPRA MEET Philip
	Eesha Vyas MTOPRA CSci Global Regulatory Submission Manager, GSK MEET Eesha

Applying for Chartered Status

The process and requirements for applying for Chartered Scientist are set out in the guidance document below.

To apply for Chartered Scientist you will need to complete the application form (link below). For each competence you need to demonstrate that you meet the criteria set out in the Matrix of Competency Descriptions; the Matrix also provides some suggestions of possible examples you might use. Please refer to the CSci application guidance document for more information about completing the application form and other common questions.

To support your application you need to provide the details of one supporter. Your supporter should be a senior colleague who is familiar with your work, typically a line manager or supervisor. Wherever possible, the supporter should be a TOPRA member. Once you have provided their details, we will contact them to obtain their input. Please make sure they are aware that you are applying and are expecting to hear from us.

If you do not have a masters level qualification in a relevant scientific or engineering you will need to complete the CSci equivalence report to demonstrate that you are working at master’s level. The equivalence report is designed to capture evidence that you have developed the necessary master’s level competencies and how you have developed these. This is likely to be a mixture of training, self-study, on the job experience and other professional development activities. Please refer to the CSci equivalence report guidance document for additional information.

Finally you will need to pay the application fee.

The process

Step 1: Complete the application form   
Step 2: Pay the application fee
Step 3: Send your application along with proof of your qualifications to us at chartered.scientist@topra.org
Step 4: We will contact your supporter with a copy of your application form and ask them to complete the supporters form.
Step 5: Your application and the responses from your supporter will be submitted to the assessment panel who meet every quarter. The assessment panel make a recommendation to the Board, once they have ratified your registration we will contact you with the result. This can take up to eight weeks.

Deadlines - 2025

Q1: 5 December 2024
Q2: 2 April 2025
Q3: 5 June 2025
Q4: 2 October 2025

Maintaining your Chartered status

To maintain your Chartered status you will need to maintain your TOPRA membership, pay an annual Chartered Scientist subscription fee and demonstrate that you meet the Continuing Professional Development (Lifelong Learning) requirements by submitting your CPD records using our online CPD tool. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions to see further information about the CPD requirements that Chartered Scientists must meet.

Code of Conduct

The TOPRA Statement of Values is the code of conduct all professionally registered members are required to follow and agree to be bound by.  

There is also a Disciplinary Procedure for TOPRA members holding professional registration.

Anyone who has concerns, or a complaint about, a Chartered Scientist working in regulatory affairs who is registered through TOPRA, should refer to TOPRA’s complaints policy.

Find out more

Watch our on-demand webinar, Get the Recognition You Deserve With CSci.