Course overview
Delivered in partnership with Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), the Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) is a nationally recognised qualification in the identification of field botany and plant recording. It has been designed in collaboration with the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and acts as an empirical assessment of your skill and employability as a botanist.
Many consultancies recognise the FISC accreditation, which is a test that assesses botanical proficiency on a scale from 1 (beginner) to 5 (professional), with a level 6 awarded in exceptional cases. It is an assessment of current skill level and not a course by which to learn botanical identification.
The FISC is an enjoyable experience, consisting of two class-based sessions where candidates identify fresh specimens from across Britain and Ireland. Following this is a field survey where you spend a couple of hours building a species list on an interesting local site. With no pass or fail, the FISC is open to everyone, regardless of skill level.
Upon completion, you receive an electronic certificate from the BSBI indicating your skill level, along with advice on activities you are competent to undertake and further studies for progression.
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