FAQ's

Candidate - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I would like to attend an IWCF course. What is the procedure?

A: To book on to a course please contact an IWCF accredited training centre. To find a centre in your area which offers your preferred course, please visit our locations map. 

Your chosen centre will be able to confirm the next available course dates and the fees involved. 

All candidates also have to register as a candidate before being able to attend a training course. You can register by following this link: https://www.iwcf.org/candidates/candidate-registration/.  This will then give you a Candidate Registration (CR) number which you can give to your chosen training centre to book onto a course.  

You only have to register as a candidate once and can re-use the same CR number for all future course bookings. 

See the complete procedure by viewing our Candidate Guide.  

Q: What is anniversary dating?

A: If a candidate has an eCert which is currently valid and wishes to renew their qualification, they can visit an accredited training centre during the 90-day period before their eCert expires. If the candidate is successful in their re-qualification anniversary dating will be applied. This is providing that the re-qualification is in the same programme and at the same level as the current eCert. 

For example: A candidate currently holds a Level 4 Subsea eCert which expires on 1st September 2019. They complete their Level 4 Subsea course on the 3rd June 2019 and successfully pass their assessment. Their new eCert will be dated from the 1st September 2019 to ensure the full validity is granted.  

Q: When will candidates receive their full eCert after assessments?

A: Candidates who pass their assessment are granted a temporary eCert which lasts for 90 days. Full eCerts will then be issued during the 90 day period and will be available to view in the candidates FORUM account.

Q: What should candidates do if they have an issue with their eCert?

A: Please contact certification@iwcf.org and a member of the certification team will be able to assist you.

Q: Is there a 'grace period' for IWCF eCerts?

A: There is no grace period for IWCF eCerts.

Q: How do I login to my candidate account?

A: You can login to your candidate account by following this linkhttps://www.iwcf-forum.org/Login 

You will need the email address and password you entered during registration to login.  

If you have forgotten your password, please follow the ‘Forgotten my Password’ link on the FORUM homepage.  

Q: How do I change the email address on my candidate account?

A: If you can access your FORUM account, please login and update the email address in the ‘My Details’ section.  

If you cannot access your FORUM account, please contact forum.help@iwcf.org with the following information and a member of our team can assist you:  

  • Full name  
  • Date of Birth  
  • CR Number  
  • New email address to be linked to your account.  

Q: How do I register for Level 1 and WOCRM?

A: To access our awareness courses please register here.

For more information on how to register, how to access the course and your certificate, view our user guide here.

Q: What programme and level should I complete?

A: IWCF follow IOGP recommendations as to what levels candidates should sit. This depends on your level of experience and employer requirements. For a general overview visit our course levels page. 

Download a copy of the latest IOGP 476 Levels Guidance Chart (November 2019 edition) here.

Q: I have completed the Level 1 awareness course and I want to progress to Level 2, what should I do?

A: To complete a Level 2 you should contact one of our accredited training centres.   To find a centre in your area which offers your preferred course, please visit our locations map. 

Your chosen centre will be able to confirm the next available course dates and the fees involved. 

All candidates also have to register as a candidate before being able to attend a training course. You can register by following this link: https://www.iwcf.org/candidates/candidate-registration/.  This will then give you a Candidate Registration (CR) number which you can give to your chosen training centre to book onto a course.  

You only have to register as a candidate once and can re-use the same CR number for all future course bookings. 

Q: How long is my eCert valid for?

A: IWCF certifications are valid for the following durations:  

  • Level 1 and WOCRM certificates do not have an expiry date however can be revisited at any time.  
  • Level 2 eCerts are valid for 5 years.  
  • Level 3 and 4 eCerts are valid for 2 years.  
  • Level 5 eCerts are valid for 5 years.

Q: What is the procedure for resitting an assessment?

A: If a candidate sits a digital assessment and scores between 66% and 69% in their assessment, they will qualify for an instant resit which can be completed on the day or within 90 days of the initial test date.  

If a candidate scores 65% or below in their assessment, they will need to attend further training with an instructor and return within 90 days of the initial test date to resit their assessment.  

Resits for paper assessments are subject to availability 

Membership - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is IWCF membership?

A: Becoming a member gives you a voice within our industry. Membership is available for any individual or company with a specific interest in the oil and gas industry, particularly in the continuing development of well control knowledge worldwide. 

Q: How do I become a member?

A: The first step to becoming a member is to complete a copy of our membership application form. Please send your complete application and a copy of your company registration certificate to membership@iwcf.org 

Please remember to complete the following fields in the ‘Membership Billing Information’ section of the application form:  

  • Type of company  
  • Membership Currency 
  • Do you wish to become an IWCF accredited training centre?  

We will then issue you with an invoice to pay the membership fee. Once the fee has been paid we will approve your membership.  

If you wish to pay for your membership by credit card, then please select GBP as your billing currency.  

Q: What are the membership fees?

A: New Membership Fee 

  • United Kingdom applicants – Fee £375.00 (plus £75.00 VAT @ 20%) – Total £450.00 
  • European Union applicants registered for VAT – Fee €485.00 (Zero Rate VAT) 
  • Non-European Union applicants – Fee £375.00 (VAT Exempt) or US$562.50 
  • Yearly Membership Renewal Fee: £226 / €267 / $339 (plus VAT where applicable) Please note these are flat fees and do not represent any current exchange rate. 

Q: Do I have to be a member before applying for accreditation?

A: Yes, the first step to becoming an accredited training centre is to become a member. 

You can state your interest in accreditation on your membership application form and we will provide you with information regarding accreditation. Once you are an approved member you can apply to become an accredited training centre. 

Q: How do I change my membership details once approved?

A: Download a copy of the Membership Change in Details form from the members login area and send your completed copy to membership@iwcf.org 

We will review your changes and contact you once complete. 

Q: How do I pay the membership fees?

A: The membership fees can be paid by bank transfer or by an online card payment. If you would like to pay by card online, please request this at the time of application.  

If you wish to pay for your membership by credit card, then please select GBP as your billing currency. 

Q: How long does membership last?

A: Membership runs from 1st January to 31st December each year.  Members will be issued with their renewal annually.

Q: What is the difference between an IWCF candidate and a member?

A: A candidate is an individual who is interested in completing an IWCF training course and assessment at an accredited training centre.

Membership is available for any individual or company with a specific interest in the oil and gas industry, particularly in the continuing development of well control knowledge worldwide. 

Q: Where can I find information about who represents my branch region?

A: There are 12 regional branches which each member falls into due to their location, each branch has a Branch Chair and Vice Chair that are responsible for representing this region.  

Click here to download a list to see the regional branch representatives.

Q: When and how do I renew my membership?

A: Your membership runs from January to January and renewals occur yearly in December.

The Media and Membership department will contact you on the lead up to December with your renewal documentation.  Once you have filled out your renewal form and submitted it, you will then be invoiced for your next year of membership.

The renewal fees are £226/ €267/$339 (plus VAT where applicable)

Please note these are flat fees and do not represent any current exchange rate.

Q: I used to be a member of IWCF and now wish to re-join. How can I do this?

A: Please contact the membership@iwcf.org to discuss re-joining as a member.  

Q: I've forgotten my login details to the Members Login Area. How can I reset them?

A: Contact the Media and Membership department with your details on membership@iwcf.org and they can update your login details.

Q: I want to attend the AGM and workshop. How do I do this?

A: The Annual General Meeting and interactive workshop is a member exclusive event; therefore, you would need to have completed the membership application process to attend.   If you are interested in becoming a member to attend, then please contact membership@iwcf.org. 

If you are a current member of IWCF then you can register on our website here: https://www.iwcf.org/agmworkshop/  

Q: I have questions about becoming a member. Who can I contact?

A: Any questions regarding IWCF membership should be sent to membership@iwcf.org and the Media and Membership department will be happy to assist you.

Accreditation - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you become an IWCF accredited training centre?

A: The first step to becoming an accredited training centre is to become a member of IWCF.  You can find out more about IWCF Membership here.  

Once your membership has been approved you can download the accreditation application pack from the Members Login Area. The application will require supplementary evidence to be submitted for physical resources, management resources, staff resources and course materials.  

You can contact the Accreditation Team on accreditation@iwcf.org to arrange a call to discuss your application further. 

Q: What is the difference between primary and associate centres?

A: The primary centre is the main centre for any organisation, usually but not necessarily the business address. This will be a permanent facility with secure storage for records. The instructors, assessors and course materials will be registered to the primary centre. 

The associate centre is a subsidiary of the primary centre. It should be a permanent facility and can use the instructors, assessors and course materials registered to the primary centre. Associate centres are subject to audit by IWCF. 

As the primary centre manages the associate centre, the primary centre accreditation may be at risk if the associate centre is non-compliant. 

Q: When will the primary centre be audited?

A: Primary centres are audited on the first course.

Q: How do primary centres add associate centres?

A: The process for accrediting an associate centre is the same as for a primary centre. Assessor, instructors and course materials are inherited from the primary centre.

Q: Do primary and associate centres renew their accreditation?

A: From January 2020 all primary and associate centres renew their accreditation annually. A grace period has been applied to centres who have been accredited in the last 4 years. To confirm your first renewal date, please contact accreditation@iwcf.org

The centre accreditation renewal fees are as follows:

  • Primary centre: £995/€1,194/$3,750
  • Associate centre: £495/€594/$742.50

Please note only one associate centre renewal fee will be charged regardless of the number of associate centres which are renewed.

Q: What are the fees for centre accreditation?

A: The cost for primary centre accreditation is: £2,500 / €3,000 / $3,750.  Fifty percent of the primary centre accreditation fee is payable on application and is non-refundable. 

The cost for associate centre accreditation is:  £1,500 / €1,800 / $2,250 

These costs include all administration fees. 

The associate centre accreditation fee assumes that the associate centre has a management system in common with the primary centre and uses the same instructors, assessors and materials.  

The cost for adding additional associate centres from then on is £200 / €240 / $300 per associate centre.  This administration fee will be charged when a centre makes a change to their accreditation.  This will also include, but is not limited to, change of location and change of name.  

The cost of upgrading an associate centre to a primary centre is: £1,000 / €1,200 / $1,500. 

Audit fees can also apply as a centre must be audited before full accreditation can be applied. 

Please contact accreditation@iwcf.org for more information or view our Schedule of Fees. 

Q: How long will it take to review an accreditation application?

A: The accreditation team require 20 working days to review applications. Please note processing times may vary depending on the volume of the applications submit.

Q: I'm interested in becoming an accredited Instructor or Assessor. What do I need to do?

A: Please visit our Instructor and Assessor pages for further information and course calendar dates. Alternatively, you can email accreditation@iwcf.org for assistance.