Our Professional Grades allow you, if you satisfy the requirements (see criteria for Professional Grade awards in How To Apply below), to add post-nominal qualification letters to your name. These designations are recognised throughout the leather industry and can be added to your curriculum vitae, to demonstrate your standing and experience. 

A Certificate is awarded to all successful recipients of professional grading progression, and these are usually presented at the SLTC Annual Conference.

There are different levels of Professional Grade, some automatic upon joining the Society and others for which members of the SLTC are encouraged to apply as they achieve the necessary requirements laid out below: 

• Licentiate (LSLTC): Available only for student members of the Society while they are undertaking educational/vocational training.
• Associate (ASLTC): Available immediately for all members on acceptance to the Society.
• Member (MSLTC): Available for members after 3 years of membership, who apply and meet the necessary criteria.
• Fellow (FSLTC): Available for members after 10 years of membership, who apply and meet the necessary criteria.

All applicants must be over eighteen years old and the SLTC Council will review each application. The awarding of a progressive Professional Grade will depend on academic publications, industrial experience and length of continual membership of the Society. It is expected that qualified leather technologists, technicians, scientists and management generalists working within the leather industry will apply for a Professional Grade. 

The Society also wishes to encourage newly qualified students or more experienced members, who may not be directly working in a technical role or scientific discipline, to apply. 

The decision of Council is final and binding and there is no obligation to give grounds for a decision. Anyone applying for progressive Professional Grading must be a fully paid-up member of the SLTC.