Application for membership may be made to any of the Institute Office bearers and requires the completion of an application form, which can be downloaded from this Site, or completed and forwarded electronically to the Institute.

In the event of electronic application being made it will be forwarded to a local Institute representative, who will then contact you with the view to obtaining any additional details and the necessary sponsorship required, bringing you into contact with the organisation.

Fees will become payable on acceptance by the Grading Committee.

Grading Guidelines

The official listing of grades of membership of the S A Institute of Materials Handling is contained in Article 7 of the Articles of Association, specifying: 

CRITERIA FOR GRADING

The criteria upon which Council elects to the various grades are set out in Articles 13 19.

MEMBERSHIP GRADING SUBCOMMITTEE GUIDELINES

The administrative guidelines now used by the Grading Subcommittee are as follows for each grade:  

1. Candidates are expected to have a qualifying academic  background and hold positions of high Responsibility, as senior managers or senior technical advisors in recognisably large organisations. The subcommittee seldom acknowledge persons under 40 years as being eligible.

2. The stress on responsibility and age is to preserve worthy advantage for full members of five or more years standing who have developed sufficiently to be given departmental or executive authority and/or by virtue of their contribution to the Institute, have earned the grading.

1. No admission to this grade under the age of 30 years except for a person with exceptional qualifications and/or experience (related Engineering degree or diploma).

2. For the less qualified person with a minimum of 10 years experience in the materials handling or related field who holds a position of considerable authority, candidates are usually between 40 and 50 years.
3. A thesis may be offered in substantiation of a candidates experience.

Candidates with qualifications similar to that for Professional Members but with a shorter period of experience will be considered from the age of 25.

From the age of 30, however, the Diploma in Materials Handling or similar qualification is considered desirable.  (NTC 5, T2, ONC, HNC, HND, City and Guilds 953) coupled to a period of directly related experience of not less that 5 years.

There is no upper age limit in this grade in order to cater for the very experienced supervisory employee fully concerned with an important materials handling related function but without having had the opportunity to obtain a formal technical education. 15 years compensating experience is considered the minimum in this case.

1. The threshold of this grade is not fixed by age or qualifications. Likewise, there is no upper age limit. The crucial factor in grading at this level is that the candidate has an interest in a specific field within Bulk Materials Handling. 

2. Typical examples of Associates are persons closely associated with handling management are: Accountants, mechanics, equipment hirers, indent agents, non-technical salesman, inspectors, training, safety and personnel officers.

1. Student members all persons registered on Materials Handling Courses Accredited by the SAIMH ETQA with a duration of 6 months and above. Any Student may apply for grading at a higher level if they satisfy the guidelines detailed above.

Usually offered to a patron on a life membership basis with no fees or subscriptions payable.

1. Upon retirement from full-time employment any grade of member over the age of 65 can be granted this grading if he wishes to keep in touch with the Institute.

1. Applications for regrading take a similar form to initial membership applications and apply to any grade.

2. Applicants should ascertain the requirements pertaining to the particular grade sought and must substantiate when and where the basis for additional status was obtained.

1. Regrading is more difficult than initial grading because unless the candidate has attained a higher qualification or holds a recognisably higher position in a company of repute, his merely having expended more years in doing a job of work doesnt constitute experience of the kind to exempt him from being qualified by certification.  It is therefore becoming the practice to call for a thesis in advance of determining a persons ability and attainment, as is the case with Member grading.