ICS Membership

The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers offers a trusted path to professional growth, industry recognition, and career advancement. Membership to the Institute is through successfully completing the Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE).

As an ICS Member, you earn the right to use post-nominals MICS or FICS—internationally recognized symbols of your competence, integrity, and commitment. ICS membership is respected by shipping companies, charterers, and maritime organizations around the world.

ICS members are known for upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in the shipping industry. They live by the principle “Our Word, Our Bond,” reflecting their integrity and reliability in every aspect of their work.

Types of Membership

There are five membership categories:

Member (MICS)
Fellow (FICS)
Retired (RETIRED)
Life Member (LIFE)
Honorary Fellowship (FELLOWSHIP)

The main pathway to Membership of the Institute is through successfully completing the Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE).

Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – MICS

MICS is the first level of professional membership in the Institute, awarded after successfully completing the required examinations and meeting all membership criteria. MICS members work across all areas of the maritime industry and make up the largest group within the ICS. MICS members receive full access to all ICS membership benefits.

To be eligible for MICS membership, applicants must:

Pass the Institute’s Professional Qualifying Examinations and be approved by the Education and Training Committee.
Have a genuine connection to the commercial shipping industry. This includes professionals working as brokers, agents, shipowners, charterers, seafarers, maritime lawyers, and insurers.
Be at least 21 years of age.
Be approved by the Controlling Council as a fit and proper person for membership.

PQE completers can apply for membership by filling out and signing the application form, then submitting it to the Canada Branch. The branch will review and endorse the application before forwarding it to the Controlling Council for final approval.

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – FICS

FICS is awarded to experienced professionals who have demonstrated seniority and leadership in the commercial shipping industry.

In addition to the benefits afforded all Members, Fellows are able to serve on the Controlling Council and be elected to Vice Chairman and Chairman of the ICS.

Members who wish to apply for Fellowship need to comply with the following conditions:

Shall be an ICS Member.
Shall be no less than 25 years of age.
Shall be engaged in the commercial shipping industry for the six years immediately preceding the date of application.
Be a principal in a firm, a director of a company, or a person holding a position of responsibility within the commercial shipping industry.
Shall have satisfied the Controlling Council that he or she is a fit and proper person to become a Fellow

Applicants must complete and sign the membership application form, then submit it to the Canada Branch for review and endorsement. Once approved by the branch, the application will be sent to the Controlling Council for final approval.

Retired member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – RETIRED

Members or Fellows who are no longer actively working in the shipping industry—either permanently or temporarily—can apply for Retired Member or Retired Fellow status. This status is available to individuals of any age and comes with a reduced membership rate.

Retired Members and Fellows retain all standard membership privileges, including the right to vote on ICS matters at the Branch level.

If a Retired Member or Fellow returns to active employment in the industry, they may request to reinstate their full membership status without the need to retake any examinations.

Life member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – LIFE

Life Membership is available to retired Fellows or Members who have made a significant contribution to the Institute over the course of their membership. To be considered, candidates must be nominated by their Branch, which will submit the recommendation to Head Office for approval by the Controlling Council.

Life Fellows and Life Members retain all membership benefits, except the right to vote or participate in the governance of the Institute.

Honorary fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers – FELLOWSHIP

Honorary Fellowship is a prestigious title awarded by the Institute to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the commercial shipping industry.

To be eligible, a candidate must be nominated by a Branch have at least three members of the Controlling Council support this nomination with a final Controlling Council approval with a majority vote. Please contact the Canada Branch to discuss.

Membership by Dissertation

The newest route to Membership, challenging via Dissertation is an opportunity to display the depth of knowledge and experience equivalent to the Institute’s Professional Qualifying Exams (PQE). The Dissertation should be an original research project related to international shipping, logistics and supply chain management based on relevant literature and appropriate empirical work. You are required to appraise current research, deploy specialist techniques and critically appraise results to advance knowledge by presenting findings in a dissertation.

Annual ICS Membership Payments

Annual membership runs from 1 June to 31 May, each year. Members will receive a subscription letter from Head Office advising them of the fee to be paid and payment will be taken via an online portal. Reminders for late payers, will be sent out from the Canada Branch, periodically if needed. Please contact Head Office if you have not yet received the annual subscription letter in May.

Lapsed Membership

If a member has not paid their membership fees for up to three years, their name will be removed from the ICS membership list. A lapsed member may return to full membership by applying for re-election and then settling all outstanding fees for the most recent three years.

Please contact the ICS Head Office to confirm your status and receive guidance on next steps.