Accredited Witness

Rosiecocker

Active Member
How do I become an Accredited Witness for level 2 assessment? Have been thinking about it since we came out of lock down and just wondered what is involved. I've had my DSC1 for about 20 years and a number of other BDS course's.
Thanks for any help.
 
You will need two current AW,s to act as your referees and find an assessment centre who will take you on as an AW
 
You will need two current AW,s to act as your referees and find an assessment centre who will take you on as an AW
Unless introduced very recently, I don’t believe there is any need for AW’s to align to any particular Assessment Centre. Candidates must apply to one when registering for their DSC2, however.
 
You need two other AW's to give you a reference. But as far as I am aware DMQ are not taking on any further AW's. But this may have changed.
 
You need two other AW's to give you a reference. But as far as I am aware DMQ are not taking on any further AW's. But this may have changed.
Thanks Malc, just an idea that's all. Might have been something else to offer with the stalking we spoke about before. Thanks
 
jobs for the boys. i remember when i did the woodland stalkers cert ran by the BDC changed to dsc1. it didnt matter how long you had been stalking,experience or how many deer you had shot. you had to be in the click to be an AW
 
jobs for the boys. i remember when i did the woodland stalkers cert ran by the BDC changed to dsc1. it didnt matter how long you had been stalking,experience or how many deer you had shot. you had to be in the click to be an AW

That was 25 years ago mate. All you need to do now is shoot one deer, be awarded the prestigious DSC2 , apply to be an Accredited Witness and there you are !!

Says a lot about that qualification....................................
 
That was 25 years ago mate. All you need to do now is shoot one deer, be awarded the prestigious DSC2 , apply to be an Accredited Witness and there you are !!

Says a lot about that qualification....................................
Probably nearer 40 years ago when the Woodland Stalkers Certificate ceased!
 
If being an AW is all about glamour and cash, I’ve clearly been doing it wrong all these years!

The criteria for being an AW are straightfoward enough:
  • hold DSC 2
  • hold the Large Wild Game Meat Hygiene certificate or a 'blue' DSC 1 certificate
  • be the holder of a current Firearms Certificate authorising possession of a deer legal rifle
  • be technically competent and up to date with current best practice and legislation
  • be able to demonstrate relevant experience
  • have an e-mail address which is regularly monitored
  • be IT literate, able to download electronic PDF documents, complete and save them for attachment to an email
  • apply to DMQ using the appropriate AW application form
  • complete the application form electronically and email as an attachment
  • read the Approved Witness Introductory Briefing Document and any other relevant material issued by DMQ
  • accept the conditions of witnessing
  • sign to say you have read, understood and will comply with DMQ’s General Data Protection Regulations guidance
  • understand the role of a DMQ Approved Witness is entirely voluntary and that DMQ does not offer or infer any form of contract whatsoever
Once these criteria are met, then download the form from the DMQ website here, fill it out, and send it off. Of course it's an advantage if an AW has access to ground on which a Candidate can stalk, as not many Candidates necessarily have their own ground, but it's not a pre-requisite.

So it's hardly the stuff of secret handshakes, old school ties and weird initiation ceremonies, but neither is it something that an individual should consider doing for no other reason than to say they are an AW.
 
You sure? I did the National Stalkers Competence Cert in about 1992 and that came after the Woodland Stalkers Competence Cert?


Hi JD,

I had to think about that. Took a bit of time to dig out the old paperwork, but here are the certificates as issued then.

20220930_081026 (1).jpg20220930_081042.jpg20220930_081304 (1).jpg

WSCC NSCC DSC1

The BASC certificate was advertised at the time as the Woodland |Stalkers Certificate. Maybe it was not. All were either 3 or 4 days long.
All taken due to a career change/move at the time.

I thought I was one of the first to do the DSC1, and one of the last to do the NSCC/WSC at that time.
 
Pretty sure that the BASC one is something different, there were a few different courses that came and went around that time. Another one was called Holywell level one or something like that? The DSC1 path was a direct evolution from WSCC to NSCC to DSC1 but not sure of the exact timeline. Great that you have kept up your qualifications and learning journey over the years.
 
Hi JD,

I had to think about that. Took a bit of time to dig out the old paperwork, but here are the certificates as issued then.

View attachment 274851View attachment 274854View attachment 274853

WSCC NSCC DSC1

The BASC certificate was advertised at the time as the Woodland |Stalkers Certificate. Maybe it was not. All were either 3 or 4 days long.
All taken due to a career change/move at the time.

I thought I was one of the first to do the DSC1, and one of the last to do the NSCC/WSC at that time.
Just found my folder. I did the NSCC in May 1992, converted it to a sand coloured DSC1 in May 2001, did DSC2 in December 2001then converted the sand coloured DSC1 to a blue one when the Trained Hunter thing came about in January 2006.
 
If being an AW is all about glamour and cash, I’ve clearly been doing it wrong all these years!

The criteria for being an AW are straightfoward enough:
  • hold DSC 2
  • hold the Large Wild Game Meat Hygiene certificate or a 'blue' DSC 1 certificate
  • be the holder of a current Firearms Certificate authorising possession of a deer legal rifle
  • be technically competent and up to date with current best practice and legislation
  • be able to demonstrate relevant experience
  • have an e-mail address which is regularly monitored
  • be IT literate, able to download electronic PDF documents, complete and save them for attachment to an email
  • apply to DMQ using the appropriate AW application form
  • complete the application form electronically and email as an attachment
  • read the Approved Witness Introductory Briefing Document and any other relevant material issued by DMQ
  • accept the conditions of witnessing
  • sign to say you have read, understood and will comply with DMQ’s General Data Protection Regulations guidance
  • understand the role of a DMQ Approved Witness is entirely voluntary and that DMQ does not offer or infer any form of contract whatsoever
Once these criteria are met, then download the form from the DMQ website here, fill it out, and send it off. Of course it's an advantage if an AW has access to ground on which a Candidate can stalk, as not many Candidates necessarily have their own ground, but it's not a pre-requisite.

So it's hardly the stuff of secret handshakes, old school ties and weird initiation ceremonies, but neither is it something that an individual should consider doing for no other reason than to say they are an AW.
Very well explained and put something I been considering for years. Got no real good ground so been put off.
 
If being an AW is all about glamour and cash, I’ve clearly been doing it wrong all these years!

The criteria for being an AW are straightfoward enough:
  • hold DSC 2
  • hold the Large Wild Game Meat Hygiene certificate or a 'blue' DSC 1 certificate
  • be the holder of a current Firearms Certificate authorising possession of a deer legal rifle
  • be technically competent and up to date with current best practice and legislation
  • be able to demonstrate relevant experience
  • have an e-mail address which is regularly monitored
  • be IT literate, able to download electronic PDF documents, complete and save them for attachment to an email
  • apply to DMQ using the appropriate AW application form
  • complete the application form electronically and email as an attachment
  • read the Approved Witness Introductory Briefing Document and any other relevant material issued by DMQ
  • accept the conditions of witnessing
  • sign to say you have read, understood and will comply with DMQ’s General Data Protection Regulations guidance
  • understand the role of a DMQ Approved Witness is entirely voluntary and that DMQ does not offer or infer any form of contract whatsoever
Once these criteria are met, then download the form from the DMQ website here, fill it out, and send it off. Of course it's an advantage if an AW has access to ground on which a Candidate can stalk, as not many Candidates necessarily have their own ground, but it's not a pre-requisite.

So it's hardly the stuff of secret handshakes, old school ties and weird initiation ceremonies, but neither is it something that an individual should consider doing for no other reason than to say they are an AW.
Isn’t there also an assessment day now?
 
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