PI - BIPP PQP Colleges
What is the Professional Qualifying Programme? (PQP)
The Professional Qualifying Programme, PQP, is a route to qualified membership (Licentiate or Associate) of the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) which may be followed through a number of BIPP accredited Educational establishments.
How is it taught?
PQP may be offered as a stand- alone module or as an adjunctive element, to another course of study, in both cases the course/route will have been approved by BIPP to offer PQP.
PQP has the specific outcome of direct professional qualification, and candidates should be fully aware of the standards required and assessment procedures used, being at an equivalent standard to other routes to BIPP qualification, and it is important that careful advice be given to each candidate regarding their suitability for PQP to ensure that the workload and demands upon candidates is reasonable and achievable.
The assessment standards at the end of PQP relate to BIPP qualified membership and may not necessarily reflect a direct relationship to the academic achievements of students.
What criteria do colleges have to meet?
In order to optimise the partnership between the BIPP and the Educational Institution and to give the best prospects of success for candidates through the PQP route the following criteria are of principal importance and should be shown as integral to the course structure.
At least one member of the teaching team delivering PQP must be a qualified BIPP member. These relevant members of staff will be inducted into the assessment methodology and criteria for BIPP qualification standards and become fully approved BIPP assessors.
With respect to facilities, staffing levels, infrastructure and academic standards, PQP will be delivered at high quality FE and HE Institutions and the relevant academic courses have already undergone, and continue to undergo rigorous scrutiny, both internal and external, PQP works within these standards but the BIPP is available to offer specific advice if required.
What can be expected of a PQP course?
The PQP designated course/route will be practice lead, with strong, verifiable vocational elements, demonstrating the delivery of a broad range of competences that can be reasonably expected to equip the candidate with the range of skills and expertise necessary to satisfy the demands upon a professional photographic practitioner.
There should be clear evidence that the teaching of the business, economic and ethical requirements of professional photographic practice is given due importance.
Where appropriate there should be evidence of assignments being completed within realistic time constraints.
It should also be able to be shown that candidates have transferable skills employed in a variety of situations.
Candidates, themselves, will be expected to show a good level of critical analysis of their work, be self motivated and reliant.
How is work finally assessed?
The candidates will present a panel of work, normally 20 prints, to the guidelines given in the General guide to Qualifications available on the BIPP website.
The Working Profile element of the submission will be largely derived from PQP course work and is usually already contained in workbooks and portfolios normal to the course, guidance and direction may need to be given regarding the necessary organization of this towards a finished Working Profile.
The work will be assessed to the standards required for awards at the relevant level, Licentiate or Associate.
In normal circumstances, candidates must be available for interview at the time of assessment.
For further information and to see a list of colleges that offer the PQP visit: Professional Qualifying Programme College list