Go to the Recruiter Accreditation Scheme (RAS) website
Now you can can access free training modules, and find out how to undertake the online assessment.
The Recruiter Accreditation Scheme (RAS) has been developed by MRS and the Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) to raise the profile and status of recruiters, by devising a training and accreditation scheme that recognises the knowledge, skills and competence of professional recruiters.
The overall aim of the scheme is to improve the quality of qualitative recruitment by all parties throughout the qualitative recruitment supply-chain.
The RAS is designed to recognise the range of knowledge and understanding required to:
The RAS programme combines online training and assessment with self-directed work-based learning. All of the RAS online training is available for use without financial charge. The materials are available here: https://ras.mrs.org.uk/
Research recruiters working across a wide range of sectors who undertake research recruitment, and those who commission qualitative research and/or undertake research recruitment as part of a wider research role:
I thought that the course was very informative, I gained a lot of useful information from completing the modules that I wasn't aware of before I started, which will really help me with my job role at Prevision Research.
After completing and passing the assessment, receiving a Merit Grade, I feel like I have increased my knowledge and have a better understanding in terms of recruitment within the Market Research Industry.
I feel very proud of myself for being the first to complete this course, having this accreditation will really help and support me in progressing my career in Market Research.
Amy Holmes
More information on the structure and learning outcomes of RAS can be found in the RAS syllabus document.
The assessment is completed online under the guidance of MRS, as the awarding body for the accreditation.
The assessment consists of 40 multiple-choice questions covering all five RAS modules. Each question is worth one mark. In order to pass, candidates must achieve a minimum score of 20 marks.
How long will it take?
It is recommended you undertake around 40 learning hours of study of the learning materials which support RAS to prepare for the assessment.
It is advisable, even if you are an experienced recruiter, that you review all modules of the training before taking the assessment, in particular the modules: New and Emerging Recruitment Techniques and Data Protection and GDPR.
Read full details about how the RAS training and assessment works and can be accessed.
Entry requirements
RAS is open to all individuals who wish to participate.
Once you have either completed/reviewed the RAS training online learning programme developed by AQR and MRS you should be ready to undertake the RAS assessment
You can access the RAS Assessment here
MRS and AQR online RAS training – FREE to all – go to the RAS online training site
Individual Recruiter Fees
Recruiters who are already a Member of MRS – No charge for accreditation
Recruiters who are Non-Members of MRS:
The accreditation includes:
Re-takes for failed assessments will cost £25 +VAT per re-assessment.
RAS Accredited Company – External supersedes RAS Accredited Company – In House accreditation as External accreditation covers both the internal and external recruitment activities of the company.
Corporate Recruiter Fees
For companies, there are two types of accreditation. Organisations which undertake in-house recruitment only will achieve RAS Accreditation (In-house) once 50% or more of the organisations' staff undertaking recruitment have successfully achieved accreditation. RAS Accreditation (In-house) will also apply to those organisations that have met the 50% staff requirement and have yet to achieve the criteria for External RAS Company accreditation.
For those organisations that use the services of external freelance recruiters RAS Accreditation (External) will be given once 50% or more of all in-house staff undertaking recruitment are RAS Accredited Recruiters and at least 50% of all external recruiters (such as independent recruiters) that are used by the organisation are RAS Accredited Recruiters.
RAS Accredited Company Application Form
RAS Accredited Company Annual Update Form
Corporate recruiter accreditation fees:
Recruiters who are already a Member of MRS – No charge for accreditation
Recruiters who are Non-Members of MRS:
The accreditation fee includes:
Re-takes for failed assessments will cost £25 + VAT per re-assessment.
It is recognised that for those telephone units which have had their telephone operations certified to ISO 20252 (*and either have 2012 Certification or have certified to Annex B for the 2019 standard) and/or IQCS, and the training and monitoring requirements that this place upon the telephone unit, will mean there is less need for all the recruiters to undertake accreditation.
For IQCS and/or ISO 20252* Certified Telephone Units to become accredited as an In-House RAS Accredited Company requires only the Compliance/Quality Manager responsible for training and the quality standards to be accredited as an individual Accredited Recruiter, not 50% of the recruiter staff as for non IQCS and ISO 20252* organisations. In these instances, the individual recruiter fees would apply. This does not prevent more staff from a Telephone Unit being individually accredited if they wish to.
Now you can can access free training modules, and find out how to undertake the online assessment.
Ways you can verify a recruiter:
The overall aim of the scheme is to improve the quality of qualitative recruitment by all parties throughout the qualitative recruitment supply-chain.
To qualify as an accredited recruiter candidates must pass an online assessment. For companies, accreditation of an organisation is External and In-House.
There are two types of RAS Company Accreditation.
Organisations which undertake in-house recruitment only will achieve RAS Accreditation (In-house) once 50% or more of the organisations’ staff undertaking recruitment have successfully achieved accreditation. RAS Accreditation (In-house) will also apply to those organisations that have met the 50% staff requirement and have yet to achieve the criteria for External RAS Company accreditation.
For those organisations that use the services of external freelance recruiters RAS Accreditation (External) will be given once 50% or more of all in-house staff undertaking recruitment are RAS Accredited Recruiters and at least 50% of all external recruiters (such as independent recruiters) that are used by the organisation are RAS Accredited Recruiters.
RAS Accredited Company – External supersedes RAS Accredited Company – In House accreditation as External accreditation covers both the internal and external recruitment activities of the company.
Acumen Field Ltd
Ardent Fieldwork Ltd
Beam Fieldwork
Beaufort Research
Criteria Fieldwork Ltd
Dig Fieldcraft Ltd
DJS Research Ltd
Face Facts Research
Feedback Market Research
Field Solutions Market Research
Firefish Ltd
First for Fieldwork
Further Afield Ltd
iThoughts ltd
Launchpad Research Ltd
Leftfield Associates
Perspective Research Services Ltd
Plus Four Market Research Ltd
Pook Fieldwork
QRS Market Research
Rite Angle Ltd
Roots Research Ltd / Take Part In Research
Taylor McKenzie Research & Marketing Ltd
The Schlesinger Group UK
Viewpoint Services
Acumen Healthcare
Angelfish
Bright Research & Co Ltd
Code 3 Research Ltd
Cheshire Research Services Ltd
ES Research
Field Mouse Research Ltd
Field Sauce Ltd
Focus4People
GKA
Give Opinions
Gro Fieldwork
Gromotion Ltd.
Hawkins Research Ltd
JTL Research
Kudos Research
M3 Global Research
MIS Group Intl. Ltd
Opinion Health
Paton Williamson Consultancy
People for Research
Prevision Research Ltd
Research Opinions Ltd
Research Northwest
Research Today Limited
RONIN International Ltd
Saros Research Ltd
Smart Connect Research Ltd
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