Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC)

The Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) is a formal assessment to evaluate and certify botanical identification skills. Conducted over a day, the test assesses participants proficiency in species identification on a scale from 1 (beginner) to 5 (professional), with level 6 awarded in exceptional cases.

The FISC consists of two lab sessions in the morning where candidates identify 10 widespread species from across Britain and Ireland, followed by 20 "challenging" specimens. The afternoon field survey is conducted at a local site where participants produce a species list from the habitats present which is then compared to a gold standard surveyor. We will be looking for evidence of appropriately cautious and precise recording as well as species ID.

You can use your favourite field guides for all but the first lab test. Additional reference guides will be provided for the second indoor lab test, but you will need to bring your own guide for the field test.The results of the lab and field tests are then combined to provide an overall score.

Following a quality assurance process, you will be awarded a widely acknowledged certificate stating your grade from one to five, or in exceptional cases six, based on the BSBI ‘skills pyramid’ (which can be found on the BSBI website). Detailed feedback will be available on request once marking has been completed.

The FISC is designed to be challenging but it is still a fun day and a great way to direct future learning and recognise achievement.

For more details on the FISC please see the BSBI's website:

https://bsbi.org/field-skills

1. Data Protection

Due to the requirement for both parties to receive and process data to achieve the successful coordination and delivery of FISC, and the purposes and means of processing having been jointly established through this Agreement, DBRC and BSBI resolve to act as Joint Data Controllers for the period of this Agreement for information relating to FISC Assessors, Gold Standard Surveyors and FISC candidates associated with DBRC.