BASES Sport and Exercise Scientist Accreditation
BASES Accreditation is a professional standard awarded to practitioners who are deemed by the Association to have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to practice safely, effectively and independently as a sport and exercise scientist.
Professional members can achieve BASES Accreditation as a result of work in applied sport/exercise science support, research or pedagogy. If successful, members are accredited to work within their domain of expertise, providing employers and clients with the confidence that the services they receive will be delivered by a professional who has demonstrated competency to the required standard.
BASES Accreditation is awarded for a five-year period, at which point members need to apply for Re-accreditation to retain accredited status.
For more information on Re-accreditation, click here.
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Why become a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist?
BASES Accreditation supports the maintenance and enhancement of professional and ethical standards in sport and exercise sciences and is recognised as the benchmark professional standard within the sport and exercise science sector. It is increasingly becoming an essential requirement for many employers in the field, such as the English Premier League and the English Institute of Sport.
On successfully becoming a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist you can choose to be listed on the BASES Consultant Finder on our website and you are eligible to become a Chartered Scientist. BASES Accredited members can use the title BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist.
Testimonials from BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientists
To read about how BASES Accreditation has helped other members and why they recommend BASES Accreditation to other Sport and Exercise Scientists, click the links below:
Craig Musham, Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach
Charlotte Picknell, PE Supply Teacher/ Sport Science Specialist
Katie Richards, Coach Education Development Manager, British Gymnastics
How do I apply?
Applications for BASES Accreditation are submitted online by completing all relevant sections of the BASES Accreditation Application Documents and submitting via the online application form. The fee for accreditation is £100.
Applicants are advised to read the most recent version of the Accreditation Guidelines before applying.
Applicants looking to apply for Research or Pedagogy are advised to read the additional guidance located on the tab titled 'Research and Pedagogy applications - further guidance'.
What are the routes to BASES Accreditation?
There are two different routes to applying for BASES accreditation:
- Via the BASES Supervised Experience programme, which provides the guidance, environment and opportunities to facilitate the development of the competencies required for BASES accreditation. Click here to find out more.
- Via a direct application from applicants who feel they already have significant experience working within the profession and can evidence the required competencies.
Which route is right for me?
We advise trying to complete the competency profile in the Application Documents which will give a good indication as to whether or not you currently have the skills and knowledge to evidence the required competencies via a direct application.
If you struggle to complete this you should think about registering for BASES Supervised Experience.
What are the criteria for BASES Accreditation?
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for BASES Accreditation:
- You must be a BASES Professional member at the time of application
- You must maintain this membership whilst holding BASES accreditation
- You will need to demonstrate an understanding of the sport and exercise science areas of physiology, psychology and biomechanics.
Applicants applying via the direct route will need to submit the following:
- a CV
- a case study for each category (Support, Research, Pedagogy) applied for
- evidence of a relevant undergraduate degree, with additional information if not BUES
- evidence of a relevant Master's level or above degree OR evidence of equivalent underpinning knowledge within their portfolio plus a completed Masters Level Equivalency Matrix
- three signed references (one mentor and two clients)
- a competency profile.
Full details of required criteria can be found in the Accreditation Guidelines and the Accreditation Competency Profile , which applicants are advised to read before submitting an application.
Included are case study guidelines, Guidance Notes on assessing non-BUES degrees, BASES M-Level Equivalency Mapping Matrix, Common Application Errors and FAQs.
Applicants (Professional members) applying after completing the BASES SE programme only need to submit:
- the online application form
- their Supervised Experience completion letter sent from the BASES office.
How do I apply for BASES Accreditation?
To submit a direct application:
- Download and read the Accreditation Guidelines
- Download the Application Documents and complete all relevant sections. Save these along with all other required documentation, (CV, case study, degrees evidence) as one PDF document (which should not exceed 100 paged in total if applying for one category and submitting one case study).
- Complete the online application form, where you will submit your portfolio of evidence.
- The non-refundable fee covers the five-year accredited period if your application is successful
To submit an application at the end of Supervised Experience:
- If you are not a BASES Professional member you will need to upgrade your membership category before applying.
- Complete the online application form and submit with your Supervised Experience completion letter (sent from the BASES office).
How do I apply for Chartered Scientist (CSci) status?
You can choose to apply for Chartered Scientist status at the same time as submitting your application for BASES Accreditation, by ticking the relevant box on the accreditation application form. You will need to pay the Chartered Scientist registration fee (or set up a Direct Debit).
If your application for BASES Accreditation is successful, you will automatically be awarded Chartered Scientist status and will be added to the Science Council register. If your application is unsuccessful, the CSci fee will be refunded.
When are the deadlines for BASES Accreditation and CSci applications?
There are two application submission windows each year.
Open for applications: 1 December. Deadline for applications: 6 January.
Open for applications: 1 June. Deadline for applications: 1 July.
We are unable to accept applications after these deadlines.
When will I know the outcome of my application?
We notify applicants by post in either April (for January submissions) or September (for July submissions) after Accreditation Committee meetings have taken place.
Appeals and Complaints
Applicants have the right to appeal if they feel aggrieved at the decision of the Accreditation Committee based on one of the following grounds for appeal:
- the Accreditation Committee or awarding panel has misinterpreted or misapplied the Terms of Reference (Accreditation criteria) when considering the application;
- the Accreditation Committee or awarding panel has discriminated arbitrarily against the Applicant;
- the Accreditation Committee or awarding panel has made a materially incorrect finding of fact or misinterpreted the evidence before it;
- there is evidence of material maladministration on the part of an administrative officer
Please note that appeals which are not based on one of these grounds of appeal will not be accepted. Appeals may not be based on questions regarding the interpretation of evidence provided within an application by members of the Accreditation Committee; nor can appeals be used to provide additional evidence to demonstrate competence in areas that fell short of the required standard in the original application.
BASES Appeals Process
1. Applicants must make written notice of an appeal within 14 days of the decision being communicated to the Applicant, outlining the grounds for appeal.
2. An independent member of the Accreditation Committee (not involved in the original review of the application) will review the application and either:
a) uphold the original decision
b) accept the appeal and recommend the decision be changed
3. The Applicant is informed of the outcome of the appeal, with feedback provided by the independent reviewer explaining their decision.
4. If the Applicant remains aggrieved by the decision and has grounds to do so, they may lodge a "Final Appeal" to the BASES Board. The "Final Appeal" process is detailed within the BASES Appeals Process policy document.
Case study and profile support
We are currently in the process of updating the case study examples. Please note the examples here should only be used to give applicants an idea of what could be contained in cases studies and should not be considered as a guide as how to write the document please see the TSES article, top tips document and Accreditation guidelines document for more support.
Scientific Support
Competency Profile and Case Study 2 (Physiology)
Table of Contents and Competency Profile (Physiology)
Pedagogy
Competency Profile*Please note that this document may not include the updated CSci standards until 20 October 2021
Research
Competency Profile and Case Study 1 (Physiology)
Article on how to prepare a Case Study for Scientific Support
Click here to view
Top Tips and FAQ's for applications
Research and Pedagogy applications - further guidance
BASES Re-accreditation
BASES Guidelines: Reaccreditation Covid-19:
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic means the world is in extraordinary and unprecedented times. As a result, applicants for BASES reaccreditation may find their application limited in some way (e.g. gaining hours in the lab or field, CPD events etc.). Under normal circumstances for re-accreditation, if your original accreditation lapses by no longer than three years, then you can apply for re-accreditation covering the previous 5 years of work up to the submission point.
It is hoped that members due for re-accreditation in the July 2021 window, the pandemic will have effected no more than 12-18 months of CPD and support work, and prior to that they will still have a full 4+ years of CPD and practice hours to evidence. Please read the COVID-19 Restriction guidance which were recently approved by the Accreditation Advisory Group at the March 2021 Advisory Group meeting.
BASES Re-accreditation recognises that an accredited individual has already demonstrated that they possess the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to practice safely, effectively and independently as a sport and exercise scientist.
Re-accreditation requires the applicant to demonstrate continued delivery of services and continued development as a practitioner via:
- Continued application and delivery
- On-going record of personal development activities and subsequent reflection
- Feedback from mentors/clients.
If your accreditation lapses by no longer than three years, you can apply for re-accreditation covering the previous 5 years of work up to the submission point.
Re-accreditation Application Form
When are the application deadlines?
There are two application submission windows each year:
Open for applications on 1 December. Deadline for
applications is
6 January
Open for applications on 1 June. Deadline for applications is 1 July
We are unable to accept applications after these deadlines.
What do I need to submit for re-accreditation?
You will need to submit a delivery log, CPD log, reflections on these activities, evidence of BASES credits and suitable reference(s).
Full details can be found in the Re-accreditation Guidelines which you are strongly advised to read before submitting an application.
How do I submit an application?
Please download and complete the Re-accreditation application documents, then click here to apply and submit your application.
The application fee is £100.00.
BASES Accreditation Partnership Scheme (Streamlined route)
BASES Accreditation Partnership Scheme (Streamlined route) for employers of Sport and Exercise Scientists
What is the BASES Accreditation Partnership Scheme?
As the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK, BASES develops partnerships with key employers and deployers in the sport and exercise science sector to help raise standards of practice, support sport and exercise scientists to develop in their careers and support employers to safeguard their employees and clients. One of BASES main strategies in delivering these objectives is to support more practicing sport and exercise scientists to become BASES Accredited.
The BASES Accreditation Partnership Scheme enables organisations employing sport and/or exercise science staff to support their employees to apply for BASES Accreditation via a ‘streamlined’ direct application route.
How will becoming a BASES Accredited partner help our employees?
All employees of a BASES Accreditation Partner organisation working in a sport and/or exercise science role, who meet the requirements detailed in this document, will be eligible to apply for BASES Accreditation via the ‘streamlined’ direct application route; this involves the development and submission of a condensed accreditation application portfolio containing a supervisor report written by an Accredited BASES member or BASES Fellow.
How can we become a BASES Accreditation Partner?
Any organisation employing at least 3 members of sport and/or exercise staff can become a BASES Accreditation Partner. Organisations must meet the criteria included in this document and complete the BASES Accreditation Partner Form to demonstrate how the organisation’s values, policies, procedures and support structures ensure high standards of practice and support the professional development of sport and/or exercise science practitioners; and safeguard clients and service users.
What type of organisations can apply for BASES Accreditation Partnership Scheme?
BASES welcome applications from all types of organisations that meet the criteria including High Performance Sport Organisations, Sports Institutes and Higher Education Institutes.
Below are some examples of organisations who have been accepted on to the BASES Accreditation Partnership Scheme.
Newcastle United Football Club
sportscotland Institute of Sport
For further information and to apply please view the below documents:
Accreditation Partnership Scheme information
Accreditation Partnership Scheme Application form
For more information and any support with the application form, please contact Lisa Phillips (Professional Development Manager).
Email: lphillips@bases.org.uk