Section 8: Registration, training and development of practitioners

(1) Subject to section 12 of this Act and rules made under sections 6 (5) and 16 of this Act, a person shall be entitled to be enrolled or registered as a member of the Institute if he –
(a) possesses the relevant qualifications as may be approved by the Council and is successful in all the prescribed examinations;
(b) qualifies for enrolment as a member in any of the categories specified in this Act; or
(c) holds a qualification granted outside Nigeria for the time being accepted by the Institute and satisfies the Council that he has had sufficient practical experience in secretarial practice.
(2) An applicant for registration shall, in addition to evidence of qualification, satisfy the Council that he –
(a) is of good character and high integrity;
(b) has consistently been in secretarial practice for a minimum of two years; and
(c) has not been convicted in Nigeria or elsewhere of an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or gross misconduct.
(3) The Council may publish particulars of qualifications criteria for the time being accepted by it for registration.
(4) The Council may in its discretion reject a qualification produced in respect of an application for registration under this section or direct that the application be renewed within such period as may be specified in the direction.
(5) An entry directed to be made in the register under subsection (4) shall show that the registration is provisional and no entry so made shall be converted to full registration without the consent of the Council in writing in that behalf.
(6) A member who passed the Institute's final examination or has attained Associate status of the Institute shall with effect from the date of coming into effect of this Act, and in line with his relevant special career path, as specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Act, continue to progress to Grade Level 17 or 15 as may be applicable to him or peculiar by the circumstances of the existing Conditions of Service in the services of the Federal or State Governments as appropriate. [Fourth Schedule]