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Generally there are four main routes to Certificate of Competence registration.
Integrated (sometimes referred to as 'Coterminus') degrees consist of a programme of integrated education and training, accredited by the Institute, that lead to completion of the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio and hence the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists during the degree. An IBMS Certificate of Competence is simultaneously awarded with the honours degree.
These programmes have the potential to be recognised as an integrated route but may lack clear demonstration of how all the HCPC standards of proficiency are met, therefore graduation and the award of the Certificate of Competence may be separate even though the portfolios may have been completed and assessed during the placement year. Sections of the portfolio should be signed off by the trainee, training officer and the university course tutor, where appropriate. This training portfolio will be issued on request to students through either the university or training laboratory as appropriate.
In this circumstance the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio will be issued to the graduate when employed as a trainee in an IBMS approved training laboratory.
If the degree course is not an Institute accredited BSc (Hons) graduates will need to submit their non-accredited degree programme for assessment (see below). This can be done by downloading a degree assessment form and submitting it along with a copy of the degree certificate, the entire course syllabus, degree transcript and the assessment fee. Also required is a copy of a birth certificate or the personal details page of a passport. If required, official notification of a change of name should be included.
IBMS accredited science degrees
All international biomedical scientists, who have qualified and practised in a laboratory abroad, should apply directly to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for admission to the register via their 'international route'. However, international applicants for registration who have not worked for enough time as a biomedical scientist may be advised by the HCPC to complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio and gain the IBMS Certificate of Competence.
Biomedical scientists with an international degree only but no practical working experience will need to have their degree assessed by the IBMS (see below) unless they have successfully completed an IBMS accredited degree.
Once both the academic and practical or training parts of the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio have been completed and checked by an IBMS appointed externally verifier the IBMS will issue a Certificate of Competence to successful candidates. It will then notify the HCPC. The HCPC will know that candidates have received a Certificate of Competence but they still need you to complete and send a HCPC application form. You can download an application form from the HCPC website.