Meteorologist Accreditation Standard October 2010
Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Israel Meteorological Society (IMS) is the organization in Israel incorporating meteorologists in Israel with the aim of promoting meteorology and its uses in Israel. 1.2 According to IMS articles of association, which is approved by the State of Israel, IMS is authorized to grant meteorologist certificates in Israel, similarly to other meteorological organizations in other countries worldwide (AMS American Meteorologist Society and RMS UK's Royal Meteorological Society). 1.3 IMS accreditation standard was established in accordance with the recommendation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as expressed in WMO 258 as well as in consultation with central figures in meteorology associated organizations in Israel, such as meteorology lecturers, the Air Force Meteorology Unit, Meteo Tech etc. Chapter 2 Prerequisites for receiving a meteorologist certificate 2.1 Education 2.1.1 Candidates for receiving a meteorologist certificate will have academic education in one of the two following programs: 2.1.1.1 Academic education (BA at least) from a recognized academic institution in Israel or from a university abroad with recognized academic degrees in Israel. 2.1.1.2 Secondary education, provided that the candidate meets the conditions specified in Section 2.2.1.3. 2.1.2 The academic degrees in the following disciplines are recognized as suitable for receiving a meteorologist certificate, with participation in the courses listed in Section 2.1.3: 2.1.2.1 Atmospheric sciences/geophysics 2.1.2.2 Physics 2.1.2.3 Mathematics
2.1.2.4 Chemistry 2.1.2.5 Geology 2.1.2.6 Computer sciences 2.1.2.7 Geography 2.1.3 Undergraduates with a degree listed in Section 2.1.2 must participate in the following courses: 2.1.3.1 Physics 1+2 2.1.3.2 Introduction to mathematics 2.1.3.3 Introduction to atmospheric sciences 2.1.3.4 Introduction to dynamic meteorology 2.1.3.5 Remote sensing 2.2 Forecast experience 2.1.3.6 Passage of radiation through the atmosphere 2.1.3.7 Cloud & precipitation physics 2.1.3.8 Satellites and radar 2.1.3.9 Mesometeorology 2.1.3.10 Meteorological models 2.1.3.11 Synoptic meteorology 2.1.3.12 The climate in Israel 2.2.1 Candidates for receiving a meteorologist certificate will have forecasting experience according to their education and academic degree, as follows: 2.2.1.1 A candidate with academic education in one of the degrees listed in Section 2.1.2, who took all the courses indicated in Section 2.1.3, must have forecasting experience of at least 6
2.3 Language months in a recognized metrological station in Israel according to the details in Section 2.5. 2.2.1.2 A candidate with academic education in one of the degrees listed in Section 2.1.2, who did not take all the courses indicated in Section 2.1.3 but served as a meteorologist in the IDF, must have forecasting experience of at least 12 months in a recognized metrological station in Israel according to the details in Section 2.5. 2.2.1.3 A candidate with secondary education only who served as a meteorologist in the IDF, must have forecasting experience of at least 24 months in a recognized metrological station in Israel according to the details in Section 2.5. 2.2.1.4 A postgraduate in one of the disciplines listed in Section 2.1.2 will be considered as having 3 months of experience from the period required in Sections 2.2.1.2 2.2.1.3. Receiving a meteorologist certificate is conditioned with a full command of reading, writing and speaking Hebrew. 2.4 IMS membership Receiving a meteorologist certificate is conditioned with being an active member of IMS. 2.5 Recognized metrological stations The recognized meteorological stations for the purpose of recognizing the forecasting work as ample experience, as required in Chapter 2.2, are: the Forecast Station of Israel Meteorological Service, Meteo Tech's Forecast Station and the IDF military forecast stations. 2.6 Exclusions The Accreditation Committee, the structure and terms of appointment of which are specified in Chapter 3, will use as exclusion committee which is authorized to discuss and decide as to candidates who do not meet the criteria specified in Chapter 2.
Chapter 3 The Accreditation Committee 3.1 Structure of the committee The Accreditation Committee will consist of 4 IMS members according to the following specification: 3.1.1 A member at IMS Training Committee, who has a PhD at least in meteorology, and who will also serve as the chairperson of the Accreditation Committee. 3.1.2 A member of IMS Council, who has a PhD at least in meteorology. 3.1.3 Two members of IMS Council, who have a meteorologist certificate and at least 6 years experience in weather forecasting in meteorological stations as specified in Section 2.5. 3.1.4 If no suitable candidates are found after the abovementioned positions, the IMS Chairperson may suggest other candidates for the approval of the Council, provided that they are members of IMS general meeting and comply with the requirements specified in Section 3.1.3. The Committee must convene in the presence of at least 3 out of the 4 members, one of whom must be the chairperson. The meetings of the Committee will be held in the presence of IMS Secretary who will take the minutes of the meetings. IMS Chairperson or his representative who will be from IMS Council may be present in the meetings without having a voting right and without being present at the votes. 3.2 Selecting the Committee The Committee will be appointed by IMS Council by a vote, immediately upon the selection thereof, and the appointment will be valid until the earlier of: 3 years or until the Board is adjourned according to the conditions specified in IMS articles of association. 3.3 Times for Committee's convening The Committee will convene once every 6 months, in January and July, for the purpose of accreditation of new candidates. If there are no candidates, the Committee will convene at the next time prescribed in this Section. The
times for convening will be published by IMS Secretary at the IMS Internet website up to 45 days prior to the date of convening. 3.4 Exclusion Committee The Accreditation Committee, the structure and terms of appointment of which are specified in Sections 3.1 3.3, will use, as required, as exclusion committee which is authorized to discuss and decide as to candidates who do not meet the criteria specified in Chapter 2. It is authorized to add another member to the Committee's discussions, provided that such member is a member of IMS Council. Chapter 4 Accreditation process 4.1 The candidate will submit to the Committee documents attesting as to his academic education and professional experience. The forms must be submitted up to 30 days prior to the convening of the Committee. If Exclusion Committee is required, it will be convened on the day the Committee is convened. 4.2 After meeting the conditions indicated in Section 4.1 as well as the criteria specified in Chapter 2, or alternatively, undergoing the Exclusion Committee, the candidate will take a written exam in Hebrew, in the IMS office, without the presence of the Committee members. The exam form will be marked with the candidate's I.D. number only in order to prevent his identification. The exam will be prepared and reviewed by the Accreditation Committee and will consist of theoretical subjects in meteorology and practical questions about weather forecasting in Israel and worldwide. Pass score: 75. A notice about the exam results and an invitation to the next stage exam will be sent to the candidate by the IMS Secretary within 7 working days. The results of the exam may be appealed within 7 additional working days from the date of receiving the notice, a total of 14 working days from the date of the exam. The appeal will be ruled before. Only after exhausting the appeal process of all candidates in writing, will they be invited to the next stage of the exam as specified in Section 4.3. 4.3 As specified in Section 4.2, a candidate who passed the written exam will be invited by the IMS Secretary to take an oral exam for examining his professional skills and ability to work as a meteorologist in Israel. The exam will be conducted by the Accreditation Committee, and the decision as to passing the exam will be made by a majority of the Committee members.
4.4 A notice as to succeeding or failing the accreditation process will be sent to the candidate by the IMS Secretary within 14 working days from the date of the exam. The results may be appealed within 45 days. The appeal will be sent in writing and will be ruled before within 14 working days from the date of receiving the appeal, or within this period by communication of the Committee members. A notice as to the decision of the Committee will be sent to the candidate within 14 working days. 4.4.1 A meteorologist with forecasting experience exceeding 5 years in a recognized meteorological station in Israel, as specified in Section 2.5, is exempt from the exam process specified in Sections 4.2 4.4, provided that he furnishes the Accreditation Committee with the appropriate documents. 4.5 If the candidate fails the accreditation process, he may apply again after a minimum of one year. 4.6 After a candidate successfully passes the exam, he will be sent an Accreditation Certificate as a meteorologist on behalf of IMS. The certificate is valid for 5 years. After 5 years, the certificate owner must renew it, as specified in Section 4.8. If the certificate owner fails to renew it, the certificate will be replaced with a certificate titled "Non active Meteorologist Certificate" which has no validity. For the purpose of renewing the certificate and resuming its active status, the certificate owner will be required to renew it according to the content of Sections 4.8.2 4.8.5. 4.7 Names of meteorologists with an IMS Meteorologist Certificate will be published in IMS Internet website. The publication will include the type of certificate as specified in Section 4.6 and it will be updated, as required, by the IMS Secretary. 4.8 Renewal of Active Meteorologist Certificate 4.8.1 The certificate is valid for 5 years. 4.8.2 Renewal of the certificate is conditioned with payment of a fee of 4.8.3 On the date of renewing the certificate, documents will be provided confirming compliance with one of the following conditions: 4.8.3.1 Participating in 10 meteorology conference or seminar days since the date of receiving the certificate or its last renewal.
4.8.3.2 Participating in meteorology 8 conference or seminar days and delivering 2 lectures in a meteorology scientific conference since the date of receiving the certificate or its last renewal. 4.8.3.3 Participating in 6 meteorology conference or seminar days and publishing an article in a familiar meteorology magazine since the date of receiving the certificate or its last renewal. 4.8.3.4 Participating in 5 meteorology conference or seminar days and working in forecasting at a place specified in Section 2.5 for a period of time of at least 48 months since the date of receiving the certificate or its last renewal. 4.8.4 If, within 3 months from the end of the 5 year period since receiving the previous certificate, the certificate owner fails to submit a confirmation of meeting the conditions specified in Section 4.8.3, the certificate will expire according to the content of Section 4.6. 4.8.5 In order to reinstate a "Non active Meteorologist Certificate" into a "Meteorologist Certificate" status, one of the following ways must be taken: 4.8.5.1 If the reason for changing the certificate is non payment and it was not valid for less than 3 years, it may be replaced with a Meteorologist Certificate by paying for the missing period. 4.8.5.2 If the reason for changing the certificate is non compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.8.3 and it was in this status for less than 3 years, it may be reinstated into its previous status by relatively complying with the missing conditions until the date of renewal and paying for the missing period. 4.8.5.3 If the certificate was not active for more than 3 years, a process of receiving a certificate must be applied afresh, according to the content of Sections 4.2 4.7, with the exception of Section 4.4.1.
4.9 Cancellation of an Active Meteorologist Certificate 4.9.1 Conditions for cancelling the certificate 4.9.1.1 The certificate owner was criminally convicted. 4.9.1.2 The certificate owner misused the certificate. 4.9.2 Certificate cancellation process 4.9.2.1 The Accreditation Committee, as defined in Chapter 3, will have the authority to discuss and decide as to cancelling a Meteorologist Certificate. 4.9.2.2 The Accreditation Committee may discuss a complaint or a request to cancel a certificate if such was received in writing only. The procedure for sending a complaint or a request to cancel a certificate will appear on the IMS Internet website. 4.9.2.3 From the time of receiving the complaint, the IMS Secretary will convene the Committee within 30 working days in order to discuss the details of the request or complaint. 4.9.2.4 The secretary of the Committee will inform the person subject of the complaint, by a registered letter within 7 working days, that a request was filed for cancelling his certificate as well as the date of convening the Committee. The person against whom the complaint was filed may send his objections in writing or ask to appear in person before the Committee. The Committee will discuss the complaint even if the person subject of the complaint has not submitted any objection. 4.9.2.5 The Committee may cancel the Active Meteorologist Certificate temporarily or permanently. The decision must be made by a majority of the Committee members. At the end of the discussion, a notice will be sent, by registered mail, to the person subject of the complaint, who has the right to appeal the decision, in writing, within 14 working days. If an appeal is not received within 30 working days from the date of publishing the decision, or if it is decided to change the decision, the name of the meteorologist will be removed from the list of certificate owners on the IMS Internet website.
Chapter 5 Transition period 5.1 The first Accreditation Committee The first Accreditation Committee, the powers and manner of appointment of which are defined in Chapter 3, will be elected at the first meeting of the Council which will confirm this document. Following its election, the Committee will act according to its powers and duties as specified in Chapters 3 and 4. 5.2 Receiving an Accreditation Certificate for meteorologists serving as a meteorologist on the date of confirming this document or who served as a meteorologist during their military service until the date of confirming this document Any person serving as an accreditated meteorologist in one of the meteorology stations specified in Section 2.5 on the date of confirming this document, or who served as such during his military service until the date of confirming this document, will receive an IMS Meteorologist Certificate, as specified in Section 4.6, and the rules of renewing the certificate as specified in Section 4.8 will apply thereto. Comment: wherever there is a reference in the accreditation process to masculine, it denotes female and vice versa.