Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential part of practising safely and effectively as a biomedical scientist. Whether you’re an IBMS member or not, you must undertake CPD to remain on the HCPC Register and demonstrate that your knowledge and skills stay up to date in a fast-moving profession.
Whether you’re an IBMS member or not, we provide guidance to help you understand and meet CPD expectations. Discover how CPD underpins safe practice, what the HCPC requires, and the ways the IBMS can guide your development.
Why CPD matters
Biomedical science evolves quickly – new technologies, changing clinical needs, and emerging best practice all shape how we deliver safe and effective laboratory services.
CPD helps you to:
- Maintain and update your professional knowledge
- Respond confidently to new developments, methods and responsibilities
- Reflect on your practice and identify areas for growth
- Demonstrate professionalism and accountability
- Meet the HCPC’s expectations for ongoing competence
CPD isn’t just a regulatory requirement – it’s a commitment to the quality of care patients receive.
CPD and HCPC registration
To practise as a biomedical scientist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The HCPC requires every registrant to:
- Carry out regular CPD that is relevant to their scope of practice
- Keep an up-to-date record of their learning
- Reflect on how their CPD has improved their practice and service delivery
- Submit evidence if selected for an audit
The HCPC audits a percentage of registrants at every renewal cycle. If selected, you must show a clear, concise CPD profile with examples of recent learning and how it has benefited your work.
You can read the full HCPC CPD standards, but in simple terms they expect CPD to be continued, meaningful and evidenced.
What counts as CPD?
CPD is broader and more flexible than many people expect. It includes any learning activity that helps you stay competent and develop professionally, for example:
- On-the-job learning and reflective practice
- Case reviews, clinical discussions and problem-solving
- Formal courses, webinars, conferences and workshops
- Reading and reviewing scientific literature
- Teaching, presenting or mentoring
- Service development projects or quality improvement work
- Participation in audits, research or validation studies
The key is relevance. Your CPD should align with your current or future practice, and you should be able to explain how it impacts the work you do.
Recording and evidencing CPD
Good CPD is supported by good record-keeping. For HCPC purposes, you’ll need to keep:
- A brief list of your CPD activities
- Evidence for each activity (for example notes, certificates, reflections)
- A summary explaining how your CPD has improved your practice
You can record CPD in any format as long as it meets the HCPC standards. However, using a structured portfolio makes the process easier and ensures nothing is missed.
How the IBMS supports CPD
For members, we offer a comprehensive set of tools and resources designed to make CPD simple, accessible and embedded in your professional life.
MyIBMS CPD Portfolio and our extensive range of resources for members help maintain a clear, audit-ready record and supports ongoing professional development throughout your career.