Field Identification Skills Certificate is a simple test that determines your botanical skill level on a scale from 1 (beginner) to 5 (professional) with 6 being awarded in exceptional cases.
They are recognised within the ecological and botanical industry as the standard tool for assessing botanical survey skills.
The aims of the FISC are to measure botanical skills in real-life situations. FISC aims is to make people less fearful of being assessed. Evidence shows that there is no-one who can identify all plants correctly, so you do not need to worry that you might not be perfect.
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There are three separate elements to a FISC, testing your identifications of vascular plants (so no bryophytes or algae). There are two lab tests, the first of which is ten fresh specimens that should be identified without using any books or keys. Then there are twenty fresh specimens that may be identified using any books or keys, but no reference collections or on-line resources may be used.
The third test is in the field – after lunch you will spend approximately two hours surveying a small site and recording the vascular plant species. What you have identified is then compared against a known list of plants to work out what skill level you have.
Because there is no failing, you don’t have to be brilliant to take a FISC. The outcome will be an electronic certificate from the BSBI showing your level of skill (see where you are currently on the skills ladder), with advice about what sort of activity you are competent to undertake and what further studies you need if you wish to progress up the skills ladder.
The results are kept confidential, but you may publicise them to potential employers and colleagues if you wish.
Transport to the field site is included.
More details on FISCs are available on the BSBI FISC webpage, including the FISC Booklet which answers in detail many of the questions you may have on FISCs.
What to bring
- A hand lens
- A watch (NO PHONES, or other electronic devices are allowed in field, so bring a watch to check time).
- ID guides e.g. Stace: New Flora of the British Isles, and/or a picture guide such as Collins Wildflower Guide.
- Outdoor clothes (allowing for all weathers), waterproofs, sturdy shoes.
- Weatherwriter/Clipboard, pens.
- Writing implements, such as pen and weather writer
- Packed lunch and drink (including drink for field test).
- Refreshments will be available.
We can provide a limited number of hand lenses, clipboards, some floras and other texts etc. if you forget your own.
We may also have a range of other publications available for use on the day.
Accommodation
Participants may book accommodation (and food) additional to the course fee.
No need for accommodation (day course). BUT participants could be offered accommodation/breakfast the night before or after the FISC test.
Discounted rate
For the discounted rate (retired, students, unwaged, volunteers, the candidate should be a regular volunteer in the environmental sector or a current student.
A volunteer is defined as a person undertaking regular voluntary activities within the environmental sector but who is not employed in a professional capacity in an ecological and or botanical field.
Examples include volunteers undertaking practical conservation activities, recording and survey, mapping, skills and training, leading and co-ordinating events etc.
Anyone claiming a discount based on the above defined categories will need to self-certify that they are either a volunteer or a student by signing or confirming electronically via the application form to claim a discount from the Field Studies Council.
Please fill out this form to organise your discounted rate.
Example Timetable
10:00 – 10:30 Arrival and Drinks
10:30 – 10:45 Introduction to the day
10:45 – 12:30 Lab tests
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 13:15 Depart for field visit
14:00-16:00 Field surveying *
16:15 Return to Centre
17:00 – 17:30 Summary of the day and depart
* Journey times to/from site will vary so these timings are provisional
In exceptional circumstances (e.g. bad weather forecast in afternoon) we may swap the field test and lab tests around, but we will let you know this as soon as possible on the day of the FISC.
What's Included
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Free Wi-Fi -
Hot and Cold Drinks -
In Course Transport
Opportunities to attend this course
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Wed 04, June 2025 10:00 - 17:30
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Thu 05, June 2025 10:00 - 17:30
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Wed 11, June 2025 10:00 - 17:30
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Thu 12, June 2025 10:00 - 17:30
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Wed 18, June 2025 10:00 - 17:30
Sorry this course is out of stock
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Thu 19, June 2025 10:00 - 17:30
Sorry this course is out of stock
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Wed 09, July 2025 10:00 - 17:30
Sorry this course is out of stock
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Thu 10, July 2025 10:00 - 17:30
Sorry this course is out of stock
Data protection statement
Your personal details and other information is being requested to manage your FISC assessment and certification.
BSBI, Field Studies Council and Arvensis Ecology are joint Data Controllers for your data, to fulfil this purpose. Please see our organisations’ Privacy Policies for further details of how your data will be handled and stored.
You can request to see the data we hold, request its removal or update your contact preferences at any time by contacting us. To do so, email BSBI on [email protected], Field Studies Council on Field Studies Council [email protected] or Arvensis Ecology on [email protected]
