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.

The assessment consists of three tests, two of which are in the classroom and one is in the field. The first test involves the identification of a number of specimens that are laid out for identification without the use of books or keys. The second test is slightly more difficult, again with specimens laid out but participants are able to use books and keys. There is then a visit to a field site where candidates record all plant species that they can see for roughly 1½ to 2 hours.

There are three separate tests for a BSBI FISC, yielding four separate scores.

• Lab/classroom test of ten specimens
• Lab/classroom test of twenty specimens
• Field test lasting around two hours (yielding two scores)

More information and detail about how the FISC is assessed can be found in the downloadable information booklet on the BSBI website: https://bsbi.org/field-skills

The assessment takes place over one day.

The entire day is overseen by a FISC Assessor and the field test uses a Gold Standard Surveyor, both of whom are at least FISC Level 5 and approved by BSBI.

The FISC will take place on Hartpury University campus and at an external field site location. Transport to the field site will be included in the course. The location of the field site will remain confidential until candidates are taken there.