Cervical Cytology

Applicants must be a Member or Fellow of the IBMS, HCPC registered and hold the NHS CSP/City & Guilds Certificate in Cervical Cytology or the equivalent BSCC/IBMS Certificate of Competence in Cytology Screening.

You must also have at least seven years post-registration experience or primary screening in cervical cytology and at least three years experience of “checking” and service management within the screening programme, as well as:

• have a single named consultant pathologist trainer who has overall responsibility for mentoring and guiding you and monitoring your progress
• undertake your training in a laboratory with UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) registration
• undertake your training in a laboratory with IBMS post-registration training approval

IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma (ASD) in Cervical Cytology is a professional vocational qualification assessed by a portfolio of evidence and examination.

The portfolio of evidence provides a record of your training and should contain evidence of regular assessments of your competence in reporting cervical cytology results by your named consultant pathologist supervisor. 

Your portfolio should include:

• answers to 7 questions on cervical cytology listed in the candidate guidance
• a shadow reporting log must be submitted of  at least 500 cases
• evidence of the regular case review of at least 50 cases from the shadow reporting log
• a total of ten case studies
• three audits
• a record of training programmes or courses attended
• a record of the MDT meetings attended
• appropriate reflection

Once your named consultant pathologist supervisor is satisfied that your training is complete you can submit your portfolio and if that is judged to have met the standard required go on to the written and practical examinations.  

Guidance to candidates and trainers

Portfolio assessment indicators

 

The examination of an IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in Cervical Cytology involves three assessments:

• a portfolio assessment 
• a written examination
• a practical examination 

Portfolio assessment

You must meet 28 standards in order to pass your portfolio assessment and progress to the written and practical examinations.

Your portfolio will be independently assessed by two members of the Conjoint Examination Board. 

Written examination 

You will be expected to answer four out of six short-answer questions in 90 minutes covering the following areas: 

• morphology
• screening
• service development
• clinical aspects of cervical screening
• new developments in cervical screening
• quality assurance and audit

Practical microscopy examination

Short Cases
You will be expected to screen 12 slides in 72 minutes with summary clinical information and prepare full reports comparable to HMR 101/5 including appropriate management with free text comments if necessary.

Long Cases
In this examination candidates will be expected to review 8 cases in 120 minutes consisting of slides with summary clinical information, preparing full reports and discussion on all eight cases. 

 

ASD in Cervical Cytology - 2025 Exam Series

Closing date for applications
Friday 31 January 2025

Portfolio Submission Deadline
Friday 28 February

Shadow Reporting (for those wanting to re-sit their exams)
Friday 28 February

Written Examination (sat in your local hospital)
Tuesday 6 May

Microscopy Examinations
These will take place between Wednesday 9 and Friday 11th July at NEPSEC in Wakefield. The exact day will depend on the number of candidates who pass (or who have previously passed and have 'banked') the written exam.

Portfolio Submission Information
Candidates intending to submit their portfolio in 2025 should note that the Institute will not be accepting hard copies versions of portfolio. It could be submitted either via email(s) or by providing a link to a shared folder such as, but not limited to, One Drive, We Transfer or Google Docs.

The shared folder should not require the Head of Examinations to set up an account to access the information but could require a password which should be sent with the link to the shared folder. The portfolio can also be submitted by placing it on a USB stick and sending that to the IBMS marked for my attention as the Head of Examinations.

If the portfolio is being submitted via email(s) or a link to a shared folder the email address to use is examinations@ibms.org

Training Events
The North of England Pathology Screening and Education Centre (NEPSEC) are running events to support those undertaking this qualification. It is not mandatory to attend these events but they will be useful for those undertaking this qualification. Details on these training events will be published on the NEPSEC website which can be found here.

To apply for the qualification in the year in which you plan to submit your portfolio for assessment you will need to submit to the IBMS Examinations Team: 

• payment of £501 along with
• a completed application form 

Once your application has been accepted you will be sent confirmation of your candidacy and a reminder of the submission deadline for your portfolio. Please note that if you withdraw from the qualification at any point a £50 administrative fee will be applied to any refund.

Training Grant Available (Updated 6 January 2025)

A training grant of £1,000 per candidate continues to be available to employers of candidates in England who are undertaking the DEP or ASD in Diagnostic Cytopathology or ASD in Cervical Cytology. More information on the grant that is available and how and when it can be claimed can be found here.

Guidance on Recognising and Avoiding Plagiarism

For information about Training sessions to support those undertaking the ASD in Cervical Cytology please see they key dates section above. You can find discipline-specific reading lists to support you in completing an  IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in Cervical Cytology on our science reading page. You can find articles and online resources to support you in completing an  IBMS Advanced Specialist Diploma in Cervical Cytology in our resources section. 

British Association for Cytopathology website

North of England Pathology Screening and Education Centre (NEPSEC)

In 2023 NEPSEC offered courses undertaking the ASD in Cervical Cytology. As soon as details are agreed on the 2024 course these will be published on this page of the website.

Position Statement on Role Requirements and Banding for Scientists undertaking Reporting within Cellular Pathology Departments

As an aid to departments wishing to utilise the opportunities offered by the scientist reporter the Institute has described in outline the expected job content, the qualifications required for each role and the appropriate Agenda for Change (or equivalent) pay grade. The position statement can be found here.

If you wish to defer, withdraw or highlight any mitigating circumstances please contact examinations@ibms.org as soon as possible.