Following an APC Review Survey in April and May 2023, stakeholders have shared that the Reflective Journal component of the application is one of the biggest barriers to candidates wanting to apply. Therefore, the requirement for L-APC and A-APC candidates to include a Reflective Journal as part of their APC submission has been temporarily suspended.
This change will be introduced from Round 1, February 2025, in order to give candidates six months’ notice and prevent any candidate from being disadvantaged as a result of this change.
The change will affect L-APC and A-APC candidates only. There was never a requirement for EP-APC candidates to write a Reflective Journal, so there is no change. Degree Apprenticeship candidates are still required to submit a Reflective Journal twice, once when they go through Gateway in preparation for undergoing the Professional Discussion, and also as part of the DA-APC written submission.
In our engagement with stakeholders, including candidates, assessors and employers, we have heard that the requirement to write a Reflective Journal is an impediment to candidates wanting to apply for Chartered membership. Candidates are aware that the Reflective Journal is not formally assessed, therefore many question the need for them to complete one.
One of the biggest barriers to candidates undergoing the APC is the time commitment to complete the Reflective Journal. By removing this barrier, we hope that more candidates will be encouraged to apply.
No candidate will be disadvantaged by this change. If you have already begun work on your Reflective Journal, we encourage you to continue taking advantage of this tool and include it in your application if you wish. Although the Reflective Journal will not be a mandatory requirement, it is a key part of the period of structured learning and we will continue to encourage candidates to maintain a Reflective Journal, as it will assist them in identifying case studies for their PCS and is likely to help many candidates develop a stronger submission.
If you would like more information about the role of the Reflective Journal as part of an APC submission, and for help writing yours, please see the main guidance document and Resource Centre documents for the L-APC, A-APC and DA-APC guidance. As part of the Resource Centre, there is an Advice Note giving advice on how to write a Reflective Journal, as well as a Reflective Journal template.
This change is part of an ongoing effort to understand how we can improve candidates’ APC experience and respond effectively to your feedback. In 2025, we will also be streamlining the application process for candidates with our ‘online membership applications’ project. This will mean that you will submit all your documents and written submission in one place and save your application online as you progress. In the case of any future changes, a minimum of six months’ notice period will be given. A wider review of the current APC process is being considered as part of the Education for Everyone (EFE) review. No further changes will take place in 2025.