If you are thinking of taking a course or undertaking continuous professional development it helps to know if a professional body recognises your award. Professional bodies aim to further a particular profession as well as support their practitioners. In addition, they increase public interest and awareness of a profession and promote best practice.
Some professional bodies also award professional qualifications. Here we look at some of the most important professional bodies in Ireland.
ACCA is the global body for professional accountants as well as a qualifications awarding body.
Accounting Technicians Ireland is a professional body for accounting technicians, and they also provide an internationally recognised business qualification.
The Bar of Ireland is the representative body for the barristers' profession in Ireland and is governed by the Constitution of The Bar of Ireland. Its role is to consider, report upon and make representations as it considers necessary in all matters affecting the profession. It also controls and regulates the professional conduct of the members of the Bar.
Chartered Accountants Ireland is a membership body which also has autonomous statutory awarding powers.
CILT is the recognised body for professionals in supply chain, logistics and transport.
CIMA is the world’s largest and leading professional body of management accountants.
CIPD is the professional body for HR and people development.
CIBTAC is the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology.
The Honorable Society of King's Inns is the institution that controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland.
ICM is the UK’s leading professional body for commercial and business development staff. They are also an international examining and awarding body.
IIPA is an Ireland-based internationally recognised body of professional accountants, as well as auditors and accounting technicians.
Institute of Industrial Engineers (Ireland) is the professional, as well as qualifying, body for those involved in industrial engineering.
IOSH is the world's leading professional body for people responsible for safety and health in the workplace. In addition, a worldwide network of IOSH-approved licensed training providers delivers their training courses.
IPMI offers access to two highly rated professional accreditation bodies through certifying programmes from the IPMA and PMI-USA respectively.
The IPA is a recognised college of University College Dublin that offers postgraduate programmes in public management.
IRCA is the world’s first, as well as largest, international certification body for auditors of management systems. As a result, they certify auditors in over 150 countries.
The IAA is responsible for the management of Irish airspace. They are also responsible for the safety regulation of Irish civil aviation and the oversight of civil aviation security. Furthermore, the IAA is responsible for licensing aircraft and aviation personnel.
The Irish Computer Society advances and promotes as well as represents the interests of ICT professionals in Ireland.
The IHF is the representative organisation for the hairdressing profession in Ireland.
Established in 1971, the IICM is the largest credit management institute in Ireland.
IILEX is a professional body representing registered legal executives in Ireland.
The Law Society of Ireland is the educational, as well as representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in the Republic of Ireland.
MII offers training and education programmes. These include the Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Marketing, as well as the MSc in Digital Marketing and Analytics.
NISO’s mission is to make Irish workplaces among the safest and healthiest in Europe. They also run QQI accredited occupational health and safety training courses.
NMBI approves education programmes for nurses and midwives.
The PSI is responsible for the accreditation and approval of pharmacy educational programmes in Ireland, including Bachelors as well as Masters pharmacy degree programmes.
PHECC sets the standards for education and training for pre-hospital emergency care in Ireland.
RCSI provides extensive education and training in the healthcare professions.
RIAI develops and supports architectural education. The Institute also accredits courses and qualifications in architecture and architectural technology.
