Diploma of Expert Practice

Professional qualifications for biomedical scientists with at
least five years of post-registration experience working in
highly specialised areas

Advance your career and showcase your expertise

Overview

The IBMS Diplomas of Expert Practice (DEP) are professional vocational qualifications designed for biomedical scientists with five years of post-registration experience working in highly specialised areas of practice. These qualifications provide evidence of expert knowledge, advanced skills, and practical competence in a specialist subject area.

πŸ“Œ Available specialisms:

  • Diagnostic Cytopathology
  • Haematology (Routine Haematology, Haemostasis & Thrombosis, Red Cell Disorders)
  • Histological Dissection
  • Immunocytochemistry
  • Mohs Histological Procedures
  • Ultrastructural Pathology

πŸ“Œ For information about IBMS Diplomas of Expert Practice in other disciplines, contact [email protected]

Each qualification is assessed through a portfolio of experiential learning and a multi-component examination (portfolio review, written examination, and practical or oral assessment where applicable).

Upon completion, you will be able to:
βœ” Undertake advanced roles in specimen analysis and reporting
βœ” Provide expert advice to scientific and medical professionals
βœ” Participate in the training of biomedical and clinical scientists

Assessment

Each DEP qualification includes the following assessments:

βœ” Portfolio assessment – A record of training and competence, signed off by a consultant pathologist or supervisor
βœ” Written examination – A structured paper assessing knowledge in the specialist area
βœ” Practical examination (for some disciplines) – Case-based assessment or microscopy-based evaluation

Specialism-specific assessment details

Diagnostic Cytopathology

  • Portfolio assessment – 28 standards must be met before progressing to exams
  • Written examination – 75-minute paper, answering 5 out of 6 questions
  • Microscopy examination – Case-based assessment of urine, effusion, and respiratory cytology

Haematology (Routine Haematology, Haemostasis & Thrombosis, Red Cell Disorders)

  • Portfolio assessment – 27 standards
  • Written examination – 120-minute paper with mandatory short-answer, case study, and essay questions
  • Practical assessment – Microscopy exam (12 cases in 96 minutes) or viva voce

Histological Dissection

  • Portfolio and training logbook assessment
  • Written examination – Two papers:
    • Paper 1 – Mandatory modules (5 questions in 120 minutes)
    • Paper 2 – Optional modules (6 out of 11 questions in 120 minutes)

Immunocytochemistry

  • Portfolio and training logbook assessment
  • Written examination – Two short-answer papers, each 120 minutes

Mohs Histological Procedures

  • Portfolio assessment – 29 standards
  • Written examination – Five questions (one per module) in 120 minutes

Ultrastructural Pathology

  • Portfolio assessment
  • Written examination – Covers both mandatory and optional modules

Exam format and structure details can be found in individual qualification guidance documents in the Resources section below.

πŸ“… Key dates for 2025

βœ” Histological Dissection, Ultrastructural Pathology, and Immunocytochemistry

  • Application deadline: 30 May 2025
  • Portfolio submission deadline: 18 July 2025
  • Written examination: 24 November 2025

βœ” Diagnostic Cytopathology

  • Application deadline: 31 January 2025
  • Portfolio submission deadline: 28 February 2025
  • Written examination: 6 May 2025
  • Microscopy examination: 9–11 July 2025

πŸ“Œ Portfolios must be submitted electronically via email or a shared folder link. Hard copies will not be accepted.

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Did you know?

The IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice Prize is awarded annually to the candidate who achieves the highest marks in their Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) examinations.

This prestigious award recognises excellence and outstanding performance in IBMS qualifications.

Prize

  • A £250 cheque
  • A certificate

To be eligible, candidates must be sitting the examinations for the first time.

All prizes are presented at the IBMS Annual General Meeting (AGM).

 

 

Applying

Entry requirements

To apply for an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice, you must:
βœ” Be a Member or Fellow of the IBMS
βœ” Be HCPC registered
βœ” Have specialist post-registration experience (varies by discipline)
βœ” Work in a UKAS-accredited laboratory with IBMS post-registration laboratory training approval

πŸ“Œ If you are unsure about laboratory approval, check with your manager or training officer.

How to apply

πŸ“© Submit the following to [email protected]

  • Completed application form (with training officer/supervisor signature)
  • Training logbook order form (for some qualifications - see Resources section below)
  • Payment of £443 (plus, where applicable, £31 for training logbooks)

Payment options

Fees can be paid via:

  • Credit or debit card – Call +44 (0)207 731 0214
  • Purchase order – Issued by your hospital trust

πŸ“Œ Candidates can only take one DEP at a time.

Training grants

A £1,000 training grant is available for employers of candidates in England undertaking the DEP in:
βœ” Diagnostic Cytopathology
βœ” Histological Dissection
βœ” Immunocytochemistry

πŸ“Œ For more details, refer to training grant information 2025.

Deferrals, withdrawals, and mitigating circumstances

πŸ“Œ To defer, withdraw, or report mitigating circumstances, contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

Need more help?

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the Higher and Expert qualifications please contact us.