Who are the BCS
Registrations & Memberships
BCS membership is structured in grades that track your experience, with professional registrations layered on top to recognise Chartered-level standing.
Membership grades
| Grade | Who it's for | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate | Anyone with an interest in IT, without a professional connection to it | The most open route into BCS, for people who care about the impact of technology but don’t work in the sector day to day. |
| Student | Students on an IT-related course or Digital T-level | Free or low-cost membership for those studying computing, giving early access to the professional community and events. |
| AMBCS | IT apprentices, trainees, or those on a Skills Bootcamp | The first step on the professional ladder — suited to around a year of IT experience and/or relevant entry-level qualifications. |
| MBCS | Anyone working or teaching in computing and technology | BCS’s core professional grade. Members practising, building, maintaining or teaching IT can typically apply directly, backed by a CV or LinkedIn profile. |
| FBCS | Established leaders and role models in the IT field | The most senior BCS grade, recognising significant, sustained contribution and seniority within the profession. |
Membership postnominals — AMBCS, MBCS or FBCS — are normally shown after any decorations, degrees and Chartered letters you hold, for example Jo Smith BEng CEng MBCS.
Professional registrations
Registration is layered on top of membership and involves peer assessment against defined industry standards — it's how BCS recognises Chartered-level competence.
CITP — Chartered IT Professional
BCS’s benchmark of IT excellence. Professional members holding CITP registration qualify as Chartered members of BCS, recognising broad, senior competence across the profession.
CEng — Chartered Engineer
Awarded by BCS under licence from the Engineering Council to members whose work centres on engineering practice within IT and software.
IEng — Incorporated Engineer
A professional engineering registration for members applying established techniques and technologies, awarded by BCS under licence from the Engineering Council.
RITTech — Registered IT Technician
Recognises practical, hands-on technical competence — often the first formal professional registration on the way to Chartered status.
Ready to join, or thinking about upgrading?
Membership is managed centrally by BCS, not by the branch — but we're always happy to talk through which grade or registration fits where you are, and what Berkshire members get out of it locally.