Section 3: Membership of the Institute.

(1) The members admitted to the Institute shall be enrolled as Certified Secretaries or Certified Verbatim Reporters and be entitled to the use of that status accorded and shall be registered as :
(a) fellows, if they satisfy the Board that-
(i) they are not less than 35 years ofage and have 10 years relevant working experience in any reputable organization or government department of which at least 5 years have been spent on a senior appointment, or
(ii) for the period of three years immediately preceding the date of application or recommendation in that behalf, they have bccn fit persons and have, in addition to being the holders ofapproved academic, professional
qualifications or certificate ofthe final examination of the Institute, contributed to the development of the Institute and are fit persons to be so registered ; or
(b) members, if they satisfy the Board that they-
(i) are at least 30 years of age, have been associate members for not less than three years, have passed examinations prescribed or accepted by the Institute and are fit persons be so registerid ;
(ii) have maintained a good record of membership for at least five years immediately preceding the date of application and, have contributed to the upliftment of the profession and the Institute :
(c) associate members, if they-
(i) have passed relevant examinations prescribed or accepted by the Institute and have at least five years relevant working experience in any reputable organization or government department ;
(ii) have a University First Degree, Higher National Diploma, National Certificate of Education or its equivalent from Government approved institutions and have at least five years post qualification experience ;
(d) graduate members, if they have attained the age of 21 years, have passed examinations accepted by the lnstitute and have at least three years working experience in secretarial or reportorial profession ; and
(e) student members, if they meet the entry requirement as specified by a resolution of the Board.
(2) The Board shall have the power to approve, through its resolution, that any person be awarded the Institute's honorary membership status in recognition ofoutstanding qualities, achievements in industry, education, commerce and contribution to the development of the Institute and the profession but the award shall not entitle the recipient to practise or become a member of
the profession or vote in the affairs of the Institute.
(3) The Board shall have the power to approve the award to a corporare body of the Institute's corporate membership status and such an award shall entitle the recipient to the rights and obligations of just one member.