If you work in facilities management, you’ve probably come across IWFM membership at some point in your career. Whether you are just starting out or looking to move up the ladder, joining the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management can genuinely make a difference to how far you get and how quickly you get there.
This guide walks through what IWFM membership involves, the different grades on offer, what it costs, and how to apply. We’ll also look at whether it’s worth the money, and how professional qualifications tie in with membership itself.
Iwfm-qualifications
What is IWFM Membership?
IWFM stands for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management. It’s the leading professional body for people working in facilities management (FM) across the UK, and it has members working internationally too.
Becoming a member gives you formal recognition as a facilities management professional. It signals to employers, clients and colleagues that you take your career seriously and meet an established standard within the industry. The IWFM was formed in 2018, building on more than twenty five years of history from its predecessor body, the British Institute of Facilities Management, so it carries a fair amount of weight within the sector.
Membership also opens the door to ongoing career development. You get access to resources, events and a community of people doing similar work, which can be genuinely useful when you are trying to solve a tricky workplace problem or figure out your next move. Members also receive a subscription to Facilitate, the profession’s main publication, along with access to an annual members only Buyers Guide and a discussion forum where you can share ideas with peers.
IWFM Membership Grades
IWFM offers several membership grades, each suited to a different stage of your career. Choosing the right one depends on your experience, your qualifications and your current role.
| Grade | Who it suits | Typical entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate | Newcomers with an interest in the profession | No previous experience needed |
| Associate (AIWFM) | Those with some FM experience | Around 2 years experience, or 1 year plus a relevant Level 2+ qualification |
| Member (MIWFM) | Experienced FM professionals, often in management roles | Around 2 years managerial experience plus a Level 4+ qualification, or 5 years experience with 3 years in management |
| Certified Member (CIWFM) | Senior professionals who meet a higher standard of competence | A Level 6 qualification plus several years of management experience, or an experiential route for those without formal study |
| Fellow | Highly experienced leaders who have made a significant contribution to the profession | Sustained senior level achievement, usually by invitation or application |
Each grade has its own entry requirements and its own assessment fee, so it’s worth checking the criteria for each one before you apply. Many people move up through the grades as their career develops, often supported by further study along the way.
IWFM Membership Benefits
Joining IWFM comes with a fair number of practical benefits, so it’s not just a certificate to hang on your wall.
Here’s what members typically enjoy:
- Professional recognition that carries weight with employers and clients
- Access to CPD resources to help you keep your knowledge current
- Networking opportunities with other FM professionals
- Invitations to industry events, conferences and webinars
- Career support, including one to one mentoring for those at professional grades
- Access to research, guidance documents and best practice materials
- A subscription to Facilitate magazine and access to the members only Buyers Guide
- Increased credibility when working with clients or bidding for contracts
For many FM professionals, the networking side alone makes membership worthwhile.
Facilities management can be a fairly specialist field, so having a community of peers to turn to when you hit a problem you’ve not faced before is genuinely valuable.
IWFM Membership Cost
IWFM membership fees vary depending on which grade you join at. Generally speaking, higher grades such as Certified Member or Fellow carry a higher annual fee than entry level grades like Student or Affiliate. There’s also usually a one off assessment fee when you first apply for a professional grade, or when you upgrade from one grade to another.
Fees are reviewed and can change from year to year, so rather than quoting figures here that might soon be out of date, we would recommend checking the official IWFM fee schedule for the most current pricing before you apply.
One thing worth knowing is that if you’re studying towards an IWFM qualification, you may be entitled to complimentary studying membership for up to two years, or until you complete your course. This means your membership costs nothing for the duration of your studies, which is a useful saving if you are weighing up the overall cost of gaining a qualification alongside your membership.
How to Apply for IWFM Membership
The application process is fairly straightforward once you know what’s expected.
Here’s a general outline:
- Choose your membership grade. Look at the entry requirements for each grade and pick the one that matches your experience and qualifications. If you’re unsure, the IWFM offers a free membership assessment, or you can try our own one minute Leveller tool to work out where you stand.
- Gather your evidence. This might include your CV, a job description, and certificates for any relevant qualifications you hold.
- Complete the application. Submit your form and supporting evidence through the IWFM website. Applications are then reviewed by their assessors, which can take up to fourteen working days.
- Pay the membership fee. Once your application is approved, you’ll need to pay the relevant fee to activate your membership.
- Maintain your CPD. Ongoing membership usually requires you to keep up with continuing professional development, so you stay current in your role and remain eligible to renew each year.
Processing times can vary, so it’s wise to apply well ahead of any deadline you might have in mind (such as a job application or a contract bid that requires proof of membership).
How IWFM Qualifications Support Membership
Recognised IWFM qualifications play a big part in supporting a membership application, and in many cases they directly determine which grade you’re eligible for.
As a rough guide, around one year of experience combined with a Level 3 qualification can support an Associate membership application, while a Level 4 qualification or Level 5 alongside a couple of years of managerial experience tends to support full Member status. A Level 6 qualification, combined with several years in a senior role, opens the door to Certified Membership.
Without a qualification behind you, IWFM generally asks for considerably more years of experience to reach the same grade.
This is where a training provider can genuinely help. We’ve been delivering IWFM accredited qualifications for over twenty years, and were the first training provider to be accredited to deliver the full new suite of IWFM qualifications.
You can study through flexible distance learning at your own pace, or if you need to move quickly, our intensive one week course gets you to a Level 4 Award in just five days.
A relevant qualification also makes a genuine difference to how confident and capable you feel in your day to day role, long before the membership certificate arrives.
Is IWFM Membership Worth It?
This depends on your goals, but for most FM professionals, the answer tends to be absolutely yes.
- Career progression. Membership shows employers you are committed to the profession and meet a recognised standard, which can help when going for promotions or new roles.
- Employer recognition. Many employers value IWFM membership when hiring, particularly at management level and above. Post nominal letters such as MIWFM or CIWFM after your name are a quick, recognisable signal of where you sit in the profession.
- Salary potential. Professional recognition and demonstrable competence can support stronger salary negotiations over time, especially when combined with a relevant qualification.
- Professional credibility. Whether you deal with clients, contractors or senior stakeholders, membership adds weight to your professional standing and shows you’re keeping your knowledge current.
That said, it is an investment of both time and money, so it makes sense to weigh up where you are in your career and what you want to achieve before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not automatically, though holding a relevant qualification can significantly reduce the experience needed to qualify for a given grade, and studying members typically receive free membership while they complete their course.
No, it’s not a legal requirement to work in facilities management, but many professionals join for the recognition, support and career benefits it brings.
It’s professional membership with the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, offering recognition, resources and support for people working in facilities management.
About the author
Chris Morris – Xenon Group Director
Chris has spent the past 15 years working in the field of Facilities Management training and qualifications, teaching facilities managers how to be the best they can be.
A strategist and creative thinker, Chris is also a former chair of the IWFM Rising FMs group, a contributor to Facilitate magazine and iFM.net and a firm believer in the value of identifying and developing the strengths of an organisation’s people.
