Equivalence route to HCPC registration as a biomedical scientist
Overview
Pathway to HCPC registration as a biomedical scientist
The IBMS Certificate of Competence by Equivalence is a professional portfolio based qualification that confirms you meet the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientist registration.
Who can apply?
You may be eligible to apply if you:
✔ Are based in the UK and working in (or have access to) a clinical pathology laboratory that has IBMS laboratory training approval to deliver pre-registration training.
✔ Have relevant professional experience in the UK with at least three years of autonomous professional practice related to biomedical science, demonstrating duties and responsibilities at the level of an HCPC registered biomedical scientist.
✔ Have experience, which should include the routine analysis of specimens from patients to provide data for disease diagnosis and healthcare of the patient. Less than three years will be deemed inadequate for the application of equivalence.
✔ Can demonstrate the HCPC standards of proficiency through pieces of evidence submitted through your digital portfolio
✔ Have at least a BSc (Hons) in a relevant (science based) degree subject.
✔ Have access to a named mentor who is HCPC registered as a biomedical scientist and has experience of supporting candidates to produce evidence for the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio.
The title "Biomedical Scientist" is legally protected by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and applies to professionals who analyse patient samples to aid diagnosis and treatment. This work is typically carried out in clinical pathology laboratories, including genomics and andrology.
About the qualification
The equivalence route assesses experiential learning, combining existing academic qualifications with professional training and experience.
- Your qualifications, training, and competence are assessed through the IBMS Certificate of Competence by Equivalence Portfolio, hosted on OneFile.
- The portfolio's sections and modules are mapped to the HCPC standards of proficiency for biomedical scientists.
- Once successfully completed and assessed, you will receive the IBMS Certificate of Competence by Equivalence (Biomedical Scientist) and can apply for HCPC registration.
Application window
The application period for the next IBMS Certificate of Competence by Equivalence route cohort opens on 1st November 2025 and closes on 31st January 2026. Please note, we will only accept and screen applications submitted between these two dates.
The fee for the Equivalence portfolio is £390. Upon initial submission your application will be screened for eligibility onto the route and all applications will incur a £50 administration fee at this stage. Should your application be accepted and you be admitted onto the route, you will then be charged the remaining fee of £340. Unsuccessful applications will not be charged a further fee.
Further information
Full details on the portfolio, assessment process, and mentor support are available in Resources
Completing the portfolio
Completing the portfolio
Once the application has been screened and the candidate is accepted onto this route, they will attend a launch event will be given access to their OneFile portfolio.
The candidate will work with their mentor to create and collate pieces of evidence for their digital portfolio and will plan to submit the portfolio to the IBMS within 12 months of the launch event date. Refer to the Guidance for applicants and Guidance for mentors.
The candidate will confirm when they have completed their portfolio evidence by contacting the Education team using the [email protected] email address.
Assessment process
Your completed portfolio of evidence will be reviewed by an IBMS assessment panel, which includes:
✔ A professional (HCPC registered biomedical scientist)
✔ An academic (from an IBMS Accredited programme)
✔ A lay person
If your portfolio evidence adequately demonstrates the HCPC standards of proficiency, you will be invited to an oral assessment (viva voce) with the professional assessor.
After the oral assessment, the professional assessor will make a recommendation to the IBMS Education and Professional Standards Committee (EPSC), which will determine whether you have been successful and can be awarded the Certificate of Competence by Equivalence (biomedical scientist).
For full details on completing the portfolio and assessment process, refer to our Guidance for applicants.
Final feedback
Candidates and mentors are also asked to complete a feedback form at the end of the programme—your feedback helps us enhance our qualifications.
Applying
How to apply
Before applying:
- Read the Guidance for applicants to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Refer to the IBMS Certificate of Competence by Equivalence (Biomedical Scientist) application form for information on fees and payment methods.
Application process
- Download the application form and Portfolio Development Plan document.
- Complete both documents and include in your submission all supporting documentation that is listed in the application form document.
- Submit your application as described in the application form document by email to [email protected].
After submission
- Your qualifications and experience will be reviewed by a professional reviewer to assess eligibility
- If your application is successful, you will be admitted to the programme and notified. You will receive an invitation to an online launch event to explain the route and answer any queries. Subsequently, you will receive your log-in details to OneFile to access your IBMS Certificate of Competence by Equivalence Portfolio.
For all enquiries, contact [email protected].
Need more help?
If you have any questions about the equivalence routes to registration please contact us.