Ringing Permit Renewals
Ringing permits are renewed annually, with the renewal process starting in January for all permit holders.
Training record forms, change of trainer forms and reporting forms (Schedule 1, Special Methods etc.) can all be found at www.bto.org/permit-renew
- Please only use the online renewal link that is emailed to you as they are unique. When completing the form please take care with the health and wildlife crime questions; most ringers who tick ‘yes’ to having unspent convictions or being unfit to continue ringing are found to have done so in error when staff follow it up.
- If you have applied for an A or S permit, but receive a renewal link for your C permit before hearing back about your application, please renew your C permit as there is no guarantee that a decision about your upgrade will be reached before the end of the renewal period.
- If you are paying for your permit by a method other than the online payment system, please make your payment promptly, as no permit can be issued or validated until payment has been received.
- If you have not renewed your permit by 1 May, or informed us that you wish to resign, unfortunately your permit will have to be lapsed and you will lose your deposit (if relevant). As your existing permit expires on 31 March, legally, you will not be able to ring unaccompanied after this date until you have renewed your permit. If there are special circumstances that mean you are unable to renew on time, please let us know and ask for an extension.
- Please remember to ensure that you are in possession of a valid ringing permit, as indicated by the expiry date, either as a paper or electronic copy; if the latter, make sure you can access it via a mobile device should you be asked to produce it when you are in the field. If you do not receive renewal information, or your permit after you think you have renewed, please ringing.licensing [at] bto.org (email us).
- Each Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) project, that has submitted data for the current year, can nominate one person to claim a refund of up to £25 off their annual fee, providing their RAS data have been received by 28 February. All RAS project leads will be emailed in the autumn to ask if you want to claim your refund; you must respond to this email otherwise it will be assumed that you do not wish to claim. If you have not received this email by Christmas, please email ras [at] bto.org
As the renewal process differs between permit categories, we have explained each below. Please read the relevant section for specific information about your renewal procedure.
Trainees
If you are a trainee, you can only renew your permit once your trainer has agreed to train you over the next year. At the start of January, trainers will be asked whether they wish to continue training each of their trainees. Assuming your trainer agrees, and has received any outstanding data from you (if you are entering data on their behalf, for instance), a training record form should be completed together prior to you renewing; note, this form is for personal use and is NOT submitted to BTO HQ. You will be sent an online renewal link once your trainer has let us know that they will continue training you. Please note that you will only receive your permit once your trainer has renewed their permit.
If you need to change your trainer, a Change of Trainer form, signed by your new trainer, should be completed and submitted to the ringing.licensing [at] bto.org (Licensing Team) prior to renewal. Once this has been received, you will be sent a renewal link.
C-permit holders
If you hold a C permit, you can only renew your permit once your trainer has agreed to train you over the next year. In January, trainers will be asked whether they wish to continue being responsible for each of their C-permit holders. Assuming your trainer agrees, and has received any outstanding data from you, a training record form should be completed together prior to you renewing; note, this form is for personal use and is NOT submitted to BTO HQ. You will be sent an online renewal link once your trainer has let us know that they are willing to continue taking responsibility for you. Note: the renewal of a Special Methods endorsement will only be done once the lead name on the project has completed and submitted the relevant reporting forms and you will only receive your permit once your trainer has renewed their permit.
If you need to change your trainer, a Change of Trainer form, signed by your new trainer, should be completed and submitted to the ringing.licensing [at] bto.org (Licensing Team) prior to renewal. Once this has been received, you will be sent a renewal link.
A-permit holders
If you hold an A permit you cannot renew until you have submitted all data for the calendar year. You will also need to have sent the data relating to any outstanding ringing data requests, for the period up to the date of renewal, to BTO HQ. You may receive a renewal link before you have submitted your data; however you will not be able to complete your renewal until all of your data are submitted.
Note: the renewal of a Special Methods endorsement will only be done once the lead name on the project has completed and submitted the relevant reporting forms.
S-permit holders
If you hold an S-permit you cannot renew until you have submitted all data for the calendar year, including any data collected by your T- and C-permit holders. You will also need to have sent the data relating to any outstanding ringing data requests, for the period up to the date of renewal, to BTO HQ. You may receive a renewal link before you have submitted your data; however you will not be able to complete your renewal until all of your data are submitted.
Note: the renewal of a Special Methods project will only be done once the lead name on the project has completed and submitted the relevant reporting forms, and your T- and C-permit holders will only receive their permits once you have renewed yours.
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