YDSA has three grades of professional membership - Affiliate, Accredited and Full. Our grades of Membership reflect the level of expertise and experience our designers and surveyors have in the industry.

What is the difference between our Membership grades?

Full Membership (FYDSA)

Full Membership can be achieved after a continuous period of minimum 3 years as an Accredited Member or 10 years as principal surveyor, followed by an assessment by the YDSA Committee.

Full membership is achieved by submission of 2 sample designs reflecting the scope of your work (Designer Application) or 2 Full Condition Survey reports (Surveyor Application) - representing the range of work as an Accredited member.

To help with the assessment, new applicants above the Affiliate grade will also be required to sit and pass an in-house examination. 

Accredited Membership (MYDSA)

Accredited Membership can be achieved after a successful assessment exam, 2 sample designs reflecting the scope of your work (Designer Application) or 2 Full Condition Survey reports (Surveyor Application) and, an interview by the YDSA Committee.

To help with the assessment, new applicants above the Affiliate grade will also be required to sit and pass an in-house examination. 

Those who have achieved Accredited Member level or above may apply to become Coding surveyors.

Affiliate Membership (AYDSA)

Affiliate membership is available for a maximum period of 5 years and is for those who are actively involved in designing and surveying and seeking to achieve the standards of professional competence required for Accredited Membership.

Affiliate membership can be achieved after a successful assessment by the YDSA Committee. To help with the assessment, applicants are currently required to provide 2 sample designs reflecting the scope of your work (Designer Application) or 2 Full Condition Survey reports (Surveyor Application).

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NB: For the protection of their clients and themselves, it is mandatory for all YDSA Members to hold:

• Professional Indemnity Insurance and,
• Public Liability insurance.

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Other Membership and Recognition

Fellow

A Fellowship is awarded to those Members who, in the opinion of the committee, have served the company or the industry or proved outstanding ability and is regarded as a standard of excellence. Fellows must be or have been active designers or surveyors. Fellowships are conferred by the Members once a year at our AGM.

Honorary Membership

Honorary Memberships are awarded for services to the Association for someone who has retired from practice or who has assisted the Association in a special way. Honorary Memberships are conferred by the Members once a year at our AGM.

Trainee

Those who successfully complete a recognised course, or who are in the early stages of becoming surveyors and have Professional Indemnity Insurance, may apply to become a Trainee, whilst working to upgrade to an Affiliate member.

Trainee grade may be offered to those who have applied for Affiliate, but in the opinion of the YDSA Committee have not yet met the standard of Affiliate Membership. 

Benefits of being a Trainee with the YDSA include attending YDSA events at the discounted Member rate and support from YDSA members for further development.

Trainee Membership is not a grade of membership but is a means for YDSA to encourage, promote and support a designer or surveyor in the early days of their career. As such, advertising using the logo and letters YDSA is not permitted by Trainees.

Partner Membership

Partner Members are professional organisations or individuals who offer services which are complementary to the YBDSA Membership, such as marine insurance, law, finance or in technical areas. Partners are listed on our website and are welcome at Association events at the discounted Member rate.

If you wish to become a Partner Member, please contact us using the details below.

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Upgrading

When Members believe they are ready to upgrade their Membership to the next level grade, a further 2 Pre-Purchase Surveys (Designer Application) or 2 Full Condition Survey reports (Surveyor Application) should be submitted for assessment along with an upgrade application form and fee. The assessment process is similar to that of a new applicant with feedback provided to the Member.

For those up-grading from Affiliate to Accredited member, there is an additional in-house examination to pass.