Immunocytochemistry

To apply you must be a Member or Fellow of the IBMS and HCPC registered with experience in Immunocytochemistry. You must also:

• have a single named consultant pathologist trainer who has overall responsibility for mentoring and guiding you and monitoring your progress
• working in a laboratory that is UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) registered laboratory and that has IBMS laboratory 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.

August 2019 Update: Please note that the Study Guide refers to a specific number of years post-registration experience that is required before undertaking this qualification. That specific requirement has been removed but candidates who  wish to undertake this qualification should have some experience in immunocytochemistry before applying.

The IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Immunocytochemistry is a professional vocational qualification assessed by completion of a portfolio of evidence and a written examination.

The training logbook and portfolio of evidence provide a record of your training and should contain evidence of regular assessments of your competence in reporting the specimen types covered by this qualification by your named consultant pathologist supervisor. 

Once your named consultant pathologist supervisor is satisfied that your training is complete you can submit your training logbook and go on to the written examination. 

Immunocytochemistry guidance to candidates and trainers 

The examination of an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Immunocytochemistry involves two assessments:

• a portfolio assessment 
• a written examination

Written examination

The written examination consists of two short-answer written papers each of 120 minutes. 

Full details of the qualification, learning outcomes and assessment are available in our Immunocytochemistry Guidance to Candidates and Trainers. 

 2019

• Closing date for applications - Friday 3 May
• Portfolio submission deadline - Friday 24 May 2019
• Examination date - Monday 2 September 2019 (Venues - University of Westminster, Glasgow Caledonian University and the Jordanstown Campus of Ulster University)

Portfolio submission 2019 Candidates  should submit an electronic version of the portfolio of experiential learning to the Head of Examinations at the Institute offices via email to: examinations@ibms.org

It is recognised that this may not always be possible and therefore a hard copy version of the portfolio will also be acceptable. Candidates submitting a hard copy of their portfolio should send this to the Head of Examinations, IBMS, 12 Coldbath Square, London, EC1R 5HL.

It costs £25 to order an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Immunocytochemistry training logbook. To order, please submit to the IBMS Examinations Team:

• payment of £25, along with
• a complete training log book order form  

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

• payment of £365 (from January 2019), along with
• a completed application form

Fees can be paid by: 

• cheque made payable to "IBMS"
• credit or debit card payment by phone on +44 (0)207 731 0214 ext 142 or 
• purchase order from your hospital Trust

Guidance on recognising and avoiding plagiarism

You can find discipline-specific reading lists to support you in completing an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice on our science reading page.

You can find articles and online resources to support you in completing an IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in our resources section. 

You can find past papers, pre-seen questions, and more on the IBMS qualifications resources page.

IBMS Diploma of Expert Practice in Immunocytochemistry Training Logbook

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