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Professional qualification
The IBMS runs a programme of post-registration training and advanced qualifications to help biomedical scientists demonstrate the required knowledge and skills to advance in their careers.
IBMS Examination Structure
The Institute's professional qualifications are available to members who satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria. Information on the individual qualifications offered to members is available in the members' area.
The Institute’s examination structure (see below) has been revised to illustrate its qualifications (in bold) in relation to its membership structure and to external academic awards.
| HCS Career Framework Stage | Membership Class | Additional optional qualifications | |
| 9 | Professional Doctorate | ||
| 8 | Advanced Specialist Diploma ↑ |
Fellow | |
| 7 |
Higher Specialist Diploma* |
Member | Diploma of Expert Practice & Certificate of Expert Practice |
| 6 | Specialist Diploma* ↑ |
Licentiate | |
| 5 |
Certificate of Competence |
The diplomas and certificates of expert and extended practice and the certificates of biomedical practice have been brought together under the single titles Diplomas and Certificates of Expert Practice.
The certificates and diplomas of expert practice are available to individuals in the class of Member (MIBMS). Those interested in undertaking these qualifications are advised to check the discipline-specific eligibility criteria.
*An equivalence route is available for individuals for whom the Specialist Diploma and Higher Specialist Diploma are not applicable to their workplace.
Specialist Diplomas
Specialist Diplomas form a discipline specific progression as the next step from generic registration.
Higher Specialist Diploma
The Higher Specialist Diploma is designed to complement the academic knowledge attained through a postgraduate qualification and is intended to test candidates’ competence to practise at a high level within their chosen biomedical science discipline.
Advanced Specialist Diploma
Advanced Specialist Diplomas consolidate the highest levels of knowledge and expertise and demonstrate evidence of expertise within a discipline, build upon the IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma and link to professional doctorates.
Certificates and Diplomas of Expert Practice
Certificates and Diplomas of Expert Practice serve to evidence discrete areas of knowledge and skills complementary to the main biomedical science subject areas
Further information about these qualifications, such as subjects available, guidance to candidates, application forms, examination fees, etc. is available to Institute members in the members' area underneath the Education & Development section.