Diploma of Expert Practice
Advance your career and demonstrate high levels of knowledge, skills and competence in your practice
The IBMS Diplomas of Expert Practice qualifications enable biomedical scientists with five years post registration experience, working in highly specialised areas of practice to demonstrate high levels of knowledge, skill and competence in their specialist subject area.
They are expert-level professional vocational qualifications assessed by a portfolio of experiential learning and a multi-component assessment, which varies depending on the qualification being undertaken.
The Diploma of Expert Practice is currently available in the following disciplines:
- Histological Dissection
- Immunocytochemistry
- Mohs Histological Procedures
- Diagnostic Cytopathology
- Haematology
- Ultrastructural Pathology
For further information about IBMS Diplomas of Expert Practice in other disciplines, please contact examinations@ibms.org
Further information
Who can apply
To apply for an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice you must:
- be a Member or Fellow of the IBMS
- be HCPC registered
- have a specified number of years post registration experience (see individual qualification guidance documents.
The laboratory where you plan to take the IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice should be a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) registered laboratory and have must have IBMS post-registration training approval. If you are unsure whether your laboratory has IBMS laboratory approval for please check with your laboratory manager or training officer.
How to apply
To apply for an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice please submit to the IBMS Examinations Team:
- a completed IBMS qualifications application form including training officer/supervisor signature
- an IBMS Training logbook order form (for DEP in immunocytochemistry, mohs histological procedures and histological dissection)
- payment of £443 (plus any additional fees detailed above)
You can find qualification application forms and further information on how to apply on the relevant qualification pages.
Key dates
2025 - DEP in Histological Dissection, Ultrastructural Pathology, and Immunocytochemistry
- Closing date for applications - Friday 30 May 2025
- Deadline for candidates who wish to re-sit: Friday 18 July 2025
- Portfolio submission deadline - Friday 18 July 2025 (but portfolios can be submitted from week commencing 2 June 2025)
- Written Examination - Monday 24 November 2025 (to be sat in own local hospital)
2025 - DEP in Routine Haematology
- Closing date for applications - Friday 30 May 202
- Portfolio Submission Deadline: Friday 25 July 2025
- Exams: The date of the written and microscopy exams are to be confirmed. This will depend on the number and location of the candidates who submit their portfolio. It is likely that this will be late October or early November 2025. It is possible that we will split the exam and the candidates will need to sit and pass the written exam before they proceed to the microscopy exam.
2025 - DEP in Diagnostic Cytopathology
- Closing date for applications - Friday 31 January 2025
- Portfolio submission deadline - Friday 28 February 2025
- Written Examination - Tuesday 6 May 2025 (to be sat in own local hospital)
- Microscopy Examination date - Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 July 2025
Fees
It costs £443 (from January 2025), to undertake an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice.
The Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) in Immunocytochemistry, DEP in Histological Dissection and DEP in Mohs Histological Procedures all require a training logbook costing an additional £31.
Once a candidate has passed the DEP in Histological Dissection additional competencies (modules) cost £63 (no matter how many additional modules are being applied for).
Please submit to the IBMS Examinations Team:
- payment of £443 (from January 2025),
- a completed application form
Fees can be paid by:
- credit or debit card payment by phone on +44 (0)207 731 0214 or
- purchase order from your hospital Trust