Page 3 - CSA INDEX - Sprin Summer 2020

Jules’ News continued...

Upgrading your Individual Membership
This seems to be something that our Individual members don’t quite understand, as many join sit on the grade they are
originally awarded i.e. Grade 1 2 or 3 even though they have been in the industry with hands-on commissioning experience
for many years. All you need to do is e-mail the CSA office asking for an upgrade and attach your current full CV which goes
to our Assessment Panel for approval and upgrading (it’s as simple as that!)

Grade 4 Technical & Theory Examinations (May & October annually)
This exam is held twice yearly and consists of a 2 hour Technical exam and 1 hour Theory exam – we supply every candidate
with a copy of the “Mock” Grade 4 paper which gives examples of the type of questions asked. Once you pass both Technical
and Theory exams you are automatically awarded a CSA Grade 4 membership. Please note – you MUST be an Individual
member to take this exam and have the required commissioning experience which is 7 years or see “Path of Development”
on CSA website. (The Grade 4 Individual membership is the “benchmark” of the CSA).

Grade 5 Thesis – A Guide
If you are planning on writing a CSA thesis please take the following documents into consideration::
- Read the CSA Grade 5 Thesis – A Guide (available via CSA website)
www.csa.org.uk/Commissioning_Specialists_Association/file/PDF/Thesis/Guide_to_Grade5_Thesis.pdf
- Read the Training and career development handbook (Grade 5 Thesis, Page 16) (available via CSA website)
www.csa.org.uk/Commissioning_Specialists_Association/file/PDF/Training_and_Career_Development_
Handbook.pdf
- Read through fellow members’ Thesis (available via CSA website)
www.csa.org.uk/Commissioning_Specialists_Association/file/grade5.php

Almost without exception, all first thesis synopsis drafts received do not follow a thesis pathway. This inevitably leads to
re-jection of thesis synopsis and time wasted for the student, the marker and takes up valuable CSA office staff time.

The most common mistakes are to pick a subject matter and simply describe the subject or to have a generic thesis topic.
The CSA have provided a clear pathway for a Thesis as defined as:
- an opinion supported by reasoned argument
- a proposition put forward for consideration (especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained
against ob-jections)

By reading and adhering to the above guidance and requirements this will greatly reduce the time required to produce the
thesis and synopsis.

As a further checkpoint and before submitting your thesis synopsis for approval, the CSA have created a quick check
guidance process flow chart “Thesis synopsis approval guide” that will help fast track approval time.

Distance Learning NEXT GRADE 4 EXAM
Courses A, B & C Saturday 3rd October 2020

Well Done to those listed below who Due to Covid-19 the Grade 4 Exam scheduled
have recently passed the DLC tests. for 16th May has been postponed.

DLC A Mark Paton, Daniel Newton, Robert Lynch, The date of the next Grade 4 Exam will
Joseph Berry, Alex Bullimore, Josh Charlton,
Bradley Harrison, Thomas Meehan, be Saturday 3rd October, please e-mail
Nathan Smith, Daniel Newton, Stuart Shrubb,
Matthew Riley me if you want to book yourself on the
DLC B Kevin Wood, Steven Gomm, Ben Greenland exam. Office@csa.org.uk
DLC C Robbie McNeice, Robbie Maiden

Julie Parker – CSA Secretary CSA SOCIAL MEDIA PLEASE REMEMBER: #CSAHORSHAM