Paignton Photographic Club

WCPF:

Western Counties Photographic Federation, the 'umbrella ' organisation for clubs in Cornwall, Devon, part of Dorset, Somerset, part of Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. The WCPF was founded in 1932 and is affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB). The Federation is made up of nearly 100 clubs and societies covering a large geographical area. The WCPF extends from Stroud in the North West across to Swindon in the North East, due South down to Weymouth and all counties right down to Lands End in Cornwall.

PAGB:
Photographic Alliance of Great Britain, the 'umbrella' organisation for the regional federations/associations in GB. There are a number of awards for individual photographers, as follows - The PAGB is affiliated to FIAP.

CPAGB, Credit from the PAGB, the first level of award, judged on 10 pictures, with a standard of 'good club photography'
DPAGB, Distinction from the PAGB, judged on 15 pictures, with a standard of 'open exhibition photography'
MPAGB, Master from the PAGB, judged on 20 pictures, with a standard of 'the highest standard of amateur photography'
APAGB, Award for meritorious service, based not on pictures, but for outstanding service to photographers who belong to member societies.
 
RPS:
Royal Photographic Society, a society open to amateur and professional photographers. There are a number of distinctions, as follows -
LRPS, Licentiate of the RPS, the first level and judged on a panel of 10 pictures
ARPS, Associate of the RPS , judged on a panel of 15 pictures
FRPS, Fellow of the RPS, judged on a panel of 20 pictures
Hon FRPS, Honorary Fellow of the RPS, awarded for services to the RPS

BPE:
British Photographic Exhbitions are members of the BPE Crown award system designed to enable successful exhibition photographers to gain additional recognition. Exhibitors are invited to aggregate their acceptances in the affiliated exhibitions and, upon reaching the accepted aggregate, to apply without charge for a Crown Rating Award. Each successful applicant for an award will receive a Certificate and a Ribbon and will be able to use the letters acknowledging their award after their name.

BPE1 Crown - 25 points; BPE2 Crown - 50 points; BPE3 Crown - 100 points; BPE4 Crown - 200 points; BPE5 Crown - 300 points
 
FIAP:  Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique, a worldwide federation to develop relationships amongst photographers. New Rules imposed by FIAP to apply from 1st January 2010. The PAGB is affiliated to this organisation.

AFIAP - Artist of FIAP. Waiting period has been reduced to 12 months after receipt of first acceptance in an approved salon and requires at least 30 acceptances from 10 different works in 10 different * salons in 5 different countries. PAGB have added the requirement for at least one award.

EFIAP - Excellence if FIAP Can be applied for not sooner than one year after the AFIAP, and requires at least a total (including AFIAP) of 150 acceptances with 50 different works in 30 different * salons in 15 different countries. PAGB have added the requirement for at least 5 awards (including AFIAP awards). Award = medal, trophy, ribbon, HM, HC etc. NOTE * different salons can now be taken to mean both different years in the same salons and also different named salons.

AFIAP, Artist of FIAP, the first level of award for photographic merit in international competition
EFIAP, Excellence of FIAP
MFIAP, Master of FIAP
 
PSA: 
Photographic Society of America
APSA Associate of the Photographic Society of America
FPSA Fellow of the Photographic Society of America
Hon PSA Honorary Membership of the Photographic Society of America
Hon FPSA Honorary Fellow of the Photographic Society of America
PPSA Proficiency - the Photographic Society of America
EPSA Excellence - the Photographic Society of America

BIPP:  British Institute of Professional Photography
BPIA:  British Photographic and Imaging Association
MPA:  Master Photographers Association