The SA Institute of Physics (SAIP) was established in July 1955 and has grown to a membership of over 600 in 2015, of which about 10% are in other African countries or further abroad. It has also diversified to the extent that there are today a number of Divisions within the SAIP, concentrating on more specific fields, whilst participating in the general activities of the Institute. 

  The SA Institute of Physics is a non-statutory, SAQA-recognised professional body. They have two professional designations:

1. Certified Physicist (CPhys);
2. Certified Industrial and Physical Science Technologists (CPhysTech)