SENR Practitioner Application Guidance

Step 1 - Pre-submission

A requirement prior to submission is mandatory attendance at a SENR Practitioner Preparation Day (PPD), see the list of dates here.
Note the submission dates of 1 April (midnight) and 1 October (midnight) each year.

Step 2 - Prepare your practitioner application

This guidance is for you to use prior to submitting your practitioner application, to ensure you have included all of the evidence required for your application to go forward for assessment.

You can also refer to the slide deck (on email) from the Practitioner Preparation Day and notes you made during the day.

As the practitioner application is a detailed and involved piece of work, it will take you some time to collate your evidence and demonstrate how you meet the competencies.

You will submit two documents:

Document 1 - Completed Competency Framework (Word document)
Document 2 - Portfolio of evidence (PDF) – a single document containing all other evidence

General guidance:

Use an easy-to-read font such as Arial, minimum 11 point and 1.5 line spacing.
Ensure you provide actual evidence to meet the competencies, rather than text describing actions or steps.
If you are providing evidence which is screenshots or images check the images and text are legible.
If using hyperlinks ensure they can be opened correctly from outside of your organisation.

Document 1 - Completed Competency Framework (Word document)

Ensure you are using the 2022 version of the Competency Framework
Use the free text box to signpost the assessment team to your evidence, using page numbers.
Evidence should be specific to that competency such that no more than 2-3 examples are required per competency.
Evidence should demonstrate an active and current (within the previous 3-year period) involvement in the field.
Ensure evidence for competencies in section F are all from the case study. Any evidence from outside of the case study will not be reviewed.
Ensure the evidence is in line with the Code of Conduct and all names and identifiable references have been removed, are anonymised, for both athletes and other professionals, even if consent has been provided.
Use the ‘applicant commentary’ box to support the signposting to the evidence document if the evidence provided needs introduction or explanation.

Document 2 - Portfolio of evidence (PDF) – a single document containing all other evidence

What to include in the portfolio of evidence:

Pre-submission checklist
Header page with your name and date of application
Contents page – Ensure contents page and page numbers are correct for clear signposting
Up to date CV
Copies of relevant qualification certificates
If applicable; certified translations, if the qualification certificates and transcripts are in a language other than English.
If applicable; an assessment of equivalence to an award from the United Kingdom by ENIC-NARIC Networks if applicant have qualifications from countries outside the European Union.
Proof of Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (completed within the last five years)
Evidence of completion of anti-doping education certification. For applicants from the UK, the UKAD Introduction to clean sport (modules 1-6) is recommended. Applicants from outside the UK can submit evidence of an anti-doping education certification with equivalent modules.
Two completed and signed reference forms.
Personal Statement (1000 words maximum)
Case Study (5,000 words maximum excluding references)
Two completed Reflective Proformas (1 CPD Session and 1 Practice based sessions) (Part of the BDA's Reflective Practice Toolkit)
CPD Log - Provide details of relevant CPD undertaken
CPD Future Plan - Identify CPD you would like to undertake and explain why.
Any other evidence that has been referenced in competency framework document

Final check

Read through the ‘Common reasons why your application may receive a ‘Decision Deferred’ outcome’.

Applicant uses an old version of Competency Framework.
Documents submitted are not in the correct format or do not open correctly.
Evidence provided for section F does not all come from the case study.
Evidence provided is not in English.
Evidence in picture formats are not legible, due to size or format.
Evidence provided by hyperlinks does not open correctly.
Applicant uses text descriptions to describe their actions rather than provide actual evidence.
Names or identifiable references are not anonymised and therefore breaches SENR Code of Conduct.
Applicant omits to include CPD Log detailing CPD undertaken during graduate registration.
Applicant omits to include CPD Plan for future professional development.
Applicant does not pay the ‘practitioner application assessment fee’.

Step 3 - Upload your documents

When you are ready to submit log in and upload your documents here

Step 4 - Pay your fee

Pay your Practitioner application fee (£250), via the BDA shop.

What happens next?

You will receive an automatic acknowledgement email from the system, and then a further email from SENR team confirming receipt and outlining the timeframe for assessment and outcome feedback.
Your practitioner application documents will be forwarded to your assessor for review.
Your practitioner application submission will be taken to the practitioner registration panel.
You will receive the outcome and marked Competency Framework with feedback by email.

Here are the possible outcomes for your practitioner application

Does the application meet the requirements for SENR Practitioner Registration?

Yes	Existing applicants are moved to SENR practitioner registration. New SENR applicants are provided with the next steps to set up BDA membership/SENR registration.
Decision deferred – 6 weeks resubmission timeframe	Applicant receives the marked Competency Framework outlining the additional information/amendments required to demonstrate they can meet the practitioner requirements. New date is provided for the resubmission, likely within 6 weeks.
Decision deferred – 6 to 12 months resubmission timeframe	Applicant receives the marked Competency Framework. In this case there will be significant amendments required to demonstrate that they can meet the practitioner requirements, and the assessment team advise a 6-12 month resubmission date to allow the applicant time to undertake the recommendations and prepare the resubmission.
No, the applicant does not meet the requirements for practitioner registration.	The applicant has not been able to provide evidence to show they meet the requirements for practitioner registration. If a re-submission, the applicant has not been able to provide evidence to show they meet the requirements for practitioner registration.