The Institute of Biomedical Science

Help & FAQ: Information on applying for membership

Please read these notes carefully to avoid any delays in processing your application.

Accompanying information

New applicants
All new applicants for membership must fully complete the application form and attach the following:

1. Copies of university qualifications
2. English transcript of the subjects studied and, for those degrees not accredited by the IBMS, an indication of the time allocated
3. One-off registration fee for Licentiates and lapsed Associates (see below)
4. Subscription fee.

All members applying for Licentiateship must send a copy of their Certificate of Competence.

Upgrade to membership classes
All members applying to upgrade their membership are required to send evidence of the qualifications appropriate for their new class of membership. Copies of certificates sent previously are not required to be resubmitted.

If you are upgrading to a higher class of membership you are not required to pay the difference in subscriptions until the following year.

All members applying for Licentiateship must include a copy of their Certificate of Competence.

All members applying for Membership must send a copy of their Specialist Diploma.

All members applying for Fellowship must send a copy of their IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma or Fellowship by Thesis award (unless applying under grandparenting - see page 3).

Re-joining members
Applicants who are re-joining the Institute at the same class of membership are not required to resubmit copies of documents previously been seen by the Institute.

Fees and payment

Registration fee
All applicants joining or upgrading to Licentiate membership must return a one-off registration fee of £20.

If you are paying your subscriptions by direct debit you must enclose a separate cheque or credit card payment for the £20 registration fee.

There is no registration fee for members applying to upgrade or rejoin the Institute.

How to pay
Applicants can pay by cheque, sterling bank draft, postal order, credit card or a monthly or annual direct debit. Cheques should be made payable to the 'Institute of Biomedical Science' or 'IBMS'. If you wish to pay by direct debit you need to complete the direct debit mandate enclosed. 

If you do not have a UK bank account fees must be paid by sterling bank draft or credit card.

Other

Counter signatures
All applicants should have their forms countersigned by two Fellows or Members of the Institute. If you are unable to meet this requirement you may leave this section blank and still apply for membership; such applications will be assessed individually.

Continuing Professional Development
The IBMS's CPD scheme is free to all members. All successful applicants will be automatically registered with the scheme unless they specifically opt-out on the application form.

Overseas applicants

Overseas applicants must note the following extra information.

• Applicants who have not attended an IBMS accredited course must have their overseas qualifications verified by UK NARIC, contact UK NARIC on +44 (0)870 9904088 or www.naric.org.uk.
• A letter from UK NARIC confirming equivalent certification of non-UK academic qualifications must be sent in with an IBMS application form, copies of qualification certificates, English transcript and subscription fees.

Further information or advice required?

Please contact the IBMS office on telephone + 44 (0)20 7713 0214 or email mail@ibms.org.