Geoscientist Online

Sir,  As a long-time C.Geol I have read the various recent articles and letters with interest.  They do however raise the question - is Chartership of any practical benefit?   

I work in the oil & gas business and in 20 years I can't remember a single job ad asking for CGeol, nor any request for bids stipulating the work should be carried out or supervised  by a Chartered member (or to be honest even a common-or-garden Fellow.....).  The only practical advantage it seems to give is when applying for a Work Permit in South Africa. 

So why keep paying the fees?   Personally the only reason I can justify it is that it actually forces me to do some training, and document it - otherwise I suspect I'd backslide badly on Continuing Education.

Rob Wallace