The Institute of Biomedical Science

Equivalence and non-standard routes to membership

The IBMS has developed membership class equivalence and non-standard routes for laboratory-based practitioners of biomedical science who for a variety of reasons are not able to apply for Institute membership via standard routes.

This is to incorporate maximum flexibility within the Institute’ membership structure and ensure that biomedical scientists have opportunities to benefit from membership of the Institute. It should be noted that while this gives potential members equal opportunities to join the Institute this does not over-ride the requirements to complete two years as Licentiate or three years as Member.

The assessment for Licentiate membership of HPC registered Associate members with a qualification which is not accredited by the IBMS
Guidance has been developed to enable potential members to become a Licentiate member of the Institute and to have access to all the benefits of corporate membership, including the Institute’s professional examinations.

Becoming a Member of the Institute: Diploma of Specialist Practice (Membership by Dissertation)
Member is the class of Institute corporate membership through which individuals are eligible to become Chartered. The primary route to Member is through the award of a Specialist Diploma. For individuals for whom the completion of a Specialist Portfolio is not applicable to their workplace, an alternative and equivalent route to the class of Member was developed through the submission of a dissertation that meets the Institute’s criteria and leads to the award of a Diploma of Specialist Practice.
 
Becoming a Fellow: Fellowship by Thesis
Fellow is the highest class of Institute corporate membership. The primary route to Fellow is through the award of a Higher Specialist Diploma but for individuals who do not work in one of the traditional disciplines or for whom the examination is not easily accessible or supported by their workplace, an alternative equivalent route to the class of Fellow was developed, through submission to the Institute of an M-level thesis that meets the Institute’s criteria and leads to the award of a Diploma of Higher Specialist Practice.