'Suppose I take the wrong course ...'
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George Wilmot answers the students' queries
STUDENTS undertaking part-time courses are in much better position now than they were two or three years ago because the transport profesSional institutes are working more closely together.
There is now no need for students to worry that their time and study will be wasted should they have taken what turns out to be an inappropriate course.
For years I have been urging through Commercial Motor and in many talks that those concerned with national awards should work together and recognize each other's qualifications. It took a long time for the door to open, but in the past three years developments have come thick and fast. There has been a realization of individual students' difficulties and the stern need to pool the scarce resources of teaching and administration in the field of transport. The position in regard to recognition between examination bodies is now brighter than it has ever been.
"Which type of course should I follow?" This is a question often asked by students — and was the subject of a CM article last September. Judged by inquiries since received this approach has helped a lot and intending students are now in less of a fog about types of qualifications.
But they are still deeply concerned whether a change of plan in their careers means scrapping one course of study and substituting a totally different type of course. Might their previous studies prove worthless?
I fully appreciate these anxieties. It takes a long time to obtain qualifications by part-time study of correspondence course: it takes free time, it is tiring and it can cause domestic upsets. No one wants to loose ground and add extra years to study unnecessarily.
am now coming to the view that this fear of losing valuable time prevents many candidates from setting foot on the road to further qualifications. Many of these men might otherwise enrol for the new session of transport courses • beginning in September. I hope to dispel these doubts and review progress made while answering some typical questions:
QUESTION l have received promotion in my road transport firm which has involved a switch from the engineering side to the traffic/operating part of the business? I have passed the final examination of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) but in view of my move would like to study for the Chartered Institute of Transport (CIT) examination. Does this mean I have to register as a student member and take all the examinations from scratch?
OR QUESTION I am a member of the Institute of Traffic Administration (loTA) and would now like to study for the CIT Finals. Will I have to start the examinations from the beginning once more? If so, I do not think this is worth the effort.
ANSWER Happily, the three transport institutes have in the last few years recognized each other's qualifications. Those who have passed the Final examination of the IRTE (or who hold the examination qualification having been exempted) can proceed directly to the Intermediate examination of the CIT and need not sit two (Principles and Practice of Communication; and Law of Business & Carriage) of the six subjects. Success in the examination for the four remaining subjects will give direct entry to the Final examination.
Further exemption
Those who have studied at colleges where the course has covered other subjects as well as the IRTE award receive further exemption from the Final examinations. Corporate members of IoTA, starting this September, may proceed direct to the CIT Finals but will be required to take two papers, (i) Transport and (ii) Economic and Transport Geography in the CIT Intermediate examinations.
The reverse is also true, Corporate members of the CIT or those successful in the Intermediate examination may apply for exemptions with IRTE and loTA. Their exact position within the IRTE and loTA examination structure will depend on length of appropriate experience and seniority in present post.
QUESTION I took a degree in AngloSaxon which I found most interesting but almost totally useless in gaining employment. I have entered the road transport industry and would like to take a professional qualification. Is this degree any use at ail? ANSWER Surprisingly perhaps, it will count towards a professional qualification. Any graduate of an approved British University (or a degree through the Council for National Academic Awards) gains complete exemption from the intermediate examinations of the CIT and loTA and can also gain exemption from parts of the IRTE examination.
QUESTION I have been thinking of studying for an RSA Certificate in road passenger subjects. My information about this Certificate is vague and, obviously, I do not want to start on a course without more information. Does the award of a Certificate lead to a RSA Diploma in Road Transport subjects and can it lead to gaining CIT awards and those of other institutes? I can find no• reference to the Certificate in the Handbooks of the CIT, loTA and IRTE.
ANSWER The position is rather confusing owing to a change in regulations governing the RSA awards. The RSA Diploma in Road Transport subjects (with both passenger and freight options) which formerly gave direct entry to the • CIT examinations, and was accredited by loTA and IRTE, has now been abandoned (apart from those completing the course in the coming session). Those currently holding the RSA Diploma may proceed to the Intermediate examination providing they take, additionally, one subject at Ordinary Level of the GCE.
New Certificate
In its stead, a new RSA Certificate in road passenger subjects has been launched and courses for this new Certificate are being offered for the first time this September, The Certificate can count as an entry qualification to the CIT but the arrangements are rather complex. If the Certificate, which takes two years of parttime study, is , gained with mark of Distinction (at least three Distinctions and two Credits in the five examination subjects), a student may proceed to the CIT Intermediate automatically.
Credits in at least three examination subjects give entry to a National Examinations Board in Supervisory Studies — NEBSS — (Road Passenger). which has arranged 12 courses from places as far apart as Aberdeen and Pontypridd this September. A pass in the NEBSS Certificate (a day-release one year course) leads to the Licentiate award of the CIT. This, plus success in a