Natural Scientific Professions Act, 2003 (Act No.27 of 2003)20. Registration |
| (1) | Only a registered person may practise in a consulting capacity. |
| (2) |
| (a) | A person must apply in the prescribed manner, to the Council for registration in a category referred to in section 18(1) and a field of practice listed in Schedule I. |
| (b) | The application referred to in paragraph (a) must be accompanied by the prescribed registration fee. |
| (3) | The Council must register and issue a registration certificate to the successful applicant in the prescribed form if it is satisfied that the applicant, in the case of a person applying for registration as a— |
| (a) | professional natural scientist in any field of practice listed in Schedule I, has proved that he or she has satisfied the relevant educational requirement determined by the Council for this purpose by- |
| (i) | demonstrating his or her competence against standards determined by the Council for the relevant category of registered persons; or |
| (ii) | passing any examinations that may be determined by the Council; |
| (b) | candidate natural scientist in any field of practice listed in Schedule I, has proved that he or she has satisfied the relevant educational requirement determined by the Council for this purpose by- |
| (i) | passing accredited or recognised examinations at any educational institution offering educational programmes in the natural sciences; |
| (ii) | passing any other examination that may be determined by the Council; or |
| (iii) | presenting evidence of prior experience in the natural sciences; |
| (c) | certificated natural scientist in any field of practice listed in Schedule I, has proved that he or she has satisfied the relevant educational requirements determined by the Council for this purpose, by- |
| (i) | passing accredited or recognised examinations at any educational institution offering educational programmes in the natural sciences; |
| (ii) | passing any other examination that may be determined by the Council; or |
| (iii) | presenting evidence of prior experience in the natural sciences. |
| (4) |
| (a) | Despite subsection (3), the Council may refuse to register an applicant— |
| (i) | if, after the commencement of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No. 200 of 1993), the applicant has been convicted of a crime specified in Schedule 1 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1997 (Act No. 51 of 1977), whether in the Republic or elsewhere, and sentenced to imprisonment without an option of a fine; |
| (ii) | if the applicant is declared by the High Court to be of unsound mind or mentally disordered, or is detained under the Mental Health Act, 1973 (Act No. 17 of 1973); |
| (iii) | for as long as the registration of the applicant is suspended as a result of any punishment imposed on him or her under this Act; |
| (iv) | if the applicant has been removed from an office of trust on account of improper conduct; |
| (v) | if the applicant is an unrehabilitated insolvent whose insolvency was caused by his or her negligence or incompetence in performing work falling within the scope of the category in respect of which he or she is applying for registration. |
| (b) | The Council must inform the applicant in writing if an application for registration is refused. |