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.
π Available specialisms:
- Diagnostic Cytopathology
- Haematology (Routine Haematology, Haemostasis & Thrombosis, Red Cell Disorders)
- Histological Dissection
- Immunocytochemistry
- Mohs Histological Procedures
- Ultrastructural Pathology
π 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:
β Undertake advanced roles in specimen analysis and reporting
β Provide expert advice to scientific and medical professionals
β Participate in the training of biomedical and clinical scientists
Assessment
Each DEP qualification includes the following assessments:
β Portfolio assessment – A record of training and competence, signed off by a consultant pathologist or supervisor
β Written examination – A structured paper assessing knowledge in the specialist area
β 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.
π Key dates for 2025-26
β Histological Dissection, Ultrastructural Pathology, and Immunocytochemistry
- Application deadline: 30 May 2025
- Portfolio submission deadline: 18 July 2025
- Written examination: 24 November 2025
β Diagnostic Cytopathology (provisional)
- Application deadline: Friday 30 January 2026
- Portfolio submission deadline: Friday 27 February 2026
- Written examination: Tuesday 5 May 2026 (to be sat at your place of work)
- Microscopy exams: Candidates will only be invited to the microscopy exams if they pass the written exam. The dates for the exams will depend on the number of candidates and the availability of both the examiners and the NEPSEC exam centre in Wakefield but they are likely to be in late June or early July 2026.
π Portfolios must be submitted electronically via email or a shared folder link. Hard copies will not be accepted.
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:
β Be a Member or Fellow of the IBMS
β Be HCPC registered
β Have specialist post-registration experience (varies by discipline)
β Work in a UKAS-accredited laboratory with IBMS post-registration laboratory training approval
π If you are unsure about laboratory approval, check with your manager or training officer.
How to apply
π© 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
π 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:
β Diagnostic Cytopathology
β Histological Dissection
β Immunocytochemistry
π For more details, refer to training grant information 2025.
Deferrals, withdrawals, and mitigating circumstances
π 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.