Qualified Practising Market Researcher (QPMR) accreditation is a scheme that demonstrates an industry wide commitment to continuous professional development and raises the professional standards of market and social research. Please see Qualified Practising Market Researcher (QPMR) page for more details.

Eligibility

• In order to apply for QPMR accreditation you must be a current Full Member of the AMSRS.
• Gaining accreditation is currently through a combination of self-assessment and peer review.
• Applicants are asked to make a declaration of their level of knowledge and experience in relation to the complete body of knowledge that comprises market and social research as defined in the QPMR application form. Applications are assessed on this basis.
• An entry exam will be introduced in December 2010 and all members wishing to apply for QPMR accreditation will be required to undertake the exam, in place of the self-assessment application.
• Once you are granted QPMR accreditation you are obligated to undertake continuing professional development activities and meet the necessary renewal requirements to maintain QPMR status each year. Further details about maintaining your QPMR can be found below.

Applications for QPMR accreditation can be made under one of the following categories:

Category 1 - If you have been a market or social researcher for 10 or more years, have spent two of those years practising in Australia, and have broad-based knowledge and experience of market or social research.

Category 2 - If you have at least 5 years of experience as a market or social research researcher, have spent at least two of those years practising in Australia, have a relevant University degree and meet the knowledge and experience requirements.

'Grand-parenting' arrangements - If you have less than 5 years industry experience, you can apply now and be provisionally considered for QPMR under the current 'grand-parenting'  scheme. Under this category you complete the application form, undertake the assessment and if you successfully meet the criteria are accepted as being a provisional QPMR member. You are then required to achieve five years experience, two of those years practising in Australia, before being eligible to become a full and accredited QPMR member.

PLEASE NOTE: This category will cease to be available once the QPMR exam is introduced on 1st December 2010.

Why apply now?

Gaining the qualification will be much more difficult from December 2010 when AMSRS will introduce an exam for people wishing to gain QPMR accreditation.

In addition QPMR accreditation will only be awarded if you have at least 5 years experience and have successfully completed market or social research coursework at a recognised tertiary institution.

QPMR Application process

To gain QPMR accreditation you are required to:

• Be or become a full member of the Society. For information on how to apply for membership, click here.
• Complete the QPMR application form. Applicants are required to achieve a minimum of points against over 250 key aspects of market and social research practice to be eligible.
• Provide the name and contact details of two (2) referees on the application.  Please Note: One of the referees must be a Full Member of the Society (or an international equivalent) and one referee must be from an organisation other than your own.
• Pay an initial application fee of $60.50 and, on approval of the QPMR application, pay the remaining balance of $291.50 (all prices are inclusive of GST).
• Meet the continuing professional development requirements to maintain QPMR status each year and pay an annual a fee of $88 thereafter.

Assessment of QPMR applications

• QPMR applications are assessed by one of a panel of Fellows.
• Fellows are AMSRS members who are market and social research practitioners with substantial industry experience and have been recognised for their contribution to the development of the industry.
• If a QPMR assessor has some association with you or your work, the task of assessment will be referred to another QPMR assessor. 

Weighting and scoring take into account the diverse nature of the industry, accommodating research managers and practitioners, including those with broad knowledge who have chosen to specialise in particular aspects of market or social research.

What happens if my application is unsuccessful?

If your application is initially unsuccessful:

• the QPMR assessor will make recommendations for a course of action you will need to take to gain sufficient points to be awarded QPMR.
• If you need to take action to address your skills gap, your application can be resubmitted once you have addressed this gap.
• If you are required to achieve 5 years experience in the industry you can resubmit your application, with an updated resume, once the 5 years has been achieved.

A second application fee will not be applied on resubmission under the above circumstances.

Maintaining QPMR status

• To maintain QPMR accreditation members are required to undertake continuous professional development to sustain and enhance their market and social research skills and remain up to date with advances that affect the industry.
• Continually developing your professional skills through relevant education and/or active participation in our Industry ensures that you maintain your competitive edge, and
• Reassures clients and colleagues that you are abreast of contemporary developments in market and/or social research.
• Members are required to provide details of the professional development activities they have undertaken over the course of a year and achieve a minimum 100 points on the QPMR continuing professional development scale to maintain QPMR status.

For further details on what is required please click here to go to the Renewing QPMR Accreditation page.

AMSRS Professional Development Program

• AMSRS runs a Professional Development Program (PDP) consisting of training courses, seminars and webinars of varying durations.
• PDP activities are designed to improve the standard of market and social research by assisting in the development of research-related skills for both buyers and suppliers of research. 
• These courses include speakers from within AMSRS membership base, as well as international speakers and academics that specialise in the teaching of market and social research.
• The Program is developed by practitioners, administered nationally and delivered by Divisions according to local needs.
• Accessing the Program provides one of many ways to meet your continuing professional development obligations under QPMR.
• QPMR point allocations for courses are listed on PDP promotional material.
• Further details on the PDP program can be found here.  

Suspending QPMR accreditation

• You can suspend your QPMR accreditation only under certain circumstances.

Please see Suspending QPMR Accreditation for further information.   

Withdrawing from QPMR

• QPMR members who withdraw or are revoked from the accreditation scheme and then later (longer than 12 months) decide that they do in fact want to be recognised as a QPMR member, are required to go through the application process and re-apply for QPMR accreditation.
• Members do not gain automatic re-entry as a QPMR accredited members because they have previously had the accreditation 

For further details about gaining, renewing or suspending QPMR please ring 02 9566 3100, or send an email to qpmr@amsrs.com.au