The ICIA operates under a strict tripartite separation of powers, isolating Empirical Research (IGMRI), Judicial Arbitration (OA-COM), and Commercial Syndicate Governance (CABCS). Institutional and professional membership is organized into four statutory divisions:
| Statutory Code | Accredited Division | Regulatory Scope & Legal Mandate | Supervisory Organ |
|---|---|---|---|
| CABCS Series | Commercial Syndicate Members | Wholesale, retail, and mining operations; execution of CCGS & RCGS standards. | CABCS Executive Bureau |
| OA-LAB Series | Accredited Testing Laboratories | Independent spectrometry testing, official certificate issuance, IGSTS digital twin minting. | IGMRI Laboratory Board |
| PCAS Series | Professional Certified Appraisers | Personal professional credentialing, technical grading execution, expert legal testimony. | PCAS Examination Council |
| MICIA Series | Academic Fellows & Researchers | Holotype specimen archiving, reference spectral calibration, non-destructive micro-CT research. | OA-COM Supreme Authority |
Commercial membership is tiered based on operational capacity and risk exposure. Accredited merchants must deposit a dedicated cash security bond into the ADRPS segregated escrow account to underwrite the 14-day advance consumer restitution guarantee:
| Tier Code | Membership Classification | Mandatory ADRPS Escrow Bond | Prerequisites & Technical Obligations |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELC | Executive Leadership Council Mining Groups & Major Auctions |
£250,000 / $300,000 USD Liquid cash or standby Letter of Credit |
• Continuous compliance record ≥ 5 years. • Full mine-to-market ESG supply chain traceability. • Dedicated in-house compliance officer; General Assembly board seat. |
| ASC | Authorized Specialty Consortia Museum Galleries & Titanium Quartz Hubs |
£100,000 / $125,000 USD Fully encumbered escrow deposit |
• Operating ≥ 3 years with established international standing. • Must employ at least 1 full-time certified PCAS-MSA appraiser. • 100% specimen repair disclosure [RP] registered on IGSTS digital twins. |
| ACC | Accredited Commercial Centers Flagship Boutiques & Online Hubs |
£50,000 / $65,000 USD Fully encumbered escrow deposit |
• Operating ≥ 2 years; paid-in capital ≥ $500,000 USD. • Full API integration with the cert.icia.uk public registry.• Universal compliance with CCGS (4C+1I) commercial grading matrix. |
| PRC | Professional Retail Certified Independent Boutiques & Designers |
£15,000 / $20,000 USD Fully encumbered escrow deposit |
• Registered commercial operation ≥ 1 year. • Mandatory display of [NT/H/I/RC/C/D] treatment tags on all exhibits. • Unconditional consent to 24/7 unannounced mystery audits. |
OA-LAB licensing is the sole statutory authorization allowing third-party laboratories to issue official ICIA certificates (CCGS/MSGS/RCGS). Subcontracting testing or certificate affiliation is strictly prohibited.
.glb digital twins.All submitted specimens are anonymized with non-sequential barcodes and examined in partitioned darkrooms. Final reports require independent blind confirmation and signature by two active PCAS-ICG appraisers. Accredited laboratories must participate in the compulsory Annual Closed-Book Round-Robin Proficiency Audit organized by IGMRI; laboratories achieving <95% accuracy face immediate certificate issuance suspension.
The Professional Crystal Appraiser Scheme (PCAS) represents the premier professional qualification for gemologists, auction specialists, and museum curators in crystalline mineralogy.
| Credential | Designation Title | Practical Assessment Scope & Passing Standard | Prerequisites & CPD Mandate |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCAS-ICG | International Certified Grader | Theory examination + 100-sample blind practical exam. Zero false-negative tolerance (100% accuracy) for [RC] polymer resins and hydrothermal synthetics. | IGAI diploma, or FGA / GG / GIC + 2 years trade experience. 30 CPD credits every 2 years. |
| PCAS-MSA | Mineral Specimen Appraiser | MSGS 5D evaluation model, micro-CT tomographic slice interpretation, matrix contact vetting, and crystal habit defect indexing. | Active ICG standing ≥ 2 years, or MSc in Mineralogy / Geology. |
| PCAS-DIR | Accredited Lab Director | Spectrometer baseline calibration, uncertainty calculation, IGSTS cryptographic key management, and laboratory ethics compliance. | Appointment as OA-LAB chief technical officer; ≥ 5 years laboratory management. |
| MICIA | Academic Fellow of ICIA | Scholars publishing milestone peer-reviewed research in crystallographic physics, pegmatite geochemistry, or diagnostic standards. | Conferred exclusively by joint invitation of OA-COM and IGMRI boards. |
Submission of corporate charters, ownership disclosures, hardware inventory invoices, and personnel credentials to the Secretary Bureau.
On-site inspection of facilities, instrument calibration verification, and blind spectroscopic testing on 20 random inventory samples.
Execution of the Statutory Compliance Agreement and full wire transfer of the required ADRPS escrow bond to the London trust account.
Issuance of official accreditation seals, public listing on cert.icia.uk, and activation of IGSTS digital twin API credentials.
Trigger Events: Omission of mandatory heat [H] or irradiation [I] tags; digital twin ledger registration delayed >72 hours; minor grading variance in round-robin testing.
Sanctions Imposed: Immediate 30-day suspension of certificate issuance; public "Under Audit" status displayed on cert.icia.uk; mandatory 15-day rectification and staff re-training.
Trigger Events: Concealment of [RC] polymer filling or [C/D] chemical dyeing; misrepresenting synthetics as natural; forging certificates; refusing to honor OA-COM restitution orders.
Sanctions Imposed: Permanent lifetime expulsion; total forfeiture of deposited ADRPS escrow reserves; worldwide trade blacklisting; referral to criminal authorities.
The undersigned applicant confirms thorough review of this Codex, agreeing to be bound by ICIA statutory rules, OA-COM arbitral jurisdiction, and ADRPS escrow forfeiture clauses.
Ratified and verified by the ICIA Joint Legal & Science Directorate for international promulgation.