Laboratory Training Approval
Train candidates toward IBMS portfolio based qualifications
The IBMS approves laboratories in three categories of training approval, which link to three levels of IBMS qualifications:
Support Staff Training Approval
Training laboratory support staff through the IBMS Certificate of Achievement Parts I and II.
Pre-Registration Training Approval
Training biomedical scientists for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council through the IBMS Registration Portfolio, leading to the Certificate of Competence.
Post-Registration Training Approval
Training qualified biomedical scientists in specialist areas through the IBMS Specialist Diploma.
The IBMS maintains an up-to-date database of approved laboratories at a departmental level, including key training staff within each department. This list of key staff is expected to match any named staff on any portfolio application.
Please note
IBMS Training Approval links only to IBMS qualifications and not to any other training schemes.
Watch our Support Hub webinar - Guidance on achieving laboratory training approval to deliver IBMS qualifications
Making an application for training approval
You can apply for training approval in either of two ways, depending on the previous approval status of your laboratory:
- If you are looking to renew your laboratory’s training approval status or apply for additional levels of training approval, please submit the completed IBMS Laboratory Training Approval Declaration Form. If you are looking for additional levels of approval or additional Specialist Portfolio disciplines, please also provide the completed training programme for the qualification by completing the relevant tab(s) of the Laboratory Approval Training Programme Template.
Please note
If you are applying for pre or post-registration training approval (for the digital version 5 Registration and Specialist Portfolios), you will also be required to complete the Laboratory Approval Training Programme Template for both renewal and first-time applications, as this has been amended to reflect the new portfolios. Please also submit any relevant training documentation which reflects the version 5 portfolio.
The application and supporting documentation should be submitted to educationsupport@ibms.org - If your laboratory has not previously applied for training approval, you will need to submit a full set of training documentation to educationsupport@ibms.org which includes IBMS Laboratory Training Approval Declaration Form, the Laboratory Approval Training Programme Template and the relevant training laboratory policies.
Please refer to the IBMS Laboratory Training Approval Guidance for full details of what documentation is required.
Digital Specialist Portfolios
If applications are for training approval for specialist level Andrology, Genomics and Molecular Pathology, or Point of Care Testing (POCT), then please write 'SP <insert relevant discipline here>' in the subject of the email and select the relevant discipline on the application form.
Please visit the Digital Specialist Diploma page for further details.
Please note
In the interest of streamlining this process, we can only accept applications made by email.
It is the responsibility of the individual laboratory to communicate any changes in training or staff to the IBMS by completing a Laboratory Contacts Update Form and emailing it to educationsupport@ibms.org
Please see the IBMS Clinical Laboratory Training Standards and IBMS Laboratory Training Approval Guidance document for detailed guidance on the laboratory approval process. If you have questions regarding this process which are not covered in the guidance, please contact us at educationsupport@ibms.org